DT x FRGD __ HIGH RES __ 2.8.23 __ 18

Forged Irish Stout was launched in 2023 but has failed to gain traction

Retailers and wholesalers across the UK and Ireland are pulling support for alcohol brands linked to Conor McGregor after the mixed martial arts fighter lost a civil rape case in court last week.

In Ireland, Tesco, SuperValu and Centra, Costcutter and Carry Out will no longer stock the Proper No Twelve whiskey brand founded by McGregor. Both Tesco and One Stop are also pulling Proper No Twelve from their stores in the UK.

“We can confirm that we are removing Proper No Twelve Whiskey from sale in Tesco stores and online,” a spokesman for Teso said.

Musgrave retail group, which owns SuperValu and Centra, said it had also delisted Proper No Twelve and McGregor’s Forged Irish Stout.

“Musgrave can confirm these products are no longer available to our store network,” a spokesman said.

Asda, meanwhile, also said it had removed Forged from sale in the UK.

“We have removed Forged Irish Stout from sale in store and online and have made the supplier aware of this decision,” a spokesman for Asda said.

McGregor founded Proper No Twelve in 2018 and sold his remaining stake in the brand to Proximo Spirits in 2021. He has since continued to act as an ambassador for the brand, however.

Proximo issued a statement this week stating it had now dropped McGregor.

“Going forward we do not plan to use Mr McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand,” the supplier said.

Forged, meanwhile, was launched by McGregor in 2023 to rival Guinness but has failed to gain traction in its domestic market or the UK, where it was only stocked by Asda. 

A Dublin jury last week found McGregor had assaulted Nikita Hand by raping her in a hotel in Dublin in December 2018.

McGregor was ordered to pay Hand almost €250,000 (£206,000) in damages.