MyShout
Change brings winners and losers, says Stephen Crawley, but you can choose your side
The last MA of 2006! Where did the last 12 months go? For us, the year started off with a bang when we bought the Harviestoun Brewery with plans to keep it open and indeed, to expand it as required - now that was a novel way to start the year!
Consolidation across pubs, hotels, breweries, brands and even trade bodies shows no sign of slowing. As ever, there have been winners and losers.
Winners win because they strive to be the best. That takes drive, ambition and a determination to ensure whatever is attempted is executed well. There is no deviation from this approach whether you are a champion athlete, a high-street retailer or an award-winning brewer. The chain of commitment within our industry - in providing the best products, in the best environments, delivered by professional licensees, with the best-trained staff - has no competition. Constant change and challenge is no stranger to us and these will continue to arise, be they initiated by government intervention, by nature via the effects of global warming, or by pressure from the growing concern of environmentalists.
But change and challenge also produces winners. Implementation of the smoking ban in Scotland has seen those that have adapted - by stepping up their standards, improving their retail offers and injecting innovation - winning the challenge. There will always be some casualties as a result of progress and the reality is beginning to bite as the cold weather arrives and standing outside having a fag moves from "cool" to "freezing one's bits off".
The hot summer wasn't all fun for some in the drinks sector, but it did introduce us to what became known as the Magners phenomenon - and Big Maurice's smile said it all. Well-planned and timely execution of promotions, combined with fantastic weather, meant that there was a refreshing alternative to lager in consumer's minds. It was not unusual to find that particular brand in short supply as people stocked up to cool down. A refreshing drink with a refreshing attitude to marketing - simple execution done well, made it a winner!
The introduction of the smoking ban will be the next focus for England, rapidly followed by more anti-drink legislation, no doubt. Peter Linacre suggested a few weeks ago, in this very same column, that we unite to fight this - I wholeheartedly agree. We need to speak as one voice to fight our corner. We need to tell people we are responsible retailers, tell them again, and then tell them some more. If we do not take up the challenge to change the perception of our sector we cannot blame anybody else. We may even start to win the battle.
Next year, and beyond, will continue to be challenging. But we have among us the best brewers, who know how to produce a cracking good pint, the retailers whose standards are second to none and the staff who are passionate, well-trained and knowledgeable about the products and services they offer. We will always have winners - and what better way to raise our glass to them than with a pint of real British beer? Good luck and here's to a prosperous new year to you all.
