NewsDigest

The Clear Pub Company (CPC), a fledgling business set up by Duncan Ward and Andy Wilkinson, has launched with the acquisition of 25 leasehold sites from Punch Taverns. Wilkinson and Ward, who were formerly senior managers at Punch, have teamed up with Andrew Lawton Smith from Wragge & Co, the law firm, to launch CPC, with backing from Allied Irish Bank. The pubs, which were acquired for an undisclosed sum, have a combined turnover of £14m based in the North, Midlands and London.

The former managing director of East Midlands pub company Tynemill, Julian Grocock, is to become the first chief executive of the Society of Independent Brewers (Siba). Grocock, whose former company also owns the Castle Rock Brewery in Nottingham, takes up his new post on 20 August determined to reinforce Siba's position as the professional voice of quality brewing.

Marston's Pub Company has

relaunched its intranet, giving all its licensees access to online business support. The site has an individually-tailored home page giving tenants access to information and offers designed to fulfil the specific needs of their venue. Other new features include key sporting and industry dates with advice on how to maximise sales on those days.

New officers have been elected to the Worshipful Company of Brewers. They are: master, Martin Thomas, Coors' supply chain director; upper warden, Christopher Brain, SA Brains' group chairman; middle warden, Anthony Mair, executive chairman, Blackwood Distillers; and renter warden, Nigel Atkinson, non-executive director, Fuller's.

Stocktaking company Venners has launched a new food-safety audit service. Stuart Knill has been appointed as general manager of the food-safety team. Knill has more than 25 years' experience in the hospitality industry, including stints as a lecturer, trainer, hotel manager and, most recently, as a food-safety consultant.

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