Southwold-based brewer Adnams is freezing its wholesale beer prices across all on-trade accounts for the whole of 2009.
The brewer, which today warned that 2008 profits would be "substantially" lower than 2007 due to falling sales as a result of the economic downturn, said the freeze showed its commitment to the on-trade.
It has 70 of its own pubs plus around 1,000 freetrade accounts and is listed in a further 4,500 pubs and bars across the country.
"We are having two nuclear winters — one in the economy and a subsidiary one in the on-trade," said managing director Andy Wood.
"The on-trade, as a whole, is in a very difficult position. It needs our help but it also needs everyone else's help."
Wood said the move was part of a raft of measures designed to re-invigorate the on-trade, including investment in the Adnams brand and rent concessions and discounts for its own tenants.
Adnams said, however, it would have to pass on any duty rises in March. "I think taxation has been stretched as far as it can go. The Government needs to take a responsible attitude to any further rises."
Committed to brewing
Despite a 6% drop in beer volumes last year and the presence of Guinness Peat as an investor — often attributed as pushing Young's to dump brewing — Wood stressed that Adnams was committed to brewing.
"Young's was a very different company to us with high value property in London. We have around 70 pubs and our core focus is on brewing.
"Our decision to freeze our prices today shows that commitment."