BBPA and IPC to meet over pubco issues
The two main trade bodies who have been at loggerheads over the future of the tied model for months are to meet to discuss the issues facing the industry.
The Independent Pub Confederation (IPC) - an umbrella group made up of trade bodies and anti-tie campaigners - has confirmed it will accept an invitation from British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) chief Brigid Simmonds to meet.
IPC secretary Kate Nicholls, who the letter was addressed to, described the development as a "major step forward".
It is understood to be the first time the BBPA has formally approached the IPC, since the group formed out of the ashes of last year's failed mediation process.
Among the items set to be on the agenda is how the BBPA will manage its framework code of practice, which its pubco members must comply with by next month.
The BII and Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations are also expected to be at the meeting.
Bill Sharp, the IPC's chairman, told The Publican: "Hopefully they (the BBPA) will be a bit more forthcoming than they have been in the past, but as far as far as we are concerned any contact is better than none."
It is understood that at last year's mediation process the BBPA refused to talk about the beer tie, claiming it couldn't due to legal reasons.
"We want to see what they've got to say. If we can all get together and make the trade a better place than that's good.
"There will be certain issues people want to discuss and each IPC member has their own agenda but all want to see is a fair deal from the pubcos," added Sharp.
The meeting is primarily a result of the Business, Innovation and Skills committee's report, published on March 4, which said it expected the BBPA to "engage" with IPC as a "matter of urgency".
The report said: "We deprecate the fact that the BBPA refuses to enter into dialogue with the IPC. The BBPA needs to work with the lessee groups and representatives towards a consensus on the issues raised in both this report and the 2009 report."
