Earlier this month, Heineken’s Tadcaster brewery, the traditional home of John Smith’s ale, pledged £50,000 to support the local community. In response to the difficulties faced by people after the collapse of the ancient Tadcaster Bridge over the River Wharfe, the brewer committed £25,000 to transport projects that reconnect the town.
An additional fund of £25,000 will also be set up, donating grants to local groups and projects affected by the floods.
John Gemmell, trading director at Heineken UK, has provided an update on how it is supporting its pub customers through its First Point team as they continue to recover from the floods.
“Since the flooding began during the festive period, First Point has been proactively managing customers through the disruption. Led by our on-trade commerce division, a team has been put together and have identified affected postcodes, matched customers in those postcodes and proactively phoned to see if they are OK rather than waiting for them to contact us. Then, co-ordinating KNDL, Innserve and the sales teams, we have looked to get the pubs back and trading.
Galvanising
“We continue to monitor and are now repairing/replacing equipment plus replenishing contaminated stock so that customers can start trading again as soon as practically possible. There is also a budget in place to ensure that glassware and POS are available for the consumer. We have also been giving customers details of trade charities to help from a financial point of view.”
One pub that has benefitted from the support is the Watermill Inn, Kendal. Licensee Denise Coleridge said: “I am really happy with the level of Customer Service we have had over this difficult time, it is very clear that Heineken have learnt from previously floods such as in 2009. They have been very quick in galvanising a team together and making the affected customer feel like a priority.”
Heineken has also provided portable dispense units for local stadiums and sports centres as well as refitting cellar equipment for other customers.