Food & Drink

Expensive soft drinks fall but category boosted by carbonates, juice drinks and energy drinks, according to Britvic

03-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

Cash-strapped consumers are rejecting mineral water, fruit juices and bottles of cola in pubs and clubs, according to the annual Britvic Soft Drinks Review out yesterday evening.

US brewery Dogfish Head and Bedford's Charles Wells launch a new beer

03-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

American craft brewery Dogfish Head has joined forced with Charles Wells to produce a new IPA.

Greene King launches flagship pub for its beers

03-Apr-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The Mason’s Arms, in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, has become a flagship for Greene King beers, in the brewery’s home town.

The Big Interview: Steve Nuttall, Joule's Brewery

03-Apr-2013 By Phil Mellows

The man who brought you Caffrey’s Ale is keeping it local these days as managing director of Joule’s Brewery in Market Drayton, Shropshire. Phil Mellows meets Steve Nuttall, and his friend the sleeping monk.

Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter awarded CAMRA’s Winter Champion Beer of Britain

02-Apr-2013 By Jordan Chamberlain

Elland Brewery’s 1872 Porter has been awarded CAMRA’s Winter Champion Beer of Britain Award (CWBOB) for the second time in three years.

London pub company celebrates a decade in the trade with their own beer, wine and gin

02-Apr-2013 By Robyn Black

The owners of Renaissance Pubs, the six-strong pub company based in south west London, have created their own beer, gin and wine to celebrate 10 years in the trade.

Government explains why beer duty cut does not break EU rules

01-Apr-2013 By John Harrington

Treasury minister Sajid Javid has explained why the Government’s decision to reduce duty on beer but not other alcoholic drinks would not breach EU rules.

Marston's to launch new Pedigree beer for this summer's Ashes clash

28-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Marston’s is planning on bowling a googly to Pedigree ale fans this summer, with a new version of the brew to be launched ahead of this year’s Ashes clash.

London Distillery Company releases Dodd's Gin

27-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

The London Distillery Company, which has pledged to bring back whisky production to the capital, has released a gin.

Adnams reports rise in sales and profits

27-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

Adnams, the Suffolk brewer, distiller and pub operator has reported a rise in full year sales in 2012, with pre-tax profits up 145%, in what it called a "good year".

BrewDog to create #Mashtag, the world's first crowd sourced beer

26-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

BrewDog is to create “the world’s first democratically designed beer.”

Smirnoff set to launch coffee-flavoured vodka

26-Mar-2013

Coffee-flavoured Smirnoff will be hitting shelves next month, as brand owner Diageo looks to match the success of the flavoured vodka segment in the US, where it accounts for 18% of the total vodka category.

No, cider is NOT the new beer

25-Mar-2013 By Pete Brown

The misinterpretation of Mintel’s cider category research left me wanting to cry into my pint, says Pete Brown.

New look for Pilsner Urquell

25-Mar-2013

New-look fonts and glassware have been unveiled for the Czech beer brand Pilsner Urquell.

Budget 2013: Pubcos and breweries pass on beer duty cut

25-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The majority of pubcos and brewers have promised to pass on the beer duty cut announced in last week's Budget to both their licensees and customers.

Thwaites Shire horses help relaunch refurbished pub

25-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The famous Thwaites Shire horses turned up for the opening of the Royal Oak, Riley Green, which has undergone an extensive £110,000 refurbishment.

Unite asks Molson Coors to reconsider jobs and pay changes in wake of beer duty cut

22-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The beer tax cut should prompt Molson Coors to rethink its proposed slashing of pay and conditions at its Burton-on-Trent plant, Unite, the country’s largest union has said.

Old Speckled Hen and Greene King IPA in £4m TV push

22-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Greene King is investing £4m in its Old Speckled Hen and Greene King IPA brands, with a return to TV for both.

Diageo releases Smirnoff Espresso in the UK

21-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Coffee-flavoured Smirnoff will be hitting shelves next month, as brand owner Diageo looks to match the success of the flavoured vodka segment in US, where it accounts for 18% of the total vodka category.

Foster's Gold campaign builds "posh and sohisticated" image

20-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Foster’s comedy characters Brad and Dan are making a return to the small screen in a new campaign for Foster’s Gold, after being dropped from the main brand at the beginning of this year.

Budget 2013: Beer group chair Andrew Griffiths 'stunned' by beer duty cut

20-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The MP for Burton and chairman of the All-Party parliamentary Beer group Andrew Griffiths said he was “stunned” when Chancellor George Osborne revealed plans to scrap the beer duty escalator and cut duty by 1p.

Budget 2013: WSTA claims scrapping beer duty escalator is "misplaced"

20-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has condemned the Chancellor for pushing ahead with alcohol tax rises on wines and spirits for the fifth year in a row, and scrapping the beer duty escalator.

Budget 2013: Industry reacts to the scrapping of the beer duty escalator

20-Mar-2013

The industry has reacted to news that the Chancellor George Osborne has scrapped the beer duty escalator and cut duty on beer by 1p.

Budget 2013: Chancellor George Osborne scraps beer duty escalator and cuts beer duty by 1p

20-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

The Chancellor today has scrapped the beer duty escalator today and has announced that beer duty will be cut by 1p from Sunday.

Budget 2013: Media speculation that Chancellor will scrap beer duty escalator

20-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

There are conflicting reports in this morning’s media about what the Budget may hold for alcohol duty, with some saying the duty escalator will be scrapped and others predicting further increases.

Greene King launches Love Golden Beer campaign

20-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

In a summer that will lack the buzz of the Olympics, Greene King is urging publicans to go for gold by promoting golden ales.

Royal parks, London landmarks and pubs to create an "urban hop farm"

19-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

The Natural History Museum, Battersea Power Station and St James’ Park are among the famous locations growing hops for a new London beer.

Unite, the union, to fight pay cuts at Molson Coors brewery

18-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

The union Unite has said it’s “ready for strike action” if no “satisfactory resolution” is found over plans by Molson Coors to reduce the pay of 184 brewery technicians at its Burton-on-Trent plant by up to £9,000 a year.

Beer duty: Labour shadow minister refuses to commit to scrapping beer-duty escalator

15-Mar-2013 By Mike Berry

Labour might have to retain the beer-duty escalator if it returns to government after the next general election, shadow small business minister Toby Perkins has admitted.

Jobs and pay under threat at Molson Coors brewery

15-Mar-2013 By M&C Report

Molson Coors is consulting on the possible loss of up to 26 jobs at its Burton brewery, along with changes to employment conditions that could potentially lead to pay cuts, the company has confirmed to M&C Report.

Budget 2013: Chancellor George Osborne insists he'll "listen to both sides" of beer duty argument

15-Mar-2013 By John Harrington

Chancellor George Osborne has told his Labour predecessor Alistair Darling that he’ll take both sides of the arguments about alcohol taxation into account for this year’s Budget on 20 March.

Beware of alcohol consumption hype

15-Mar-2013 By Roger Protz

Despite what the so-called ‘experts’ say, alcohol consumption in the UK is falling, writes Roger Protz.

Jameson Irish whiskey gears up for St Patrick's Day

15-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Aging barrels, an app, etched shot glasses, a limited edition bottle and over 3,000 PoS kits form part of Jameson Irish Whiskey’s plans for St Patrick’s Day this Sunday (17 March).

Ginger-flavoured Carling to be launched into the on-trade next month

14-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Carling with ginger will be the third flavour to join the lower ABV Carling Zest range, as brewer Molson Coors targets fruit cider fans this summer.

Greg Mulholland again urges Treasury to scrap beer duty escalator

13-Mar-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Pro-pubs MP Greg Mulholland has once again called on the Chancellor to scrap the beer duty escalator.

Heavy metal band Iron Maiden launches its own cask beer

12-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Heavy metal band Iron Maiden has made a cask ale in conjunction with Stockport brewer Robinsons.

A watching brief at the Beer Oscars

11-Mar-2013 By Pete Brown

Pete Brown samples the buzz, and some of the beers, at the International Brewing Awards.

Having your pint and drinking it too? The ‘problem’ of falling alcohol consumption

11-Mar-2013 By Phil Mellows

Another decline in UK alcohol consumption gives the public health lobby a bit a of a problem. Or it ought to, says Phil Mellows.

Support grows for petition calling on the Government to recognise the importance of British beer

11-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A petition calling on the Government to recognise the importance of British beer has received 358 signatures.

Nickelodeon characters to front new kids drink range

11-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sponge Bob Square Pants and Dora the Explorer are to feature on a new juice drink range from the Appy Food and Drinks Co.

Global Brands launches new Buddy's Bourbon Flavoured Beer

07-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Hooch and VK maker Global Brands is to increase its presence in the burgeoning spirit beer sector with the launch of a Bourbon beer.

First Drinks reveals spirit plans for 2013

07-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

First Drinks has revealed new products for 2013, as well as plans to bring Milagro Tequila and a whiskey from New York to the UK.

Budget 2013: PMA calls on readers to say 'enough is enough' over beer tax

07-Mar-2013 By Mike Berry

If Chancellor George Osborne goes ahead with plans to increase beer tax by 5% in the Budget later this month, this will bring the rise to a staggering 50% over the past five years.

Cask Matters coverage goes weekly in the PMA

07-Mar-2013

Cask Matters — the Publican’s Morning Advertiser’s dedicated content aimed at boosting the cask ale category — has undergone a revamp.

Coca Cola GB launches range of initiatives to fight obesity

06-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

Coca-Cola Great Britain has announced plans to be part of the solution to tackle the global problem of obesity.

Thatchers Gold cider set for new TV ad campaign

06-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Thatchers Cider is investing £4 million in a new marketing campaign this spring and summer including a new TV campaign for Thatchers Gold.

Beer Duty Debate: Treasury minister Sajid Javid "can't make commitments" to scrap escalator

05-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Treasury minister Sajid Javid has again refused to commit to scrapping the beer duty escalator, in a debate on the issue in Parliament this morning.

Beer Duty Debate: Beer in danger of becoming a luxury item

05-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A pint of beer is in danger of becoming a luxury item, Conservative MP for Nuneaton Marcus Jones has told the House of Commons today during a debate on the beer duty escalator.

Roar of approval for new Lion

04-Mar-2013 By Roger Protz

Hook Norton brewery reveals its mane attraction is brewed with today’s drinker in mind, writes Roger Protz.

MP Greg Mulholland calls for more equal duty system between cider and beer

04-Mar-2013

Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, Greg Mulholland MP, has today written to chief secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander MP, calling on the Government to look to create a more equal duty system between beer and cider.