Food & Drink

SIBA accuses GMB of "factual inaccuracies"

04-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

SIBA has sent an open letter to GMB branch secretary Dave Mountford accusing him of “factual inaccuracies” over accusations against the body.

Meantime develops 'brewery-fresh' beer concept

04-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

London brewer Meantime has developed a new beer concept it is calling ‘Brewery Fresh Beer’.

Beer duty freeze could save 10,000 jobs, claims BBPA

04-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A freeze on beer duty would save about up to 10,000 jobs yet still increase tax revenues by £5m, according to the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA).

The Big Interview: James Staughton, St Austell Brewery

04-Mar-2013 By Mike Berry

James Staughton, managing director of St Austell Brewery, tells Mike Berry of his fondness for organising parties and urges the Government to reduce VAT on beer and food served in pubs.

The Famous Grouse whisky launches alcoholic ginger beer Ginger Grouse

04-Mar-2013 By Robyn Black

Ginger Grouse, a ginger beer from whisky brand The Famous Grouse, is being rolled out across the UK following success in Scotland where it was launched last September.

High profile MP Jack Straw backs calls for beer duty escalator to be scrapped

01-Mar-2013 By Michelle Perrett

High profile Labour MP Jack Straw has backed calls for the scrapping of the beer duty escalator.

Video: Bulmers gets new flavours & TV push

01-Mar-2013 By Jessica Mason

Bulmers has launched two new flavoured ciders as well as kick-started its multi-million pound marketing campaign ‘In the Beginning’ which will see the brand back on TV this month.

Thatchers unveils Somerset Mixed Fruit cider

01-Mar-2013 By Adam Pescod

Thatchers has launched Somerset Mixed Fruit cider to sit alongside its Rosé and Pear variants as part of a new Somerset Fruit Ciders range.

Beer Duty: MPs and industry leaders deliver ‘message in a barrel’ to Treasury

28-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Sixty MPs have called for a freeze in beer duty in next month’s Budget by sending a ‘message in a barrel’ to Chancellor George Osborne at an event in Westminster.

Exclusive: Brothers Cider redesigns to celebrate fifth birthday

28-Feb-2013 By Jessica Mason

Brothers Cider has undergone a complete redesign of its packaging to celebrate its fifth anniversary.

Exclusive: Spitfire’s wartime coup with comedy duo

28-Feb-2013 By Ellie Bothwell

Shepherd Neame has announced Armstrong and Miller as ambassadors for its 2013 Spitfire campaign.

SIBA report shows local beer sales up 6.8%

28-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Volume sales of local beer rose by an estimated 6.8% last year to over 1.4 million barrels, according to the Local Beer Report, published today by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).

Cask Ale Week 2013 dates announced

26-Feb-2013 By Mike Berry

The dates for Cask Ale Week 2013 have been announced as Friday 27 September to Sunday 6 October.

Scrap beer duty escalator campaign needs consumer support, says TaxPayers' Alliance

26-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

Consumers will be able to drive MPs to show support of scrapping the beer duty escalator at next month’s Budget.

TaxPayers’ Alliance calls for beer duty escalator abolition

26-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The campaign to scrap the beer duty escalator has received greater backing with the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) launching a further push before the Budget next month.

Cider consumption grows as £1bn market growth predicted

25-Feb-2013 By M&C Report

Three in five adults now drink cider, up from 47% just one year ago, according to new research that predicts the cider market will grow by £1bn over the next five years.

Revolucion de Cuba lists rum-infused Bachata beer

25-Feb-2013

Flagship Brands has launched Bachata, a premium bottled beer infused with Cuban rum.

Dea Latis to host beer and chocolate matching event in Leeds for first time

22-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

Beer and women group Dea Latis is to host its annual beer and chocolate tasting event in Leeds for the first time.

Budweiser uses augmented reality for new on-trade FA Cup Final ticket competition

22-Feb-2013 By Mike Berry

Budweiser brewer AB InBev UK has launched a major on-pack promotion which uses augmented reality to give drinkers a chance to win VIP FA Cup final tickets.

Griffiths: take action now to help axe the beer tax

21-Feb-2013 By Andrew Griffiths

We cannot afford to under-estimate the importance of the next two or three weeks to UK brewers and publicans. In air-conditioned offices somewhere deep in Whitehall, Treasury officials and ministers are putting the final touches to this year’s Budget...

Salvation through beer innovation

20-Feb-2013 By Pete Brown

Claiming a new idea is revolutionary when it’s not ultimately stifles true innovation — which is something that beer badly needs, argues Pete Brown.

Greene King to add six new beers

20-Feb-2013 By Robyn Black

Greene King is adding six new beers to its 16-strong calendar of guest ales this year.

Excessive beer duty "stifles innovation" in sector

19-Feb-2013 By Robyn Black

Brewery industry leaders have blamed excessive duty for stifling innovation in the sector.

Carlsberg wins UK market share after strong on-trade performance

19-Feb-2013 By John Harrington

Carlsberg, the global brewer, saw UK volumes fall 3% in 2012, although a “good performance” in the on-trade helped grow its market share in the country.

SIBA unveils speaker list for BeerX

19-Feb-2013 By Michelle Perrett

A diverse line up of speakers including a TV chef, an American craft brewer and leading figures from the Government and Opposition will address BeerX, the event staged by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) in Sheffield on 15 March.

Marston's chief Ralph Findlay upbeat after PM's Wychwood Brewery visit

19-Feb-2013

Marston’s chief executive Ralph Findlay has said David Cameron “does understand our industry” after the two met at the company’s Wychwood Brewery in the Prime Minister’s Witney constituency.

Cobra Beer revisits successful train ad campaign

18-Feb-2013 By Robyn Black

Cobra Beer is relaunching its Cobra Train advertising campaign, which it claims is the most successful in the brand’s history.

Brewers charge more for less

18-Feb-2013

The decision to raise beer prices and reduce ABV will save the global brewers money, but squeeze our pubs, argues Roger Protz.

Heineken Ireland managing director David Forde to head Heineken UK

18-Feb-2013 By John Harrington, M&C Report

Heineken has announced the appointment of David Forde, currently managing director of the company’s Ireland business, as the new managing director of Heineken UK.

International Brewing Awards 2013 winners announced

18-Feb-2013

Almost 100 medals have been presented to brewers and cider makers in The International Brewing Awards 2013, after a three-day judging session at the National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent.

Heineken adds two new flavours to Bulmers Cider range

18-Feb-2013 By Robyn Black

Black cherry and red grape flavours are being added to the Bulmers Cider portfolio, alongside a re-launch of its No17 variant, in a bid to capitalise on the expected further growth in flavoured ciders.

BBPA launches microsite to tackle beer belly myths

18-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The British Beer and Pub Association has launched a micro-site to tackle the common misconceptions around beer and health.

The beer innovation imperative

15-Feb-2013 By Phil Tate

This is a defining period for beer. It needs to fight for share of throat to resist the multiplicity of trends that currently threaten it. The good news? That our brewers and producers are clearly up for the battle, argues Phil Tate.

Sunday Brunch presenter and chef Simon Rimmer to launch new beer range

15-Feb-2013 By Robyn Black

Celebrity Chef Simon Rimmer has joined forces with Stockport-based brewery Robinsons to launch a range of beers especially brewed to match specific dishes.

Carlsberg going for its slice of the lower ABV beer market

14-Feb-2013 By Robyn Black

Carlsberg has launched a new 2.8% ABV flavoured lager to go up against Carling Zest and Foster’s Radler.

Young's faces fresh live music battle over Bull & Gate in Kentish Town

14-Feb-2013

Young’s is facing a fresh battle with live music campaigners, following its purchase of the Bull & Gate in London’s Kentish Town.

MA250: Entrepreneur calls for beer-tie to be made illegal

14-Feb-2013 By John Harrington

Leisure sector entrepreneur Joel Cadbury outlined his views on the beer tie at the Publican's Morning Advertiser MA250 conference.

HDW CLIX ultra-pure vodka launch

13-Feb-2013 By Robyn Black

Hi-Spirits is launching a new vodka, which has been distilled 159 times.

Beer Innovation Summit: On-trade remains the place for consumers to try new brands

12-Feb-2013

The on-trade remains the place to visit for consumers who want to try new brands, claims new research from CGA.

JD Wetherspoon pub in Leicester serves special ale to celebrate discovery of Richard III

12-Feb-2013 By Adam Pescod

A JD Wetherspoon pub in Leicester is serving a specially-produced beer to celebrate the discovery of the body of Richard III.

Stefan Orlowski to step down as managing director of Heineken UK

11-Feb-2013 By John Harrington

Stefan Orlowski is to step down as managing director of Heineken UK after four years in the role.

Call time on unhealthy pub food

11-Feb-2013 By Pete Brown

As someone who loves pubs and thinks we spend too much time drawing attention to what’s wrong with our industry and not enough championing what’s right, I always feel a bit bad about using this column to criticise pubs.

Heineken launches a lower alcohol Foster's

07-Feb-2013 By Robyn Black

Heineken is hoping to create a new lager sector with the launch of a new low-alcohol Foster’s, the PMA can reveal.

More than 100 MPs sign up in support of scrapping beer duty escalator

06-Feb-2013 By Gurjit Degun

A petition among MPs calling the beer duty escalator to be scrapped has passed 100 signatures.

Carlsberg readies Somersby cider for launch into pubs

06-Feb-2013 By Robyn Black

Carlsberg has told the PMA that it will be launching its first cider brand, Somersby, into pubs and bars next month.

Czech brewery bounces back to life

04-Feb-2013 By Roger Protz

Thanks to one man an historic Czech brewery has been revived and is thriving, writes Roger Protz.

Video: BBPA launches film highlighting importance of beer duty freeze

31-Jan-2013 By Gurjit Degun

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has produced a new film highlighting the importance of a beer tax freeze in the March Budget

Cider industry calls for 'restraint' on duty and regulatory stability

30-Jan-2013 By John Harrington

Cider industry leaders have called for “restraint” on duty and regulatory stability to help the industry succeed over the long term.

The PMA rounds-up the best of January's seasonal beers

30-Jan-2013 By Robyn Black

Space rockets, a wedding and six nations rugby are among the inspiration for brewers this January.

The Big Interview: Stefan Bomhard, Bacardi

29-Jan-2013 By Jessica Harvey

When Stefan Bomhard’s daughter presented him with the newly-published book Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba during the Christmas of 2008, he had no idea how much it would influence his career.