Food & Drink

Branded-spirits food sales boost

24-Feb-2005

Alcohol-themed dishes based on branded products could help pubs boost food sales, according to drinks distributor Thomas Lowndes & Co. The...

Big brewers deal price hike blow to pubs: Ross

24-Feb-2005

by John Harrington Stuart Ross, chief executive of Scottish brewer and pubco Belhaven, has hit out at the "hugely inflationary" price rises...

Adnams signs Bitburger deal

24-Feb-2005

Adnams and Bitburger have signed a 10-year rolling contract that will further strengthen the existing14-year relationship. This is the first time the...

In the nitrokeg market, the rise of John Smith's continues u

24-Feb-2005

When the research was conducted, the Scottish Courage brand had just added sponsorship of the Grand National to its award-winning Peter Kay...

How to run a beer festival

24-Feb-2005

If you've never taken the plunge, heed a bit of friendly advice from some of those who have boosted their sales of ales Have a good reason for doing...

Pub chefs on alert over Sudan I contaminated-food scare

24-Feb-2005

Pub chefs have been placed on alert over Food Standard Agency (FSA) fears that foods containing cancer-causing chemicals could have reached many...

Regionality is the name of the game

24-Feb-2005

The regional nature of the market and the rolling programme of seasonal brews that brewers come up with, sets the ale category apart from virtually...

Silver gets the bullet in WKD brands shake-up

24-Feb-2005

by Rosie Davenport Beverage Brands has pledged to focus on bringing new products to the RTD market after axing WKD Silver. The supplier said it...

Adnams and Bitburger sign 10-year deal

23-Feb-2005

Southwold brewer Adnams has signed a 10-year rolling agreement to import and distribute Bitburger beer in the UK.Signed yesterday (Tuesday, 22...

Raising Spirits: Cognac is back

23-Feb-2005

Adam Withrington asks are you making the most of cognac in your pub?In 2003 my predecessor Ben McFarland embarked on "a crusade to raise the profile...

Portman Group ruling angers licensees

23-Feb-2005

The Portman Group has been forced to defend itself from a barrage of industry criticism following the retailer alert it put out against Kalashnikov...

New cask version of Cains' premium lager now available

23-Feb-2005

Cains brewery has launched a new cask version of its premium lager at the Liverpool CAMRA festival.The cask version has been in development for the...

In session...with Ben McFarland

22-Feb-2005

Beer Writer of the Year Ben McFarland on caffeine-infused beers and their coverage in the tabloids.You have to hand it to the Daily Star, that most...

Brains puts 21 leases on market for first time

17-Feb-2005

by The PMA Team Cardiff-based brewer and retailer SA Brain is offering its first leases in a new initiative called Positive Partnerships at 21...

Coke sets sights on J2O's crown with Deuce

17-Feb-2005

Soft drink company Coca-Cola is looking to wrest a share of the adult fruit juice drink sector from rival Britvic's successful J2O brand.Launching in...

Beer & Food: Savour flavours

17-Feb-2005

Pubs are beginning to boost the image of beer by matching it with food. But there is still much more that could be done. Phil Mellows reports.For a...

Prevailing northerlies

17-Feb-2005

In the second of our two-part series looking at brewers making waves in the north of England, Tony Halstead casts his eye over Robinson's while...

Harley and Budvar part company

17-Feb-2005

Budweiser Budvar UK chief executive John Harley, right, has left the company. According to Budvar's UK public relations controller Denis Cox, the...

Fat Cat lands top Camra award for a second time

17-Feb-2005

by Ewan Turney The Fat Cat in Norwich has been crowned Campaign for Real Ale's National Pub of the Year for a record second time. The Fat Cat,...

Dorber's expansion

17-Feb-2005

Mark Dorber changed my life. OK, so I'm being a little dramatic but it was dining at his place that opened my eyes. For those who don't know him,...

Beer & Food: Matchmaking

16-Feb-2005

Matching beer and food should be a very easy concept for the pub trade. So why has it taken so long to catch on? John Porter reports.On the face of...

Beer & Food: Booming bar bites

16-Feb-2005

Changing drinking habits have created a gap in the market for a generation of new snacks for pub customers, finds John Porter.Amid all the talk about...

WKD owner snaps up Merrydown

16-Feb-2005

Merrydown, one of the UK's last independently-owned drinks companies, has agreed a takeover by SHS, owner of FAB brand WKD.SHS is paying 170p a share...

John Harley leaves Budweiser Budvar UK

16-Feb-2005

Budweiser Budvar UK has confirmed the sudden departure of chief executive John Harley.No party could confirm the reason behind this parting of ways,...

Grape Expectations: Plain - but so popular

10-Feb-2005

The fourth in our series of articles on grape varieties turns to pinot grigio - a grape that divides opinion like no other.This is the fourth in a...

Cheer for beer

10-Feb-2005

Beer With Food Week is fast approaching from 14 to 20 March and with it the opportunity to generate extra income, promote your pub and raise...

British mild's on the comeback trail

10-Feb-2005

The expression "what goes around comes around" is especially true where beer is concerned. Just when you think a particular style is dead it has the...

Northern lights

10-Feb-2005

In the first of a two-part series,Tony Halstead reports onbrewers in the north of England. This week he talks to Hydes about Boddington's and finds...

Off-sales in decline for Stella and Beck's

10-Feb-2005

Two of the biggest brands, which refused to drop off trade prices over Christmas, have reported serious volume declines in the off-trade as a result,...

Beer quality: Keeping cool

03-Feb-2005

Continuing with the beer quality theme, Adam Withrington looks at temperature.A lot has been written about beer quality on these pages over the last...

Pubs accused of using loud music to encourage drinking

03-Feb-2005

Pubs that play loud music are being told it is nothing more than a ploy to encourage people to drink more.According to a survey in the Evening...

Publicans confused over Coors' price rises

03-Feb-2005

Coors Brewers has apologised to licensees for any confusion that arose following the release of two sets of price rises from the company.Reports in...

Week ofperfection

03-Feb-2005

Ewan Turney gets the lowdown on the Campaign For Real Ale's annual National Pubs Week and outlines how pubs can get involved in the trade-building...

Sainsbury's backs Beer Academy

03-Feb-2005

Sainsbury's has become a silver patron of the Beer Academy. As the new sponsor of the International Beer Competition 2005, it will use Academy...

Rebrand to boost Landlord's stablemates

03-Feb-2005

Timothy Taylor has banished its traditional yellow and cream pump clip house colours on all but its flagship brew, Landlord, as part of a major...

Export is true hero but shuns limelight

03-Feb-2005

Dortmund was once known as the "Burton of Germany". In the 19th and 20th centuries, the great steel-making and coal-mining city had more breweries...

Bulleit's sights on sales

03-Feb-2005

by Rosie Davenport Diageo is putting its momentum behind cult bourbon brand Bulleit in a bid to propel the American whiskey into the mainstream...

Carlsberg's FA Cup soccer support

03-Feb-2005

Carlsberg is supporting licensees during the FA Cup with a raft of initiatives. Carlsberg, which has pledged to spend £22m marketing its beer this...

And the dinners were - CAMRA annual awards lunch and British Guild of Beer Writers; annual awards night

01-Feb-2005 By Susan Nowak

Beer played a key role on the menu at two annual awards meals. Susan Nowak reports The run-up to Christmas saw two major bashes where the gourmet...

Garden of Plenty - Kent brewer Shepherd Neame teams up with local producers

01-Feb-2005 By Max Gosney

Kent brewer Shepherd Neame has teamed up with local producers to present prime produce from the Garden of England at its pubs. Max Gosney reports: As...

Genuine Imported Beers: Import it

28-Jan-2005

Genuine imported beers are all set to fulfill their potential in 2005. Adam Withrington explains how and introduces us to NOFIBS.It has been touted...

Genuine Imported Beer: Sources

28-Jan-2005

Where do the UK's imported beers come from? Adam Withrington explains.North AmericaUS - JW Dundee range, Tennessee Cream Ale (International Brands),...

Genuine Imported Beers: US Beers

28-Jan-2005

Budweiser and Miller may be among the most obvious brands associated with the United States, but it's the genuine American imports that are causing a...

Boddingtons supporters fail to save ancient brewery site

27-Jan-2005

Interbrew UK is steaming ahead with the closure of the 226-year old Boddingtons brewery, despite the crusade to keep it open. The drinks giant first...

Genuine Imported Beers: Retailing

27-Jan-2005

If customers are forking out for an imported beer, make sure it's served properly.In theory, specialist imported beers represent a terrific...

Genuine Imported Beer: Range

27-Jan-2005

Drinkers are more discerning these days - be brave and vary your offer.Stocking the widest possible range of genuine imported beers is, for Tony...

SIBA speaks out on behalf of small brewers

27-Jan-2005

Pub companies are still failing to offer small brewers access to the market, according to the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).The trade...

Crazy for Ale

27-Jan-2005

A celebrity endorsement for a brand usually costs thousands of pounds. But when Madonna swore her allegiance to Timothy Taylor's Landlord, the phones...