Food & Drink

Campaign aims to branch out from 'inner cider circle'

03-Sep-2020 By Emily Hawkins

More than 30 cidermakers have united in a campaign to grow the visibility of cider among the British public and encourage punters to be adventurous within the category.

‘It was 50/50 whether BrewDog would make it through lockdown’

02-Sep-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The enforced coronavirus lockdown meant Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog lost 70% of its revenue overnight, causing co-founder James Watt serious concerns over whether the business would be able to trade once restrictions were lifted.

CAMRA blasted for ‘insensitive’ virtual GBBF glass design

01-Sep-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has been lambasted on social media for the design of this year's virtual Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) glass.

‘Interesting’ flavours help Brothers’ cider sales grow by two-thirds amid pandemic

27-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Somerset-based cidermaker Brothers has attributed a 69% year-on-year sales increase to the rollout of experimental pours including Tutti Frutti and Marshmallow variants.

Beavertown to open new £40m brewery

26-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Beavertown Brewery has announced it is launching ‘London’s largest brewery’, allowing 90,000,000 pints to be produced a year – 10 times more than at its current Tottenham location.

Small Brewers’ Forum aims to bridge gap between pubs and local beer makers

25-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

The newly formed Small Brewers’ Forum will work in tandem with the Forum of British Pubs to increase the flow of locally brewed beer into pubs.

BrewDog is now ‘carbon negative’

24-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Scottish brewer and operator BrewDog has announced it takes twice as much carbon out of the air as it emits in a bid to become the “world’s first carbon negative international beer business”.

BrewDog responds to supermarket 'take' on Punk IPA with new brew

21-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog has created a new beer after social media users posted images of a beer from supermarket Aldi resembling its flagship Punk IPA.

New product round-up

Fruit flavoured serves the pick of latest product launches

20-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

From a pair of passion fruit pours and a tayberry tipple to the launch of a trio of schnapps serves, there are berry rich pickings for operators among the glut of new fruit flavoured products in this week's round-up.

Carlsberg and Marston’s joint venture ‘must not stifle competition’

20-Aug-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Phase one of the investigation into the proposed Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company joint venture has now been launched by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Video

Fear table service will stunt small drinks brands

19-Aug-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Smaller drinks producers fear table service will stifle sales as consumers won’t be able to see a pub’s full range, a craft gin maker has said.

Corona still world’s most valuable beer brand despite namesake virus outbreak

17-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Despite £112m dropping off its brand value in the past year and a name clash with a global pandemic, Corona remains the world’s most valuable beer brand according to Brand Finance.

New product round-up

Wave of spirits, low-calorie seltzers and spritzes floods post-lockdown market

14-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

The past week has seen Signature Brew join forces with Mercury Prize shortlisted Sports Team, Bowmore announce a £50,000 limited-edition whisky in tandem with Aston Martin and a host of low-calorie pours hit the market.

Petition demanding Government U-Turn on SBR passes 7k signatures in first day

11-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

A petition calling on the Government to reverse proposed changes to the Small Brewers Relief (SBR) threshold has received more than 7,000 signatures in 24 hours.

Average price of a pint rises by four times the rate of inflation

07-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

The average cost of a pint in the UK has risen by 24p to £3.94 during 2020 – an increase of 6%, or four times the rate of inflation, according to new research.

SBR changes: hastening job losses and limiting choice or correcting ‘market distortion’?

07-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

The Morning Advertiser (MA) spoke to a number of brewers-cum-bar operators about the recent changes to Small Brewers Relief (SBR) and the impact it could have on both their businesses and the wider pub sector.

NEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

Bacardi and Dead Man’s Fingers grow rum range

06-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Both Bacardi and Dead Man’s Fingers have added new variants ahead of National Rum Day on 16 August, while Everards and Robinsons have launched limited edition beers.

Music fans can fight back against closures with new brews

05-Aug-2020 By Emily Hawkins

A brewery has launched a series of beers to support a campaign to save small music venues across the country as they remain closed because of coronavirus restrictions.

Big Interview

From bombs to beer – AB InBev’s new UK head of on-trade talks pubs

04-Aug-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Yes that’s right, from bombs to beer. As it turns out, Budweiser Brewing Group’s (BBG) recently appointed on-trade sales director for the UK and Ireland Ryan Fritsch has an extensive background in bomb defusal, a skill he’s hopefully unlikely to need...

Diageo records 4% GB sales slump as global profit halves

04-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Beverage behemoth Diageo recorded a 4% drop in net sales in Great Britain as the company saw its global operating profit cut by 47.1% by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Coca-Cola launches free stock and advertising support for pubs

03-Aug-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Major soft drinks supplier Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) has launched a raft of additional support for pubs in the form of complimentary stock, paid advertising and free menu creation.

Pub and restaurant sales increase by more than a third week-on-week

31-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

Latest figures have revealed that trading in managed pubs, bars and restaurants has been ‘more steady than sensational’ as the sector looks to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Coca-Cola pledges to support pubs in its 'Open Like Never Before' push

30-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Coca-Cola Great Britain has launched a new campaign, Open Like Never Before, which focuses on the social changes that have occurred during the coronavirus pandemic, encouraging people to find opportunity in the ‘new normal’.

CMA probe delays completion of Marston’s and Carlsberg joint venture

28-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

The joint venture between Marston’s Brewing Business and Carlsberg’s UK division to create a giant beer company will be investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), rather than the European Commission.

In association with BrewDog

Why draught alcohol-free beer is a winner

28-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

Alcohol-free beer has long been the preserve of the fridge, but new brewing techniques and a 'punk' focus could see that change as BrewDog looks to put its stink on the sprouting category.

Coca Cola extends shelf life on bag-in-box drinks

21-Jul-2020 By Emily Hawkins

Coca Cola European Partners (CCEP) has sought to reassure publicans it has sent out high-quality products despite changing the labels on some soft drinks deliveries to extend their best before date.

In association with Molson Coors

Understanding consumers to rebuild your business

16-Jul-2020 By MA editorial

The re-opening of pubs, bars and restaurants has been long awaited, with enforced closures of 15 or more weeks being something that is truly unprecedented for the industry.

Little interview

‘When pubs and bars closed about 85% of our volume suddenly just dropped off’

15-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

Beavertown founder Logan Plant reflects on how his Heineken-backed north London brewery has forged new relationships with drinkers after losing almost 90% of its business during lockdown.

Great British Pub Awards

Coca-Cola pledges £165k for GBPA winners

15-Jul-2020 By Chris Lowe

Coca-Cola has created a special Community Pub Fund of £165,000 to be shared between this year’s 15 Great British Pub Awards (GBPA) Pub Heroes winners as a thank you for supporting communities during the coronavirus pandemic and to help give their businesses...

CAMRA urges CMA to investigate Carlsberg and Marston’s joint venture

15-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has called upon the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ‘step up to the plate’ and investigate the creation of the Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company.

Promoted Content in Association with Booker

How has lockdown changed pub menus and how are publicans going to start to grow their food business again?

14-Jul-2020 By MA Editorial

The Morning Advertiser talks to Simon King, sales director at Booker and Makro to understand what trends the wholesaler has been seeing during lockdown and how this will help operators moving forward.

Beer is returning pub-goers' favourite drink but reopening weekend sales still down

14-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Overall drinks sales across managed pubs and bars were 49% down on pre-lockdown levels on Saturday 4 July and 52% down on Sunday 5 July, new research has found.

The MA new product review

6 O'Clock Gin launches two new flavours

14-Jul-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Craft gin producer 6 O'Clock Gin has launched a new series of ready-to-drink products to its range. Find out more by watching the latest MA New Products Review video

Heineken responds to ‘relabelling’ keg claims

13-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Global brewer Heineken has responded to claims it had been relabelling kegs of beer that had previously been taken from pubs amid the lockdown to replace, with new best before dates.

Covid-19 crisis can ‘sharpen focus’ on hospitality as a highly skilled sector

10-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

The founder of East London Liquor Company has stressed that the trials and tribulations of the Covid-19 lockdown can help the hospitality sector shake off its reputation for being low skilled.

Labour leader poses with BrewDog Barnard Castle Eye Test beer

07-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer visited Scottish brewer and operator BrewDog’s Tower Hill pub in the City of London to discuss the group's reopening and posed with a can of its Barnard Castle Eye Test beer.

In association with Kopparberg

Spiked sales: why operators shouldn’t go soft on hard seltzer

06-Jul-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Hard seltzers have been quietly making their way up the drinks trends ladder and establishing themselves in consumer repertoires – but what is this nascent category and is it worth pub and bar operators tapping into?

In association with Kopparberg

Which fruit cider trends are ripe for the picking post-lockdown?

03-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

As pubs prepare for a summer start to life after lockdown, MA asks what aspects of a carefully harvested fruit cider offer can give operators another bite at the cherry.

The MA New Product Video Review

Taste test: Fourpure ‘No Passport Required’ beers

02-Jul-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Fourpure has launches a series of six beers to take drinkers on a ‘no passport required’ journey, featuring a gose, a SIPA, two sours, a DIPA and a coffee stout.

SIBA announces posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award for Roger Ryman

02-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has announced the posthumous award of a Silver Tankard Lifetime Achievement Award to former St Austell brewing director Roger Ryman for his services to the industry.

Coca-Cola pledges pub support in the months ahead

02-Jul-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

The UK’s largest producer of soft drinks for the pub and bar sector Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) has outlined its intentions to bolster its UK on-trade support including free stock for outlets, bigger wholesale offers, as well as operational support...

Opinion

What cellar management tips can help reopened pubs save money?

01-Jul-2020 By Jeff Singer, Beer Piper

With Britain’s pub and bar industry still riding out the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s natural that operators and bar managers will be looking at ways to operate as efficiently as possible when they open again.

In association with Heineken

Advice: what beer and how much should you stock for reopening?

29-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Fish and chips, cake and custard, gin and tonic - one would not be the same without the other and the same is certainly said for beer and pubs.

Promoted content in association with Guinness

How to serve the perfect pint of Guinness

25-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Being the granddaddy of beer, Guinness is held to a high standard by consumers across the UK who will expect their first draught pint of the world-famous stout to be perfect on their return to the pub. But what exactly does that entail?

In association with Diageo

How to sell spirits post-lockdown

24-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

What will customers want when the pub trade reopens is the million-pound question operators across the UK are likely to be asking as they prepare their sites for the first influx of socially distanced punters. And following a steady uptick in sales over...

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