Food & Drink

New job: Emma McClarkin will start as BBPA boss in November

Former MEP named new BBPA boss

By Nikkie Thatcher

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has announced the appointment of global consultant Emma McClarkin as its new chief executive.

Worth the wait: expect sherry aromas, ripe fruits and an oak finish from Benromach’s new release

Benromach unveils rare 50-year-old single malt

By Alice Leader

Malt Whisky Trail member – Benromach Distillery – has revealed one of its rarest single malt releases after spending half a century maturing in a former sherry hogshead cask.

New event: exhibition will showcase the low-and-no alcohol sector

Low 2 No ABV show launched

By Alice Leader

Leading media business company William Reed has revealed it will be holding a new trade show designed to support the development of the low-to-no alcohol sector.

Brand rethink: the design revamp is ‘just the beginning’ according to Hobgoblin brand manager Jo Wyke

Hobgoblin gets 21st century facelift

By Stuart Stone

For the first time in its 31-year history, Hobgoblin and its portfolio of award-winning beers are being given a makeover.

Stepping down: SkinnyBrands founders will remain shareholders

Skinny Brands founders exit

By Alice Leader

The founders of low-calorie drinks producer Skinny Brands have stepped down after putting the company in the hands of a private equity investor.

Hot topic: Brits drink about 95m cups of coffee every day according to The British Coffee Association

Pubs considered a ‘coffee destination’

By Stuart Stone

Almost one in 10 customers (9%) rate coffee served in a pub as being better than that served by the likes of Pret A Manger, Costa Coffee or Starbucks according to new research.

Cocktail craze: pubgoers want visually appealing drinks but are tending towards simpler serves, Pontoon’s Simon Weston said

Drinkers seeking ‘purist’ cocktails

By Emily Hawkins

Simple serves will be the next big trend within the cocktail category out-of-home, according to the director of a pre-batch cocktail company.

Free-from: alcohol-free is big and you need to focus on it

MA500

‘Don’t judge low-and-no drinks on their sales’

By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs need to go all in on low-and-no alcohol drinks, whether the sales currently stack up or not because they may risk missing out on the genuinely rising demand for the category.

Trouble brewing: 'what’s become crystal clear is that SIBA is the only organisation fighting for the UK’s small independent craft brewers' says SIBA chief executive James Calder

My shout

Why SIBA is needed now, more than ever

By James Calder

Cask, keg, can and bottle; it doesn’t matter. The important things are quality, independence and the people behind the beer, according to SIBA (the Society of Independent Brewers) chief executive, James Calder.

Dropping down: overall beer sales also fell for the second quarter for 2019

Beer sales flop by 2.8%

By Nikkie Thatcher

On-trade beer sales have fallen by 2.8% in the second quarter of 2019, when compared to the same period last year, new data has revealed.

Concern: SIBA writes a letter to JDW's Tim Martin

JDW’s beer price cut a ‘significant concern’ for SIBA

By Nicholas Robinson

Tim Martin’s 20p average cut to beer prices across JD Wetherspoon’s 879 pubs is a “significant concern” to producers, according to the Society of Independent Brewers’ (SIBA) chief executive James Calder.

Recrowned: Greene King has changed its IPA formula plus fonts and glassware

Greene King IPA revamped

By Nicholas Robinson

Pub operator and brewer Greene King has tweaked the recipe of its flagship IPA cask beer to ensure the flavour and freshness of the product is maintained for longer.

Coming down: JDW boss Tim Martin has previously said beer prices at his pubs would drop if Brexit happened by the end of October

JDW cuts the price of a pint

By Nikkie Thatcher

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is dropping the price of a pint by an average of 20p across its 879 pubs.

Marketing spend: the new drink will be supported by a multimillion-pound marketing campaign

Jägermeister launches cold brew coffee

By Nikkie Thatcher

Spirit business Jägermeister has announced the launch of a cold brew coffee, available in the on and off-trade this month (September).

Average cost: there is an £1.11 difference between the most expensive and cheapest place for a pint in the UK

Average price of a pint rises by 10p

By Nikkie Thatcher

The average cost of a pint of beer has increased in the past year by 10p to £3.79, according to a national survey.

Local menus: Diageo's Ketel One Vodka has challenged bartenders to create sustainable drinks

One-mile sourcing competition for bartenders

By Emily Hawkins

Premium vodka brand Ketel One has challenged bartenders to make a cocktail menu using ingredients that are sourced within one square mile of their site.

Out with the old: new look for Old Speckled Hen

New look for Old Speckled Hen

By Nicholas Robinson

Greene King-owned ale brand Old Speckled Hen has revealed its new look, along with a reimagined font design and glassware.

Dropping down: wine sales across the on-trade have fallen

Wine sales still in decline

By Nikkie Thatcher

Total wine and Champagne volume sales in the UK remain in decline and have dropped by 2.4% year on year in pubs, according to new figures.

Take the edge off: a UK brewery that brews craft CBD beer says the product can be marketed to a wide range of pubgoers

Little interview

Cannabis-based drinks set to boom at pubs

By Emily Hawkins

The Morning Advertiser talked to one of the only UK breweries producing cannabidiol (CBD) beers how to stock and sell the up-and-coming drink.

No ruling against pubs: the name ‘Pornstar Martini’ can still be used in pubs and bars (credit: Matthew Atherden/gettyimages.co.uk)

Pubs can still serve ‘Pornstars’

By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs can continue to serve top-selling cocktail Pornstar Martini after alcohol watchdog Portman Group ordered Marks & Spencer (M&S) to change its RTD version of the drink.

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