Food & Drink

MA500

How to get your soft drinks offer right

13-Sep-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

The soft drinks market is worth more than £14bn and operators need to ensure they are tapping into this with a strong offer, the MA500 crowd heard in Sheffield today (13 September).

Honey beer Hiver launches in cans

13-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Specialist brewer Hiver has launched its original Honey Blonde and its Honey IPA in cans, with further plans to launch seasonal variants in the works.

Sheffield-based Sentinel Brewery announces closure

13-Sep-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Sentinel Brewery has announced the closure of its bar, explaining “praise and awards don’t pay the bills”.

New wave of socially conscious brewers emerging

13-Sep-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

There is a resurgence of independent breweries, with many putting social responsibility at the core, according to a new guide.

In association with Diageo

Vodka is the biggest, but what's next?

12-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Spirits giant vodka is holding its own in an increasingly busy drinks market that is dominated by ongoing chattering about sister white spirit gin. While vodka has a lot going for it, producers understand there are areas where its performance could be...

‘You’ve been Tangoed’ – Britvic celebrates 80 years with ad show reel

12-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

From humble beginnings in an Essex chemist in 1938, Britvic has expanded during the past eight decades to become one of the largest soft drinks suppliers in the world, pumping out 2.3bn litres of drinks a year.

Curious Brew lowers IPA ABV to 4.4%

12-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Chapel Down-owned beer producer Curious Brew has ditched its Curious IPA and replaced it with new lower-strength Curious Session IPA, following consumer trends for lower-strength beers.

BrewDog offers punters trade up on ‘generic’ beers

12-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

BrewDog is telling its customers to bin their ‘generic’ beers in its bars in exchange for a pint of the brewery’s new Lost Lager as part of its Bad Beer Amnesty.

Cider industry fights for 2p tax break

12-Sep-2018 By Ed Bedington

Government policy on cider needs to be based on factual evidence and not “misinformation”, claims the incoming chair of the National Association of Cider Makers.

Jagermeister and French brandies ditched by JDW

12-Sep-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

JD Wetherspoon is taking three drinks off its drinks menu and replacing them with tipples from outside of the EU.

Trade welcomes ‘drink less alcohol’ campaign

11-Sep-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Pub trade associations have welcomed a new campaign from Public Health England (PHE) and Drinkaware to help drinkers cut down on their alcohol.

Can full-strength beer be as healthy as low-alcohol alternatives?

11-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

Low-alcohol beers are often seen as the healthy option in the pub, but are there other full-strength alternatives for those seeking to reduce their calorie intake?

In association with Mallets

World EXCLUSIVE: The first interview with the God of Cider

10-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

There’s more to being an aeons-old God of Cider than posing atop huge mounds of russets with a hurricane blowing through your lustrous locks. Shepton, the new face (and biceps and loincloth) of Mallets Cider, spills the apples to The Morning Advertiser...

GBPA finalist announces sudden closure

07-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

Mason & Company, the canal-side craft beer bar in Hackney Wick, has announced that it is to close with immediate effect.

Leading English winemaker expands with 388 new acres on North Downs

06-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

English winemaker Chapel Down Group has exchanged on an agreement to lease 388 acres of prime viticultural land adjoining its existing vineyards on the North Downs.

Harvey’s named UK Brewery of the Year at International Beer Challenge

06-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

Harvey’s Brewery has been named UK Brewer of the Year 2018 at the International Beer Challenge Awards in London this week, having secured the most points of any UK brewery in the medals table.

Scottish Gin Society falls foul of advertising regulators

05-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

A gin appreciation society has been warned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over a series of posts that appeared on its Facebook site.

Hogs Back undertakes final hop harvest before new garden move

05-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

The fourth and final harvest of Hogs Back Brewery’s current hop garden has gotten under way, with the Surrey brewery predicting a top-quality harvest.

4 coffee trends that are hot right now

05-Sep-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Iced coffee, milk alternatives, training and understanding coffee drinkers’ behaviour are the four top things operators need to ensure they are doing to attract hot drink consumers, according to new research.

Menabrea transports pubgoers to Italy with new VR pub experience

04-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

Premium Italian beer brand Menabrea is giving drinkers the chance to enjoy a pint in northern Italy without leaving their local pub.

Westons gears up to make 60m litres of cider

03-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Cider maker Westons has reshuffled its senior team in preparation to ramp up production to 60m litres by 2022.

BrewDog’s best (and worst) marketing stunts

03-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

Like it or loathe it, BrewDog has been an unavoidable figure in the British brewing renaissance over the last decade.

Hawkes to take cider production to the US

03-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

BrewDog-backed cider company Hawkes is to start production across The Pond.

Black Storm Brewery buys gluten-free microbrewer

03-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

Whitley Bay-based Black Storm has announced the acquisition of Seaham-based microbrewery, Autumn Brewing Co.

Dark Star shifts ‘some’ Hophead production to Fuller’s

31-Aug-2018 By James Beeson

Sussex brewery Dark Star has confirmed that some of its flagship Hophead pale ale is being produced in London at Fuller’s Griffin Brewery.

Costa could be seen ‘absolutely everywhere’, including pubs

31-Aug-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Coca-Cola’s acquisition of Costa from Whitbread could result in the brand being seen "everywhere", including vending machines, hotels, restaurants, pubs and cafés.

Aston Manor Cider bought by French firm

31-Aug-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Aston Manor Cider has been bought by French farming and food co-operative Agrial for an undisclosed sum.

Shortlist revealed for 2018 Beer & Cider Marketing Awards

31-Aug-2018 By James Beeson

The best marketing and campaigns in the beer and cider industry will be recognised at London’s Truman Brewery on 20 September.

Why do craft beers cost the price they do?

31-Aug-2018 By James Beeson

The price of a pint is always a subject of much discussion and debate within the beer industry.

'Overcrowded' beer market could lead to more craft brewery buyouts

29-Aug-2018 By James Beeson

New research into the UK’s brewing industry suggests that the spate of recent acquisitions of small craft breweries by multinationals could become a wider industry trend.

Beer removed from pub over ‘outdated’ and ‘nasty’ pump clip row

29-Aug-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

A West Sussex pub has withdrawn a beer from its bar after a dispute about the brew’s branding, which featured a woman on the pump clip.

Cognac and whisky grow Pernod Ricard’s sales

29-Aug-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Spirits supplier Pernod Ricard, owner of Beefeater gin and Absolut vodka, has reported an overall sales increase of 6%, driven by its cognac and whisky brands.

Big Drop Brewing Co announces first national on-trade listing

29-Aug-2018 By James Beeson

Low-alcohol beer brand Big Drop Brewing Co has announced a listing with Mitchells & Butlers (M&B) – its first with a national on-trade partner.

English and Welsh whisky trail launched

29-Aug-2018 By James Beeson

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has launched an English and Welsh whisky trail to celebrate the growth of a sector that lay dormant for more than a century.

Longflint Drinks Co secures listings with Fuller’s and Brewhouse & Kitchen

28-Aug-2018 By James Beeson

East London drinks company Longflint Drinks Co has announced a listing of its craft bottled cocktails with the Brewhouse & Kitchen group and 22 Fuller's pubs across London and the south-east.

Euroboozer secures exclusive UK distribution of Mikkeller

28-Aug-2018 By James Beeson

Specialist beer importer Euroboozer is to exclusively distribute beers from Danish cuckoo brewery Mikkeller in the UK.

Outraged Hindus urge brewer to remove ‘inappropriate’ beer from range

24-Aug-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Upset Hindus have called for a brewery to withdraw a beer that features a goddess of time and change on the packaging, deeming it “highly inappropriate”.

Adnams jumps on the pink gin bandwagon

24-Aug-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Suffolk brewer and distiller Adnams has launched a new Copper House Pink Gin today (Friday 24 August) in time for the bank holiday weekend.

BrewDog announces ‘substantial growth’ across entire business

24-Aug-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Scottish brewer and operator BrewDog has announced its half-year trading update showing growth across all areas of domestic and international business.

Bottle failure at BrewDog Overworks costs brewer 'hundreds of thousands'

22-Aug-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Scottish brewer and operator BrewDog has announced a ‘painful setback’ to its new beer launch at its OverWorks taproom in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.

Brewery discontinues sale of ‘Suicider’ after complaint

21-Aug-2018 By Emily Hawkins

A Devon-based brewery has said it will no longer sell a cider called ‘Suicider’, after it was called insensitive at a music festival.

Opinion: a real tonic for demystification

21-Aug-2018 By Pete Brown

Pete Brown waxes lyrical over the superb marketing of tonic water (and gin) specialist Fever-Tree

Operator refuses to adopt Bombardier branding after it drops references to England

20-Aug-2018 By Stuart Stone

The operator of a Kent pub has described the de-Anglicising of Bombardier's branding as “horrendous”.

Golden rum 'will not be the next big spirit'

17-Aug-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Irish whiskey will be the next ‘big thing’ in the spirits market, according to drinks brand Pernod Ricard.

Northern Monk to host first UK pours of rare US beers

16-Aug-2018 By James Beeson

Four of New York’s most sought-after breweries are to pour beers as part of Northern Monk Brew Co’s upcoming Hop City Sessions event, the Leeds-based brewery has revealed.