Food & Drink

Positive outlook: chief executive Jonathan Neame

No room for mediocre pubs, says Shepherd Neame boss

By Nicholas Robinson

Shepherd Neame’s focus on revitalising its managed pub estate through investment and acquisition has provided great profits for the Kent-based operator, but that does not signal the demise of the independents.

Cask beer: What price is right?

Cask beer: What price is right?

By Sophie Atherton

How sustainable is cut-price cask beer, and what is the wider effect on the industry? The Morning Advertiser takes a look at the role of price in securing cask’s future

Educational: there are a huge range of books about for sale about beer

Six beer books to help educate your bar staff

By James Beeson

Last week, the Campaign for Real Ale released its 45th edition of the Good Beer Guide. The guide contains 4,500 of the “best real ale pubs in the UK” and information on every real ale brewery currently operating and its key beers.

Sales slow down: managed pubs have suffered recently

Managed pub, bar and restaurant sales slow down

By James Beeson

Like-for-like sales in Britain’s pub, bar and restaurant groups were ahead just 0.2% nationally compared to last August, according to the latest figures from the Coffer Peach Business Tracker.

Expert advice: beer sommelier Jane Peyton on how beer training for staff can benefits sales

Why it pays to educate your bar staff in beer

By Claire Churchard

Jane Peyton, beer writer and founder of the School of Booze, explains why educated bar staff can pave the way to higher profits for pubs and why paying more for quality beer is worth every penny. The Morning Advertiser caught up with her ahead of her...

Trend: brewers are developing new and exciting styles of coffee beers (Photo: Matthew Curtis/Good Beer Hunting)

Could coffee be the next big trend in craft beer?

By James Beeson

The image usually associated with coffee beer is that of a heavy, dark-coloured stout, with strong roasted malt aromas and harsh, bitter flavours. A niche product, enjoyable for those who want it, but not a mainstream drinks trend of any significance....

Warning: Good Beer Guide marks global brewers as threat to brewing. JPG

Global beer giants ‘stifling’ choice

By Nicholas Robinson

Brewing behemoths such as AB InBev have been marked as a threat to beer choice by the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA) Good Beer Guide.

Premium soft drinks still popular despite 'sugar levy'

Premium soft drinks still popular despite 'sugar levy'

By James Beeson

The looming sugar levy and changes to lifestyle choices are having a profound effect on the soft drinks market but with customers seeking to treat themselves on special occasions, premium options are still proving popular.

Hiver launches crowdfunding campaign

Hiver launches crowdfunding campaign

By Nikkie Sutton

Craft beer company Hiver has unveiled a crowdfunding campaign in a bid to raise cash for recruitment and nationwide marketing.

Misunderstood: Protz insisted good work done by CAMRA's volunteers ought to be recognised

Roger Protz: CAMRA must embrace craft keg beer

By James Beeson

CAMRA Good Beer Guide editor Roger Protz has urged CAMRA to accept and support modern ‘craft keg’ beer, but insists the organisation remains “as relevant as it has ever been”.

Boom: The biggest independent craft breweries have increased their turnover almost five-fold since 2011-12

UK top craft brewers turnover grows by 44%

By James Beeson

The turnover of the UK’s Top 30 independent craft brewers has risen 44% in just one year, reaching £125m, according to an online business finance supermarket.

Train to gain: sales increased with WSET spirits training

Training significantly grows spirits sales in pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Premium spirits sales could be given a 16.9% boost if operators invest in the right training for staff, the results of a new Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) study have shown.

Minority stake: Founder Dougal Gunn Sharp would remain the largest single shareholder

Innis & Gunn receives £15m investment offer

By James Beeson

Craft beer brewery Innis & Gunn has announced that a leading consumer-goods private equity firm has made an offer to buy a 27.9% stake in the business for around £15m. 

Misleading: breweries said was “perfectly possible” to produce beer within one decimal place of a targeted ABV.

Is Molson Coors’ claim about Carling ABV variation reasonable?

By James Beeson

Several breweries have cast doubt on Molson Coors’ claim that small ABV variances are a normal part of large-scale beer production, after the global drinks giant denied misleading customers over the strength of its flagship lager Carling. 

Spending more: consumers continue to buy less, but more premium alcoholic drinks

Posh plonk sales up in branded pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Brits are spending more to guzzle premium alcoholic drinks in branded pubs and fancy upmarket bars, CGA Alcohol Sales Tracker report data shows.

Check the fruit: one study found 70% of garnishes had bacterial growth

How to keep your garnishes clean and safe

By Nikkie Sutton

Keeping garnishes clean and ensuring bar staff keep their hands just as clean are two ways to prevent bacterial growth on the fruit that goes in drinks, according to experts.

Boom: 520 new breweries opened in the UK last year

Number of beer trademarks rises by 19%

By James Beeson

The number of new trademark registrations in the UK for beer brands has risen by 19% during last year, as larger drinks companies seek to introduce ‘craft’ products. 

Push: Vimto ceo Marnie Millard will push the brand further

Vimto CEO sees purple gold for soft drink's future

By Nicholas Robinson

Some see challenges that can not be overcome, while others, such as Marnie Millard, chief executive officer of multinational soft drinks business Nichols, see a chance to grow.

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