Food & Drink

Carlsberg hoping for Mads success with Export relaunch

20-Apr-2017 By Ed Bedington

Carlsberg is set to launch a £15m revitalisation of its brands this Friday (21 April) with a campaign fronted by Danish superstar actor Mads Mikkelsen.

Tequila sales soaring thanks to cocktails

20-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Sales of Tequila are on the up as consumers move from drinking shots and towards enjoying it in cocktails or as a sipping spirit.

Hobgoblin unveils partnership with Spotify

20-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Hobgoblin beer is joining forces with music streaming service Spotify to form a campaign in a bid to celebrate the behind-the-scenes people of famous bands.

Pubs warned ‘watch out for duty cheats’ after rules tightened

19-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD) has urged pubs to be vigilant when purchasing alcohol following the introduction of tougher wholesale registration rules.

There’s A Beer For That reveals plans for driving beer growth

19-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

There’s A Beer For That (TABFT) has unveiled two major partnerships and details on its extensive marketing programme in a bid to drive beer growth.

Carling Premier back on the bar for the on-trade

18-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Beer giant Carling has announced the official relaunch of its premium lager, Carling Premier in response to fans voicing their support for the beer on social media.

Bottlegreen unveils new flavours

18-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

SHS Drinks has announced two new flavours to its Bottlegreen sparkling pressé – Fruity Raspberry Lemonade and Refreshing Ginger Beer.

Turn up the heat on your summertime drinks offer

18-Apr-2017 By Alison Baker

Visiting the pub during summer is a quintessential British trait. And whether your customers are driving or enjoying an alcoholic drink, there’s room for softs and spirits at your site. Alison Baker reports.

Number of distilleries up thanks to gin boom

18-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The registration of new distilleries rose by almost a fifth (17%) last year, according to a report from the Wine & Spirit Trade Association WSTA), which is based on data from HM Revenue & Customs.

Innis & Gunn launches largest Beer Kitchen

12-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Scottish brewer and pub operator Innis & Gunn has launched its fourth and largest Beer Kitchen concept in Glasgow’s West End, with its own onsite microbrewery.

Wadworth 'transforms' beer bottle range

12-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Pub operator and brewer Wadworth has unveiled a new look for its bottled beer range after the relaunch of its flagship 6X ale.

7 day beer line cleaning rule ‘not strictly true’

12-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Cleaning beer lines every seven days is not necessarily the tell of good hygiene, on-trade cellar sanitisation firm Avani has claimed after a report outed the ‘dirtiest’ beer in Britain.

Doom Bar to become official beer for British & Irish Lions tour

11-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Doom Bar has become an official sponsor for the British & Irish Lions 2017 rugby union tour to New Zealand.

Rock ’n’ Roll star Sting speaks about his vineyard, love of wine, and singing in cellars

11-Apr-2017 By Georgina Townshend

Sitting poised in an elegant and dark underground restaurant, a stone’s throw from The Ritz, journalists and wine enthusiasts sit not so close to each other sipping – some spitting – wines made from Rock ’n’ Roll legend Sting’s Tuscan vineyard.

Diageo launches limited-edition Cîroc Summer Colada

11-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Spirits giant Diageo has unveiled Cîroc’s first limited-edition variant, Cîroc Summer Colada to its portfolio.

Big Interview

The man behind the cask: Marston’s MD on real ale

11-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Controversy is following cask ale of late. Brewers, fans and critics have all condemned the rise of substandard pints in pubs, as well as the fact much of the trade is selling the beverage too cheaply.

Pricey booze steadies wet sales in pubs

10-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Expensive alcohol is helping pubs, bars and restaurants to increase or maintain profits from wet sales as consumers look for more premium experiences.

BrewDog’s £213m private equity deal is ‘opposite of a sell-out’ says co-founder

10-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

BrewDog has defended its decision to sell 22% of the company to private equity firm TSG Consumer Partners claiming the deal is not a sell-out.

Cask Marque’s first bar staff training plan

10-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Real ale champions at Cask Marque have revealed plans to produce the pub trade’s first comprehensive training scheme to help the sector serve cask ale at its best.

Where are the ‘dirtiest’ pints in Britain?

06-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Operators in the south-west of England have been called out by this year’s Beer Quality Report as the most likely in the UK to pour pints from unclean lines.

Bad beer puts pubs at risk of ruin

06-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs face potential ruin if they do not improve the quality of their beer, especially in an environment of increased costs and competition from the likes of coffee shops and fast-food outlets, sector experts have warned.

Magners unveils draught dark fruit flavour cider

06-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Irish cider maker Magners has revealed a new flavour to its portfolio – Magners Dark Fruit.

Meantime best-sellers now in cans

06-Apr-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Meantime is launching three of its core beers in 330ml cans.

Vimto launches still spring water drink

06-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Vimto is set to enter the flavoured water category for the first time with the launch of Vim2o.

Jack Daniel’s launches new Tennessee Cider

06-Apr-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Jack Daniel’s (JD) has set its sights on the UK cider market with the launch of whiskey-blended Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Cider to the on-trade.

Derby Brewing Company launches crowdfunding campaign

06-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Thanks to a decade of unprecedented growth of more than 700%, Derby Brewing Company has offered its customers the opportunity to become part of the business.

St Peter’s Brewery secures deal with Mitchells & Butlers

05-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

As part of its strategy to offer drinkers more choice, pub giant Mitchells & Butlers has struck a deal to sell St Peter’s no-ABV beer in more than 700 of its sites this month (April).

Game of Thrones beer created to mark show’s seventh season

05-Apr-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Brewer and pubco Robinsons has created a new beer to mark the impending seventh season of the hit HBO show Game of Thrones.

William Grant brings Drambuie into its portfolio

05-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

William Grant has announced that whisky liqueur brand Drambuie will join its portfolio of premium spirits.

Ten brewers in bid to develop apprenticeship standard

05-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

A group of 10 brewers have submitted an ‘expression of interest’ to the Government in a bid to develop a new brewing apprenticeship standard.

Matthew Clark expands 'boutique' craft beer range for 2017

04-Apr-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Drinks wholesaler Matthew Clark has unveiled a new range of premium beers for its on-trade customers.

St Austell rebrands wine division

03-Apr-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

Cornish brewer and pubco St Austell has rebranded and relaunched its dedicated wine division.

Carling unveils community campaign

03-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Carling has launched a campaign to give something back to communities and customers across the UK.

‘Lickable’ menus, hippo petting zoos and job-stealing dogs: the best April Fools gags

03-Apr-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

From some questionable menu innovation by Flaming Grill to horseplay from Robinson’s Brewery, it’s clear the pub trade was feeling silly this weekend. Here’s our round up of the best April Fools gags from across the sector.

CAMRA tables motion to 'accept' craft beer

03-Apr-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) members are set to discuss the future of the organisation, the potential to reduce restrictions on labelling and whether the term 'craft beer' will be accepted.

Halewood backs City of London Distillery

03-Apr-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The City of London Distillery is set to gain new routes to the gin market thanks to 'strategic' investment from Halewood Wines & Spirits.

Why the apple is back on top for cider

31-Mar-2017 By Nigel Huddleston

Cider makers are convinced the apple is back and more drinkers will be enjoying the original ingredient with a more artisanal approach in the upcoming months and years. But there’s still plenty of interest in flavoured varieties.

Future Trends: Beer and Cider

Top beer and cider launches of 2017

31-Mar-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Beer and cider producers are taking advantage of healthy on-trade sales and have already launched dozens of new products this year; here we look at just a few of the biggest so far in 2017.

North Brewing Co unveils new sour beer

31-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The Best Brewing Pub Company winner at this year's Publican Awards – North Brewing Co – has revealed a new sour beer, among a flurry of other launches.

Westons launches Rosie’s Pig Rusted Wheel cherry cloudy cider

31-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Westons has expanded its portfolio with a new cherry-flavoured cloudy cider – Rosie’s Pig Rusted Wheel.

Four big pubcos commit to Beer Day Britain

30-Mar-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Punch, Fuller's, Shepherd Neame and the Ei Group will take part in the national celebration Beer Day Britain, which was founded three years ago to support British brewers and pubs.

Analysis

Has BrewDog bitten the hand that feeds?

30-Mar-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

BrewDog’s trademark dispute with an independent pub is likely to have upset many beer aficionados. But experts say James Watt’s craft beer behemoth acted the way many companies of its size do to protect intellectual property. Was BrewDog really out of...

SIBA celebrates highest BeerX attendance since launch

30-Mar-2017 By Georgina Townshend

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has said this year’s BeerX event had its biggest attendance since launching in 2013.

In association with Diageo

5 twists on the classic gin and tonic

30-Mar-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Look at these five twists on the classic gin and tonic, perfect for summer cocktail menus, which can add a touch of excitement to your offer.

BrewDog hits back at pub name debacle

29-Mar-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

BrewDog pleads “please don’t steal our trademarks” in a blog post following the dispute over a Birmingham pub name that left the brewer and pub operator criticised by consumers.

WSTA urges close relationship with EU as Article 50 trigger looms

29-Mar-2017 By Daniel Woolfson

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has urged the Government to protect the British wine and spirits industry by maintaining a “special relationship” with Europe as Theresa May kicks off Brexit negotiations this week.