Food & Drink

Research

One fifth not willing to pay £3 for a pint as lager sales fall

15-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

A fifth of UK beer drinkers are not willing to pay more than £2.99 for a pint, while lager sales are struggling amid increasing competition from ales and bitters, according to new research.

Comment

Is this the end of craft beer?

14-Jan-2016 By Roger Protz

As ‘Big Beer’ turns to microbreweries, Roger Protz worries for the future of craft ales.

Heineken responds to "moderately drinking" millennials

14-Jan-2016 By Jessica Mason

Heineken has launched a new responsibility campaign named ‘Moderate Drinkers Wanted’ in response to new research into drinking attitudes of millennials.

Monster launches zero calorie energy drink

14-Jan-2016 By Jessica Mason

Monster Ultra, which will be available in 355ml embossed cans, will be “lighter tasting” and positioned as both a soft drink and a mixer that is suitable for any time of day to appeal to a broader range of people and not just fans of energy drinks.

Funding for brewers

Brewers Research and Education Fund open for applications

14-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

A major grant for scientific research and education in the brewing industry has opened for applications.

Three brewers push ahead with beer price rises

14-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Three major brewers have revealed their wholesale beer price rises for 2016 in a move likely to anger many licensees.

Beer

Profit fears over 'undrinkable beer' from the Punch Tenant Network

14-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Not enough is being done to inform licensees how much drinkable beer is in a barrel, leading to potential confusion over missing profits, according to one campaigning licensee.

Beer

SIBA announces 20 brewery bars for BeerX

12-Jan-2016 By James Evison

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has announced the 20 breweries which will feature at bars in its national trade show and beer festival, BeerX.

Calorie labelling

Industry 'open-minded' to calorie labelling as more brewers look to join scheme

11-Jan-2016 By Oli Gross

Calorie labelling on beer is gathering momentum as more brewers are set to sign up for a voluntary scheme.

Coca-Cola 'second serve' training offers #TryJanuary advice to licensees

11-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has launched the second wave of its online training programme, alongside a new ‘make the most of January’ scratch card prize giveaway, to help licensees drive soft-drink sales over the slow January period. 

Asahi readies £2bn bid for SABMiller brands Grolsch and Peroni

11-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

The next chapter of the AB InBev-SABMiller “megabrew” saga looks set to begin as national reports suggest Japanese drinks company Asahi Group Holdings Ltd will enter the bidding for Grolsch and Peroni beer brands later this week. 

Reasons to be involved in Beer Day Britain

08-Jan-2016 By Jessica Mason

Beer Day Britain is the country’s national beer day and it happens on 15 June. This date is significant because it is the date that Magna Carta was sealed in 1215. Ale is mentioned in Clause 35 of Magna Carta.

Research: Pubs benefit from spending increase during December

08-Jan-2016 By M&C Allegra

Consumers helped themselves to a generous measure of Christmas cheer during December, increasing spending across all major categories including pubs and restaurants, according to the latest data from Barclaycard.

Leeds bar owner fined £20,000 after man is forced to have oesophagus removed

08-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

A Leeds Bar owner has been fined £20,000 after serving beer accidentally containing caustic soda, leaving one drinker with such severe internal injuries his oesophagus had to be removed.

Plummeting supermarket beer prices increase pressure on pubs

07-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

Pubs struggling to compete with supermarket margins have received a fresh blow as the price of premium bottled ale continues to plummet in the off-trade, according to the December issue of Butcombe Brewery's Premium Bottled Ale Report.

AB InBev pledges calorie labels for beer

06-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

AB InBev UK has announced it will provide full nutritional information for its beers both on packs and online.

Trade told: be on your guard against counterfeit alcohol or risk consequences

06-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Licensees have received fresh warnings to be on their guard against convincing counterfeit alcohol.

News of the Brews

05-Jan-2016 By Ben Winstanley

New year, new beer! This is the first news of the brews of 2016, bringing you the latest in all things happy.

Beer

Backlash against beer price hike gains momentum

04-Jan-2016 By Emily Sutherland

Another leading operator has joined the growing backlash against big brewers upping their beer prices this New Year and warned the cost of a pint could soon be out of reach for some consumers. 

#TryJanuary

Vegetarian food draws customers to pubs in January

04-Jan-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Heavily-promoting healthy food options in January can tempt fat-fighting consumers through pub doors during the period of self-restraint, a vegetarian and vegan food distributor has claimed.

Trends

Healthy food options: what's coming in 2016?

04-Jan-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

As more people decide they know what’s best for their own health, Alison Baker looks at how pubs can offer food and drink to meet requirements

Trends

The top pub food for 2016? Jamaican Jerk and 'dude food'

04-Jan-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Turtle Bay’s planned rollout across the UK will drive demand for Jamaican Jerk in pubs, Spirit Pub Company’s former menu development executive Carl Newey has predicted.

Trends

Top 12 food trends for 2016, reveals Mintel

04-Jan-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Alternatives to meat and dairy will be the top of consumers’ priorities this year, according to market researchers Mintel.

Craft beer

BrewDog seeks to protect itself from "bland industrial beer" takeover

23-Dec-2015 By MC Allegra

BrewDog is proposing amending its articles of association, ruling out a takeover by any “monolithic purveyor of bland industrial beer”.

Buying craft: AB InBev & Camden Town

22-Dec-2015 By Jessica Mason

Imagine you started every relationship with the knowledge that it would end in divorce.

analysis

Alcohol-free beer no longer a pint sized issue

22-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

Alcohol-free beer is growing in popularity in Britain, according to new research released by AB InBev UK, and the largest beer company in the world is making steps towards growing its portfolio in response.

Beer

Camden's AB InBev buyout: Q&A with founder - and Twitter response

21-Dec-2015 By Oli Gross

There’s been a mixed reaction to AB InBev’s buyout of Camden Town Brewery from beer lovers – some say it’s disappointing for the world of craft beer, while others see it as a natural progression for a brand growing in popularity. Founder of the brewery...

Craft Beer

BrewDog ditches Camden Town Brewery after ABInBev buyout

21-Dec-2015 By Oli Gross

ABInBev has bought Camden Town Brewery to ‘pave the way for further expansion’, and BrewDog has immediately reacted by ditching the beer from its bars.

Analysis

Young 'ginthusiasts' drive spirits growth

17-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

Younger consumers are the most likely to drink gin and are driving sales to an all-time high, according to new research from Mintel's Gin Report.

Sky and Molson Coors announce 'transfer window' pint

17-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

Sky and Molson Coors have today announced the national launch of Done Deal, a special edition beer created to celebrate football’s January transfer window.

Pub industry still faces 'tremendous' tax challenges, MPs told

16-Dec-2015 By Ed Bedington

The beer and pub industry still faces tremendous tax challenges, MPs to the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group were told last week.

News of the brews: Christmas edition

16-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

This is a very festive news of the brews, a definitive guide to the latest in all things hoppy in time for Christmas.

beer

Belgian brewery St Stefanus introduce cellaring beer concept

16-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

Belgian Abbey beer St Stefanus is introducing the concept of cellaring beer to the on-trade. 

Spirits

Pernod Ricard improves 'responsible drinking' measures

16-Dec-2015 By Jessica Mason

Pernod Ricard has expanded its measures promoting 'responsible drinking' across its entire portfolio.

Beer

Star Wars rebel forces deface beer

15-Dec-2015 By Luke Skywalker

In a brewery far, far away…

Operator criticises brewers

Call to take action on beer price hikes

14-Dec-2015 By Emily Sutherland

A leading operator has hit out against price rises from big brewers and called on fellow publicans to put pressure on them to lower prices.

Who will be crowned top tipple at the Sloe Gin World Championships?

11-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

Sloe gin makers from across the world are descending on the George Inn near Tunbridge Wells to vie for the coveted ‘Sloe Ginster World Champion’ title. 

How big brewers can make craft beer

11-Dec-2015 By Jessica Mason

I'm going to explain about craft beer.

C&C Group announce long term partnership with Pabst Brewing Company

11-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

Magners producer C&C Group has announced a long term partnership with Pabst Brewing Company for the sale and distribution of its cider brands in the US.

Crowdfunding success for Cotswolds Distillery

11-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

The Cotswolds Distillery, based in Stourton, has reached its £500.5k target through a crowdfunding push on Crowdbnk in only seven days.

Top beer stories

Are the times a 'changin for the term 'craft beer'?

11-Dec-2015 By Pete Brown

Up until now craft beer has been pretty much the sole domain of small-scale brewers. But, as Pete Brown discovers, times are changing and the revolution is starting to make the big boys act.

Analysis

Flexitarian diets set to rocket in 2016

10-Dec-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

The popularity of flexitarianism is set to reach new heights in 2016, following recent figures from consumer analyst Mintel that showed 35% of Brits now identified as ‘semi-vegetarian’.

Insight

What will be the big drinks trends for 2016?

10-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

From experience-led ‘big weekenders’ to older generations pushing premium spirits, what drinks trends should the on-trade brace for in 2016? Bibendum PLB’s Insights team have drawn their own predictions from various sources and the results are in.  

Drinks

Can drinks brands successfully embrace 'craft culture'?

10-Dec-2015 By Chris Walmsley

Drinks brands must be careful not to become a cliché when embracing 'craft culture'.

All day dining boosts pub food sales

10-Dec-2015 By Nicholas Robinson

As consumers become increasingly demanding and more inclined to turn their backs on traditional mealtimes, pubs need to change tack to keep pace. Nicholas Robinson reports on an All Day Dining Event that looked in detail at this trend

Legislation

Allergens law anniversary: pubs struggle with consumer demand

09-Dec-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Pubs are still failing to provide a wider enough choice of dishes for customers with specialist diets since the introduction of EU legislation on allergens one year ago, new research claims.

Back bar bulletin

09-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

Spirits to softs and cocktails to cider, your essential round-up of what's hot on the back bar.

Beer

Beer 'maven' Glenn Payne dies

09-Dec-2015 By PMA

Former Meantime and Safeway man responsible for bringing American craft beer to the UK passed away last weekend.

Health

Analysis: Will a wine brand's calorie labelling change the drinks sector?

08-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

The news one of the world’s largest winemakers, Treasury Wine Estates (TWE), is to provide calorific information across its portfolio of bottled wine has further fuelled the debate over the availability of dietary information in the drink sector.

Beer

News of the brews

08-Dec-2015 By Ben Winstanley

News of the brews is your definitive guide to the week in beer, bringing you the latest in all things hoppy.