Food & Drink

Make the most of summer with 'eye-catching cocktails', says Diageo

28-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Drinks giant Diageo is urging licensees to capitalise on the summer opportunity by focusing on cocktails and new spirit and mixer serves.

New bottle design for Absolut vodka

28-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Pernod Ricard has given its Swedish vodka brand Absolut a bottle makeover.

Food trends

Drake & Morgan to launch 'Selfie Sofa' promo campaign at the Refinery

28-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Drake & Morgan (D&M) has announced the launch of a new promotional campaign to celebrate the launch of a new Sunday brunch menu across six of its eight London sites.

Beer Academy

Beer Academy sees 20% increase in course bookings

27-Apr-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The Beer Academy has seen a 20% year-on-year increase in bookings on its beer appreciation courses.

New menu for M&B chain

27-Apr-2015 By James Evison

Sizzling Pubs' new menu includes a collection of on-trend food.

Trend watch

Is it time to 'hash in' on Rankin-style creations?

27-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

The sheer range of hashes on offer in pub dining shows its worth a go.

BrewDog interview: Watt reveals all

27-Apr-2015 By Michelle Perrett

Brewdog co-founder talks about working with JDW and the possibility of an IPO.

Sponsored Feature

Your prayers have been answered...

24-Apr-2015 By SA Brains

Have you heard the good news? One of the best kept secrets in brewing – The Rev. James – is getting ready to spread the word far and wide with a new look and two exciting new variants.

Corona launches beach-themed summer campaign

24-Apr-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Corona is ramping up its on-trade activity by encouraging consumers to find the ‘spirit of the beach.’

Money makers

How to make £50k in drinks sales

24-Apr-2015 By Michelle Perrett

How the Cape of Good Hope delivered a winning formula.

comment

Mitchells & Butlers' battle at the Fighting Cocks

23-Apr-2015 By Roger Protz

Despite roaring trade, one licensee may be forced to call time on his methodology.

Bloody Mary campaign launched by Ketel One Vodka

23-Apr-2015 By Jo Bruce

Ketel One Vodka, the luxury vodka from Diageo Reserve, has launched a Bloody Mary campaign in 100 bars.

Editorial

Sexism: Let's end beer name shame

23-Apr-2015 By Ed Bedington

It's not about feminism or political correctness - it's about business.

CAMRA campaign looks to end late-night levy

23-Apr-2015 By Ellie Bothwell

...And it wants action over half-pint prices.

Aspall puts bag-in-box ciders on draught

22-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski & Jessica Mason

Cider maker Aspall is making two of its Waddlegoose Lane-branded ciders available in draught and bottles.

Hi-Spirits takes on Langley’s No. 8 gin

22-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Emerging gin brand Langley’s No.8 is to become more readily available to pubs and bars after its owner agreed a distribution deal with Hi-Spirits.

Tsingtao revs up UK presence with British Superbikes sponsorship

22-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Chinese lager Tsingtao is to be a factory team sponsor at this year’s British Superbikes (BSB) Championship.

BrewDog

BrewDog to raise £25m for next stage of growth

22-Apr-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog is launching its fourth round of fundraising to raise £25m by issuing 526,316 New B shares for the next 12 months

Kopparberg extends UK beer range with part-lager, part-ale Höga Kusten

21-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Swedish cider producer Kopparberg has said it will launch an innovative second beer into the UK market just a month after announcing the first.

New Pomegranate & Strawberry flavour for Heineken’s Old Mout cider

21-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Heineken has added a new variant to its New Zealand cider Old Mout.

Pimm’s Vodka Cup to make summer return

21-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Diageo has responded to consumer demand by bringing back its limited edition Pimm’s vodka variant in time for summer.

Spirits

Ketel One Vodka on-trade campaign launched

21-Apr-2015 By Emily Sutherland

Diageo is launching an on-trade campaign for its Ketel One Vodka brand this month.

Brands news

Bombardier embraces St George's Day

20-Apr-2015 By PMA

Charles Wells Brewery’s Bombardier beer has helped publicans get in to a celebratory mood by sending out St. George’s Day (23 April) kits.

Wine and food matching guide released

20-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Pernod Ricard-owned wine brand Jacob’s Creek has released a new guide to snack and wine pairing as research suggests increasing customer interest.

Interview

The Big Interview: Molson Coors' Martyn Cozens

17-Apr-2015 By Robyn Black

Following the rebranding of Molson Coors Wholesale last month, Robyn Black talks to its director of independent on-premise, Martyn Cozens, about his plans to make the business the ‘John Lewis’ for pubs

brands news

Zeo re-launches low calorie soft drinks

17-Apr-2015 By Jessica Mason

Soft drinks brand Zeo is being re-launched with a new look and six new flavours.

Brands news

Lipton Ice Tea reduces sugar and updates range

17-Apr-2015 By Jessica Mason

Lipton Ice Tea range has reduced its sugar content by 30%, updated its packaging and added a new raspberry flavour to its range.

Brands news

Courvoisier focuses on ‘the toast of Paris’

17-Apr-2015 By James Evison

Cognac brand Courvoisier has redesigned its bottles and packaging as part of a larger campaign which focuses on elements of the product’s heritage.

Event

Cider Trends Summit returns for third year

15-Apr-2015 By Mike Berry

The Publican’s Morning Advertiser’s dedicated cider category event — the Cider Trends Summit — is returning to Bristol for a third year.

Wild to woo wine drinkers with new elderflower-flavoured spritz

15-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Wild Drinks is to capitalise on the trend for lower ABV alternatives to wine by introducing an elderflower-flavoured spritz.

AWARDS

Fuller's announces Master Cellarman winners

15-Apr-2015 By Emily Sutherland

The Huntsman and The Butcher’s Arms have been announced as the latest Fuller’s pubs to achieve Master Cellarman status.

Drinkers turning to lighter, more elaborate cocktails, says CGA

15-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Higher ABV cocktails are giving away to more elaborate combinations and lighter versions, a leading market report has found.

Russian Standard vodka bartender competition open for entries

14-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

A bartender cocktail-making competition organised by vodka producer Russian Standard is to return for a second year.

Awards

Beer Marketing Awards: The Winners

14-Apr-2015 By Pete Brown

There are many awards for the beer industry and they’re almost all for the product — and rightly so. But marketing is essential to brewers if they want to sell any liquid. Pete Brown examines the winners of the new Beer Marketing Awards.

Brands news

Absolut launches Andy Warhol inspired game

14-Apr-2015 By Jessica Mason

Absolut has teamed up with theatrical company Punchdrunk and content company Somethin Else to create a new digital game app, inspired by Andy Warhol.

Haywood boosts on-trade reach following Cosgrove's purchase

14-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Haywood Products has improved its on-trade distribution network after agreeing to purchase snacks supplier Cosgrove’s Foods.

Comment

Brown: Don't over-price craft beer

14-Apr-2015 By Pete Brown

The premiumisation of craft ale has been a fantastic boost to pubs throughout the UK but, as Pete Brown explains, push the margins too far and customers will soon start to walk away.

Haywood launches B52 shot

14-Apr-2015 By Jessica Mason

Haywood Drinks has launched an RTD cream liqueur single shot sized cocktail.

SUPPLIER NEWS

Nichols Dispense signs Coca-Cola deal

13-Apr-2015 By Jessica Mason

The new agreement makes Nichols Dispense the UK's largest independent supplier of dispensed soft drinks, as well as the first independent UK-wide bag-in-box supplier of the brand outside of Coca-Cola Enterprises itself.

Cawston Press doubles its premium soft drinks offer

13-Apr-2015 By Jessica Mason

Cawston Press is adding two new flavours, Elderflower Lemonade and Ginger Beer, to its 330ml canned range of premium sparkling soft drinks.

Comment

Protz on Burton: Revival of a draught classic

09-Apr-2015 By Roger Protz

When the plug was pulled on a popular beer in January, a quick response took place. Roger Protz wets his whistle.

Interview

Q&A: Sky Sports' Jeff Stelling on football, pubs and punditry

08-Apr-2015 By Mike Berry

The PMA caught up with Sky Sports presenter Jeff Stelling, who has teamed up with Carlsberg UK in a quest to find ‘The People’s Pundit’, for a quick chat about all things football.

Operators could be at risk of serving “hidden” gluten to coeliac customers, new research suggests

08-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

Research commissioned by Aviko reported that roughly 60% of consumers did not know that chips are not necessarily gluten-free, meaning they could be unknowingly ordering meals containing the wheat protein which can cause serious health issues in coeliac...

Magners owner C&C Group promises brand spend after streamlining business

08-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

C&C Group has pledged to increase brand investment after unifying three separate trading businesses – Magners GB, the Shepton Mallet Cider Mill and International Wine Services – into one company.

Greene King defends IPA cost rise after Budget duty cuts

08-Apr-2015 By Helen Gilbert

Greene King has defended its decision to increase the cost per barrel of its IPA at the same time as passing on beer duty cuts.

Yorkshire brewer wins Beard of Spring Award

07-Apr-2015 By James Evison

The so-called Beard Liberation Front, which campaigns 'aganist beardism', has announced that Stuart Ross, the head brewer for Magic Rock Brewery in Huddersfield, has won its 'Beard of Spring' award.

BRAND NEWS

New face of Bombardier beer revealed

07-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Comedy legend Bob Mortimer is to be the new face of Charles Wells' flagship beer Bombardier, the brewer has revealed.

JD Wetherspoon pledges support for national war memorial with Titanic brew

07-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

JD Wetherspoon has teamed up with Staffordshire brewer Titanic to both lend their support to a campaign for a national war memorial in London.

BRAND NEWS

CCE to target adult soft drink opportunity with new low-calorie Schweppes flavours

07-Apr-2015 By Noli Dinkovski

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has introduced two low-calorie Schweppes variants in a bid to capitalise on the growing adult soft drinks market.

Harvester Salad & Grill launches new menu

07-Apr-2015 By Daniel Woolfson

The new food offer focuses on the Mitchells & Butlers owned chain’s trademark grilled meats with a range of customisable salad options and new desserts.