NEWS GENERAL:
Dragons’ Den star moves into wine retailing
Entrepreneur Peter Jones is moving into wine with the launch of an online retailing business. Gondola is aimed at mainstream drinkers and will specialise in branded wines. The launch will be backed by a £100,000 online marketing campaign designed to attract 600,000 visitors and 20,000 sales transactions within 12 months.
Venus buys Wine Rack
The Wine Rack brand name and a package of 14 of the best performing stores have been bought by wholesaler Venus Wine & Spirit from First Quench administrator KPMG. A new company, LCL Enterprises, has been formed to run the Wine Rack business, headed by Venus chairman Laki Christoforou.
http://www.offlicencenews.co.uk/articles/76843/Venus-buys-Wine-Rack.aspx?categoryid=257
Scotland set to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol
The Scottish government has published its long-awaited Alcohol Bill, which includes powers for ministers to set a minimum price for alcohol. Representatives of Scotland’s doctors called on politicians of all parties to back the Bill’s measures.
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=65860&c=1
New industry campaign urges MPs to back pubs
A major new campaign and manifesto is being launched aiming to gain fresh public and political support for pubs. The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) and the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) are launching the campaign – “I’m backing the pub” – calling on the support of politicians, licensees and pub customers. It also makes a plea to scrap the duty escalator. The campaign will be supported by the website: www.backthepub.com
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=65852&c=1
Greene King launches Abbot Ale ‘diploma’
Beer experts can learn more about Greene King’s Abbot Ale – and get paid in the process. Licensees and staff are also encouraged to take the diploma as it will increase understanding of the drink.
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=65824&c=2#
Home drinking fears raised in debate
Older people drinking at home is more of a concern than youngsters drinking in the town centre. The Big Drink Debate has been designed to examine the South East’s attitude to alcohol, looking at how much people drink and how they perceive alcohol related health and social issues. A second panel event is due to be held in Maidstone tomorrow and results from the two will be used in a manifesto designed to help with future alcohol priorities in the region.
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=65810&c=2
BEER, ALE & CIDER:
Stella Artois signs up Florence and the Machine for 1960s ‘eco chic’ YouTube show
InBev has launched a 15 minute humorous show on YouTube to push the green credentials and provenance of its Stella Artois lager brand. The Recyclage de Luxe theme first featured earlier this year on outdoor advertising over the summer.
Fuller’s beers get marketing boost
Fuller’s is to increase its marketing spend in 2010 after its beer company turned in 15% increase in operating profits in the six months to September 26. London Pride was the main driver of growth and the company said it had managed to increase its advertising presence for the brand despite spending less in 2009, because of depressed advertising rates.
http://www.offlicencenews.co.uk/articles/76773/Fullers-beers-get-marketing-boost.aspx?categoryid=246
Scotland’s BrewDog brews Tactical Nuclear Penguin, the world’s strongest beer with 32% alcohol content
Scottish brewer BrewDog has today created what it claims is the world’s strongest beer, with an ABV of 32%. BrewDog is releasing 500 of the bottles – 250 will be sold for £30 and the remainder for £250, which includes a share in the brewery.
Jennings hit by Cockermouth floods
The floods in Cumbria have put the Jennings brewery temporarily out of action. Marston’s Beer Company managing director Steven Oliver said the business would play an active role in the town’s clean-up work following the unprecedented weather.
Movida Corona partners with MTV
The grand final of Corona Extra’s DJ competition will be broadcast on MTV following a new partnership deal with the music channel. The Mexican beer brand is also running an advertising campaign on MTV to support the competition, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year.
http://www.offlicencenews.co.uk/articles/76780/Movida-Corona-partners-with-MTV.aspx?categoryid=9059
Pedigree to keep cricket colours
Marston’s Pedigree is to adopt permanently the red and white colours of the St George’s flag that it took on a temporary basis for last summer’s Ashes cricket series. The new colouring will feature on cans, bottles, merchandise and on-trade POS.
http://www.offlicencenews.co.uk/articles/76836/Pedigree-to-keep-cricket-colours.aspx?categoryid=246
Fuller’s celebrates ales in ad campaign
Fuller’s is to feature nine of its bottled ale brands in a press and poster advertising campaign. Each beer will appear against a backdrop influenced by its colour and will run on a number of high-profile, backlit poster sites in London for two weeks from November 30. Strip ads will appear in national quality newspapers over the next three weekends.
Black Rat Cider coming to pubs
Moles Brewery of Melksham has launched its Black Rat Cider in 500ml bottles in a new bid to target the on-trade. The Black Rat brand has been growing with the success of a six per cent ABV traditional Scrumpy and a 4.8 per cent ABV sparkling cider. The brand also has a new website – www.blackratcider.co.uk – and a group with more than 1,000 members on Facebook.
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=65865&c=1
Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer hits the TV
Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer has gone on TV in a campaign that distributor Halewood International believes will hit 60 per cent of the adult population in the run-up to Christmas. The 20 and 30 second commercials form part of a wider campaign that includes radio advertising and sponsorship of the ITV1 British Comedy Awards, hosted by Jonathan Ross on December 12.
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=65837&c=2
WINE:
Virgin Wines Christmas offering
Virgin Wines is promoting a series of wine offers for customers which will run over 12 consecutive days. The “12 days of Christmas” campaign will start on November 30. Customers will receive a special offer by email each day of the promotion, excluding Sunday.
http://www.offlicencenews.co.uk/articles/76839/Virgin-Wines-Christmas-offering.aspx?categoryid=9059
Jacob’s Creek launch new TV ad campaign
A new TV advertising campaign for Jacob’s Creek will trumpet the brand’s appeal as an “unpretentious” wine. They will appear on ITV1, C5, C4, Living, ITV2, Sky One and More4 and be screened throughout 2010 in tandem with other promotions. The scene for the advertisements will be a dinner party where friends are chatting and sharing the Australian wine in a relaxed atmosphere.
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=65844&c=1
SPIRITS:
Diageo funds £1.5 million spirits drive
Diageo is rolling out a fresh campaign to help off-trade retailers capitalise on sales of spirits. The Free Your Spirits campaign will see a £1.5m investment in the distribution of free anti-theft kits, each one consisting of 48 caps and 1 detacher.
SOFT DRINKS & FOOD:
Sandwiches and hot drinks: easy money?
The growing variety of sandwiches and hot drinks in pubs is helping to drive increased sales.Pub menus are getting increasingly sophisticated and diverse, as we have seen elsewhere in this year’s Food Report. The beauty of the humble sandwich, and one of the reasons it remains so important to the pub trade, is that it can be prepared at any time, usually with minimal fuss.
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=6&storycode=65802