This week’s Diary reveals more about PizzaExpress’ fledgling delivery arm; finds out what BrewDog’s American revolution will look like and finds out who is in the frame to be the new BBPA chair
Slice of nostalgia
This morning we revealed that PizzaExpress might be looking to move quite fast with the expansion of its yet-to-launch new delivery and takeaway concept, with word reaching us that it is in talks on a further site for the format in London. A bit more digging finds that said site used be a Pizza Lupa, one of a handful of sites in the capital that former owner Gondola launched under the format as part of a group of incubator brands it trialled in the middle of the last decade. Diary wonders if the Hony Capital-backed brand might even cast its eye over a small group of already established delivery and a takeaway to satisfy its expansion plans.
Groucho completes MBO
The Groucho Club, the Soho-based members club, has confirmed it has been sold in a management buyout, which will lead to a second club opening in New York. The deal, which is rumoured to be valued at c£40m, was backed by Alcuin Capital Partners, Isfield Investments and a number of other investors. Previous majority stakeholder Graphite will remain a shareholder in the club. Groucho chief executive Matt Hobbs told CityAM that plans for a third club were underway. Hobbs said: “This year we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of The Groucho Club and we are extremely ambitious for its future in America and beyond. We are excited to welcome the backing of Alcuin and Isfield alongside Graphite in this new chapter for the club and its members.” Graphite Capital, which also backs Hawksmoor, took control of the Groucho Club in 2008.
Stars and hops
BrewDog has revealed more about its plans to add a 42-acre brewery site in Ohio. The company had already announced it would build a 100-barrel brewhouse but has now said the site will also house its US offices, a visitor centre, a craft beer restaurant and a taproom. The company also said it is planning to launch five flagship bars in the country’s craft beer hubs such as the West Coast, the North East and Florida. Co-founder James watt said: “Since the dark days of prohibition, America’s epic brewers have led the craft beer charge and inspired a generation of UK craft brewers, not least ourselves. We are thrilled to finally be setting up a BrewDog home in the Land of the Free, and become part of this craft beer epicentre.Columbus has got a fantastic beer scene already, and the people have always been so welcoming to us, so we felt it would be the perfect location for our stateside operation. This is one of the most exciting projects we have ever embarked upon and we can’t wait to start brewing hardcore beer on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Heineken’s Forde to be next BBPA chairman
David Forde, managing director of Heineken UK, is set to become the next chairman of the British Beer & Pub Association. He is to be proposed at the group’s AGM in December as the successor to Jonathan Neame, who has been in the role since May 2012. Forde, who has been on the BBPA board since January, will serve for a one year term from December. He said: “I am delighted at the prospect of succeeding Jonathan Neame. Jonathan has done a superb job representing our industry, galvanising the members to work together and leading effective campaigns delivering results for the whole industry – including a historic hat-trick of beer duty cuts. Beer and pubs are part of our national culture and if selected, I look forward to working even more closely with the BBPA team and members to represent our great industry.” Neame said: “I am delighted that David is willing to serve as BBPA chairman. As managing director of one of our leading brewing and pub companies, he will bring a great breadth of experience to the role. David already plays an active and valuable role in the association. The role of chairman at the BPBA is to lead on our strategic direction, and I am sure David will play an important role in moving the BBPA forward.”
Banwell House enters leased market
Banwell House Pub Company, led by Toby Brett, has let one of its pubs on a five year free of tie tenancy agreement. The Duke of Cumberland, Holcombe in Somerset was the first pub the group purchased back in 2010. Brett said the decision was made when discussing the future progression of the pub’s GM and the understanding that the success of the pub was more dependent on the style of the manager than some of the other pubs in the group. The GM will now be helping set up a new business with Brett. The new tenants Steve and Jo Sawyer took over on Monday with Banwell House retaining the freehold. Brett said “While I am sad not to be operationally involved with the Duke any more, especially at a time it is trading so well and we have a good team in place, I am pleased we have let it to Steve and Jo who can run it as owner operators and continue the pubs success. This will allow me more time to develop my new business that should be completing in the next few weeks. We have entered into an agreement which offers them the chance to benefit from the group’s buying power in an agreement which is totally transparent.”
What do you do once a month, 110 times a day and 200 times daily?
Today’s Marketing in Foodservice Conference, brought to you by those nice chaps at M&C Allegra Foodservice, has thrown up some interesting facts and figures. Meghan Farren, marketing director, KFC (UK and Ireland), told delegates that the average customer of the fried chicken giant visits once a month, contributing to 160 million transactions each year. The conference also heard that Generation Y customers unlock their mobile phone an average of 110 times a day and the majority of them would rather lose one of their senses than their phone. Meanwhile, Karen Fewell, director of Digital Blonde said people make more than 200 decisions each day about food, many of which are unconscious.
Bath Ales grows turnover and profit
Bath Ales has reported pre-tax profits of £85k for the year to 31 August, compared with a loss of £40k the year before, and grown turnover from £6.9m to £7.8m. The company said its pubs and restaurants continued to be “a positive source of cash flow” with the Beerd brand performing particularly strongly. It said production of its Beerd brews had doubled in the preceding year and the brand had “made good inroads with many craft beer bars and style bars within our region and beyond”. The company said: “Another challenging year for the brewing industry has seen Bath Ales grow barrelage once more. Although cask ale sales remain strong, it is growth in keg beer products and bottled beers that has led the growth – notably Gem in keg and Dark Side Soul.”
Refreshing honesty Part 1
What makes a great pub? It has been the subject of countless M&C articles but one of the simplest and probably most accurate summaries Diary has ever heard came from a recent trip to see Amber Taverns’ estate. Neil, the operator of one of its St Helens outlets, told Diary exactly why his pub was already doing a brisk trade by 11.45am. “The customers don’t want much,” he says. “The racing, their paper and a pint. They come here for a good natter and, if I’m honest, to get away from the wife.”
Refreshing honesty part 2
The McMullen family have been producing beer and running pubs in Hertfordshire for almost 200 years but have not lost sight of the eccentricities that run through their bloodline. On a recent visit to the brewery Tom McMullen, company secretary and surely the next MD of the company, told Diary about his colourful ancestors. “Our founder Peter McMullen was a poacher who was sacked from pretty much every job he did. His wife suggested he go into brewing, probably because they had nine children and she wanted to distract him!”
Roll out the barrel
Cask Beer Uncovered, the e-learning programme that builds bar staff’s knowledge of cask beer, is now being used by 18 operators, including Stonegate which is rolling the programme out to 500 pubs. In the two months since its launch more than 2,000 bar staff and consumers have registered for the programme. Individuals are completing the modules either via their operator’s training platform with CPL Online, or through the Cask Matters website. Paul Nunny of Cask Matters said, “We’re very pleased with this initial response to Cask Beer Uncovered, which puts us firmly on track to meet our goal of putting 100,000 people through the programme within three years. Cask Beer Uncovered comprises five short online films which guide the viewer through every aspect of cask beer, with content delivered by brewers, publicans, bar staff and beer drinkers. Each film lasts around five minutes and is followed by a multiple choice test. Staff who score at least 75% across all five modules can print off a personalised certificate.
Have they got brews for you
Bradford Brewery is rolling out is beers to bars in Yorkshire and further afield. The company has secured a deal with Bradford’s Midland Hotel to permanently sell its Odsal Top brown ale and Razorback white gold ale and several pubs. The brewery’s own pub, which also showcases the beers, has been 30% busier than expected – reflected in a 30% higher turnover than projected. The brewery’s managing director Matthew Halliday said: “We are overwhelmed by the demand for our Bradford beers, and by the support we’ve had from local publicans and all the emerging Bradford businesses. We are now well on our way to our target of getting Bradford beers onto all the great bars across the district. Our other aim is to take beers brewed in Bradford out further afield – delivering with them the message that Bradford is well and truly back on the map.”
Staropramen moves to Molson Coors portfolio
Molson Coors has announced that the Staropramen brand is to move into its UK portfolio. Molson Coors acquired StarBev in 2012, which included Staropramen, which has sales in more than 40 countries worldwide. Molson Coors will make the brand available to its direct free-trade customers from 31 July , with exclusive rights to distribute, sell and market Staropramen in both the on- and off-trade from 28 December, with Carlsberg continuing to supply its customers ‘ until then. Martin Coyle, marketing director for Molson Coors UK & Ireland, said: “We have seen growth in the Staropramen brand throughout our European business and around the world and there is a continued appetite for world and premium beers in the UK. By bringing the Staropramen brand into the Molson Coors UK portfolio we are able to provide our customers a more comprehensive and premium drink offer that we hope will delight the UK’s beer drinkers.”
