Heineken has responded directly to Punch tenants concerns over beer supply if its joint takeover bid for the pubco is successful.
If the deal is approved by shareholders tomorrow, and if it clears other regulatory hurdles, Heineken would take on 1,900 of the 3,200-strong Punch estate.
Yesterday the Dutch brewer confirmed that if the deal goes through it would work with SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) to “ensure that tenants continue to have access to a wide range of quality beers from small, independent breweries”.
Lawson Mountstevens, managing director of Heineken’s pub arm, Star Pubs & Bars, said: “We are aware that some Punch tenants are concerned that we will force them to purchase only Heineken brands. We want to confirm that is not the case. Our commitment to work with SIBA should give tenants confidence. As we have consistently said, we will start with what is right for each of the pubs joining us and we will work together with licensees to ensure they have the right drinks on offer to suit the specific needs of each pub.”
“We have a shared interest in working constructively with licensees to grow our businesses together, and we have no intention of imposing blanket conditions on them which are detrimental to that shared aim. Punch’s publicans’ leases will continue as before, and they will benefit from the ability to stock drinks from a wide range of drinks suppliers, together with the rights afforded to them by the Pubs Code Regulations.
“Alongside our strong portfolio of leading brands, we also offer a wide range of non-Heineken brands to our existing Star Pubs & Bars licensees, and we think that is important. We already provide an important route to market for a significant number of independent and regional brewers to sell their beer in our existing pubs.
“Following completion of the deal we look forward to working with SIBA to ensure the continued success of the partnership.”
Mike Benner, managing director of SIBA, said: “It is good news that Heineken recognises the benefits of ensuring licensees have access to a wide range of beers from local craft brewers. Our Beerflex scheme provides hundreds of small brewers with an important route to market and pub companies with a means of enabling licensees to choose from a large range of craft-brewed beers. If their bid is successful, we look forward to working with Heineken to widen access for small brewers even further. Local craft beers are a unique selling point for Britain’s pubs and are increasingly demanded by today’s discerning beer drinkers.”
The clarification from Heineken comes after the Campaign for Real Ale called for reassurance from the group over the takeover.
