Punch Taverns’ first ever ‘Beer is Best!’ conference proved to be a great success as publicans from 43 pubs across the UK gathered in Brussels to look at market trends and challenges in the UK pubs market.
The conference was the culmination of an initiative run throughout Punch’s leased and tenanted estate to grow beer sales and focus on quality standards. All the pubs attending had beaten targets for beer sales set under the initiative or, in the case of Didier and June Monney, were guests of honour as the first winners of Punch’s new ‘Great Pint of Scotland’ award.
“The four day trip was a way of rewarding our most dedicated and ambitious licensees – but included a packed itinerary looking at developments in the beer market and how to combat declining on trade sales”, explains Geoff Brown, Punch Taverns Director of Marketing.
Issues addressed during the conference presentations included the growth of off trade sales at the expense of on trade, the decline in pub visiting, the importance of staff training, and the challenges of the smoking ban.
“Punch Taverns pubs sell around 400 million pints of beer a year – and we want to make sure that each one is the ‘perfect pint’ – that is key in ensuring that the pub going experience remains an enjoyable and central part of people’s leisure time”, added Geoff.
As well as sessions from Punch Taverns, Guy Hutchinson from Scottish and Newcastle UK and Paul Ralston of Inbev UK also gave presentations.
But it wasn’t a one way street. A key part of the conference was to get feedback from licensees themselves, to find out what they considered to be key issues and challenges.
“The conference was a thoroughly enjoyable few days away, providing a great opportunity to meet and discuss current trading issues and opportunities with some of our key retailers who are working with us to drive up beer sales and quality”, said Geoff.
However it wasn’t all hard work. There was plenty of time for sight seeing in Brussels itself, a gala dinner and a visit to Timmermans, a traditional Belgian brewery.
So what did the licensees themselves think? Alison Boyd was invited for generating the highest percentage increase in beer sales in Punch’s 550 pubs in the North East and North West region, at her pub the Cumberland Arms, Botchergate, Carlisle.
“The trip was great – my boyfriend and I had a tremendous time. It was really nice for Punch to arrange this to recognise the hard work we all put in and I was obviously really pleased to win the award at the special Gala Dinner”, said Alison.
“I have two pubs with Punch, the Cumberland and the Crown, which I have taken on recently, so I am very much aware of the challenges all licensees face. I found the conference sessions useful as they put these challenges into perspective and provided plenty of food for thought”, she added.
The last word goes to Geoff Brown: “The inaugural Beer is Best! conference was a great success. We intend to make this an annual event and are already preparing plans for next year.”
Punch Taverns is the UK’s largest pub owner with 8,400 leased, tenanted and managed outlets.
Ends
For further information please contact Floyd Jebson or Nick Trueman at Seal Communications on 0121 200 0780.