martin dickie

The current appetite for cocktails presents a telling opportunity for key industry stakeholders to both revitalise drink sales and counteract the decline in spirits sales, according to CGA by NIQ. See the full story: https://hubs.li/Q02Lpgpy0 #CGAbyNIQ #insights #cocktails #liquor #theshoutnz

1

✨ Whipping up a quick, easy & tasty Sunday Salad chock full of nutrition 😋 💫 Mixed greens with organic grilled chicken, strawberries, grilled zucchini & homemade honey Dijon dressing ✨ Key benefits: High in antioxidants, protein, hydration + vitamins B & C

4

Spirits | Alcoholic Beverages | Distilleries - UK registered distillery numbers explode post-COVID In 2023, the number of registered distilleries in the UK grew to 387, up 42.7% compared with pre-COVID levels. This was up 8.7% from the 356 distilleries reported in 2022. Last year saw 48 new distilleries registered in the UK alone (up 20% from 2022) while Scotland – the home of the UK’s biggest drinks export, Scotch whisky – saw three registrations last year (eight in 2022) #spirits #whisky #alcoholicbeverages #Scotchwhisky #whiskies #distilleries #distillery

2

UK gin exports have declined, dropping 12.4% in volume and 9.6% in value to £305.3 million in the first half of 2023, reflecting challenges in the industry. In response to this downturn and a significant amount of gin wastage in bars, Paragon Brands has initiated The Big Gin Swap. This innovative program aims to assist bars across the UK in managing surplus stock resulting from the country's 2015-2019 gin boom. Research conducted by Paragon Brands shows that £1.9 million worth of old, open gin bottles are currently unused in bars, with one in 10 venues holding at least 20 leftover bottles. The initiative allows bars to exchange any old, open, and unused bottles of clear, full-strength gin for new bottles from a premium selection, including French G’Vine Floraison, Irish-born Dingle Gin, and English Martin Miller’s Gin. This is part of Paragon Brands' effort to rejuvenate gin ranges in bars and reduce wastage. The Big Gin Swap is a great initiative to help bars rediscover and enjoy their gin offerings with high-quality, great-tasting alternatives. #TheBigGinSwap #GinRevival #SustainableBarPractice #WasteNotWantNot #GinBoomRecovery https://lnkd.in/dhSxXmwX

29

10 Comments

After weeks of "will it, won't it", Britvic plc's board has finally given its seal of approval to a £3.3bn takeover bid by Carlsberg Group. The improved offer – of £12.90 per share plus 25p per share dividend paid out by Britvic to shareholders before the deal completes – will create what Carlsberg CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen has described as a “one-stop shop” for booze and soft drinks, with a range that meets a variety of customer needs. With Britvic and PepsiCo firmly on board, the deal looks all but done, but there's there's still a chance for a late sting in the tail. With Britvic continuing to outperform in a challenging soft drinks category, and shares in the company yet to reach the amount offered by Carlsberg, investors may feel more juice can be squeezed from the Danish brewer. Will 75% of its shareholders vote in favour of the deal? Via The Grocer.

73

📶 UK Independent Drinks Sector in 2024: SEVEN takeaways from a CGA and Duppy Share report    Independent Beverage brands are increasingly optimistic about the future despite ongoing trading challenges, according to an exclusive new survey from The Duppy Share in association with CGA by NIQ.     273 UK indie drinks brands answers an in depth survey... heres what we learned (see comments) 👇  

75

13 Comments

🍺 What is a Hazy Pale Ale? Hazy Pale Ale, also known as New England Pale Ale, is a popular choice in the craft beer market with its cloudy appearance and juicy flavour. 🍺 Perfect for Craft Beer Newbies Due to its balanced and aromatic nature, Hazy Pale Ale is an excellent gateway beer for those just starting their craft beer journey. 🍺 How It's Made The haze in Hazy Pale Ale comes from brewing techniques that suspend yeast and proteins within the beer, creating a cloudy look. It's often brewed with a variety of hops that lend it a fruity, tropical aroma and flavour. 🍺 Why So Popular? People love Hazy Pale Ale for its approachable taste profile. It's not as bitter as typical IPAs and offers a smooth, refreshing drinking experience with notes of citrus and tropical fruit. Join the conversation! 🍻 What's your favourite style of craft beer? #NoddingDonkeyBrewing #HazyPaleAle #BeerTasting #CraftBeerCommunity

3

A common question I get is about Angus cattle, so here you go: Aberdeen Angus cattle are a breed of beef cattle originating from Scotland. They're known for their high-quality beef, which is tender and marbled, making them a popular choice for steak lovers. Here are some key features of the breed: Origin: The breed comes from the Aberdeen and Angus regions in Scotland. It has been developed over centuries, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. Appearance: Aberdeen Angus cattle are naturally polled (without horns) and typically have a black coat, although a red variety also exists. They have a compact, muscular build that contributes to their excellent meat quality. Temperament: Generally, Aberdeen Angus cattle are known for their calm and docile nature, which makes them easier to handle. Meat Quality: The breed is renowned for its beef, which is marbled with fat, leading to a tender and flavorful product. The meat is often used in high-end steakhouses and gourmet restaurants. Adaptability: They are quite adaptable to various climates and farming conditions, which makes them a versatile choice for many different types of farming operations. Breeding: Aberdeen Angus cattle are often used in crossbreeding programs to enhance the quality of beef in other breeds. Overall, Aberdeen Angus cattle are prized for their meat quality and are a staple in the beef industry worldwide.

3

UK Treasury bleeds £800,000 a day thanks to spirits tax hike 🤦‍♂️ As someone directly affected by the government introduction of one of the highest duty rate in the world on spirits last year. I’ve put together an overview of the catastrophic results for the industry as a whole but also it’s been a massive own goal for the government and caused huge loss to their own treasury as well as damaging one of our countries most historic and important industries. 🥃 The Treasury’s Dilemma Last August, the UK Treasury implemented a record-breaking alcohol tax hike, increasing spirits excise duty by 10.1%. However, the unintended consequences have been significant. Let’s dive into why the Treasury has made less revenue this year despite raising taxes and how it’s affecting the spirits industry. 📉 Revenue Loss Newly released data from HM Revenue and Customs reveals that between August 2023 and July 2024, excise duty from spirits generated £3.951 billion for the public finances. Compare this to the £4.249 billion in the same period the previous year – a loss of £298 million or £800,000 a day 🥃 The Scotch Whisky Association’s Concerns The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) attributes these losses directly to the duty hikes. The UK now has the highest level of excise duty on Scotch among G7 countries and the fourth highest in Europe – double that of France and quadruple the duty of the US. Nearly 70% of the cost of a bottle of Scotch in the UK is currently claimed in tax. 🔥 Inflation Impact Jeremy Hunt’s duty increase resulted in the largest contribution to inflation by alcohol on record. The tax rise made a 0.35% contribution to inflation, leading to £2.3 billion in extra government interest payments on public borrowing. This economic impact hurts businesses, hospitality, and households. 📢 The SWA’s Plea The SWA urges Chancellor Rachel Reeves to reverse the hikes in the upcoming Budget. Scotch Whisky, which generates £7.1 billion annually for the economy, is the UK’s number one food and drink export. Reversing the economic damage caused by the tax hike is crucial for growth in Scotland. 👉 Conclusion The Treasury’s decision to increase spirits tax has had unintended consequences, hurting both revenue and the spirits industry. As we approach the Budget, the hope is that corrective measures will be taken to support distillers and boost growth in the UK. Feel free to share this post on LinkedIn to raise awareness about the challenges faced by the spirits industry! 🙌🏼🥂

31

7 Comments

Eggs you can trust what to look for egginar. Best practice in egg safety. Link to the webinar below. Phil Slaney Kevin Coles Dr Lisa Ackerley, CEnvH, FRSPH #Eggs #FoodSafety #Hygiene #FoodSecurity #Retail #FoodIndustry #Hospitality #FoodService #Restaurants #FoodScience #FoodTechnology #Health #PublicHealth #EnvironmentalHealth

15

Most don't know about the big gaping hole in the world of sugar reduction 🍬 but it's plain as day when looking at supermarket aisles 👀. That's sugar reduction in food versus beverages. 🥤 Sugar-free mainstream beverages have been a commercial reality for decades. And they're really pervasive right now. 🍩 But still today the same thing is not true of mainstream food. To date, sugar regulations and taxes have almost exclusively focused on beverages. But not because that's where the damage is. Most sugar in people's diets is in food - can be 4x more! Rather, it's because there has been no mainstream solutions to the problem. Well, the avalanche 🏔 is finally here - and falling on both sides of the Atlantic. FDA recently announced a drive to enforce mandatory warnings for high sugar on all food products USDA recently announced a decision to limit added sugars in all school meals. Now, World Health Organization wants the next UK government to expand coverage of the sugar tax to cakes, biscuits and chocolate. This is going to be a tumultuous time for the food industry. Fortunately, The Supplant Company is here with the only solution that will ever fix the problem. https://lnkd.in/eAJYGZWA

34

2 Comments

✨ LET'S TALK ABOUT COCKTAILS✨ It's one of the alcoholic drink sectors which has bounced back post COVID, with RTD alcoholic drinks outperforming other categories, but where do RTD cocktails and drinks go as we head through 2024? The category is one of the major winners of the last few years, although predominantly in the 18-34 age range, with 61% of sales coming from this demographic. With the broad options the category has, when it comes to raw ingredients, spirits and mixers, it's possible that RTD may go in several directions: 🍸 NO-LO EXPANSION It's no secret anymore that no- and low- alcohol drinks are more than just a "splash" (see what we did there 👀) in the market, with sales of these options increasing 47% between 2022 and 2023. With forecast volume CAGR of +19%, 2023 to 2028, RTD drinks companies cannot afford to ignore the no and low market. Larger brands have already jumped well and truly onto the bandwagon, but expect to see the SMEs and smaller players looking to produce options to cater to the market. 🍹 FANTASTIC FLAVOURS We've talked a few times in the past about new flavour trends and where we expect to see the food and beverage industry head, and RTD cocktails are no different. As more options flood into the market, it will become harder to stand out as a product on shelf. On top of clever packaging/branding, expect new flavour trends to push consumers into trying something new. Whether it be smoked cocktails, odes to the Caribbean or other world cultures, or the use of alternate spirits such as Mezcal, Arrack or Sake, consumers looking to broaden their horizons are set for a lot of interest in the sector as time progresses. 🍷 SUPERB SOURCING Continuing on with market "oversaturation", as more RTD products continue to appear, sourcing and ingredients will become a bigger port of call to differentiate from the competition. It's easy to create cocktails using the biggest brands, simple sugar syrup and cheap flavours, but taking time to soure, and caring about ingredients can go a long way in making products stand out. Use of natural, clean-label ingredients and alternate "exotics" such as agave syrup (👀), small brand spirits and quality fruit juices/purees, can cause products to punch well above others around them. Pricing, as always, remains a strong factor with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, but premiumisation and top-shelf products may find a suitable space in this category, we feel. As always, we're very interested to hear your thoughts, and if you are looking to solve supply chain headaches, or looking for high-quality natural ingredients, then please get in touch. 📧 E-mail: [email protected] 📱WhatsApp: +44 7713 073883 💻Website: https://lnkd.in/eDkxsQnQ

5

Heatwaves, a booming cocktail culture and 🤞the end of industrial action from Aslef - just a few of the hospitality happenings that have affected the industry this week... ☀️ What a scorcher! According to the British Beer & Pub Association, this week's heatwave could generate over £30m for pubs. This is off the back of last week’s hot weather bringing a 7% uplift in total drink sales. • https://lnkd.in/eqAhhQnx? • https://lnkd.in/evuBqdcX 🍹 Ready to shake up your cocktail strategy? CGA by NIQ's recent report reveals that the current boom in cocktail culture offers a significant opportunity for venues and drinks suppliers to boost sales and revitalise the spirits category. • https://lnkd.in/ehpHDiHx 💚 New partnership alert! We're delighted to have joined forces with Play It Green | Certified B Corp. Our integrated technology solutions will enable our customers to participate in the 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, promoting sustainability and reducing carbon footprints. • https://lnkd.in/ejGf-ccn 🍻 Pub company and brewer, Greene King has hired its 250th prison leaver, intending to recruit another 150 more by the end of 2025. Greene King also works closely with Only A Pavement Away as part of their Releasing Potential scheme to help with wraparound support for prison leavers to help ensure the best chance of sustaining employment and reducing reoffending. • https://lnkd.in/e7QNxAmf • onlyapavementaway.co.uk 🗓️ Introducing the Ultimate Hospitality Events Calendar! No more missing out, whether it’s conferences, exhibitions, directors’ dinners or the latest awards ceremonies, Inntegra's got you covered. As the go-to hospitality events experts, Inntegra (like Zonal) understand the importance of staying connected and informed. Stay ahead of the game with their brand-new, online calendar. • https://lnkd.in/eZ-4w4mX ❌ Calling time on after-work drinks. The traditional pint at the end of the working day is becoming less common, partly due to remote working and more Gen Z employees choosing not to drink. These suggestions, from the Work Foundation at Lancaster University and the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), aim to foster “inclusive and healthy workplace cultures” that cater to staff who don’t drink or work remotely. • https://lnkd.in/eUySuzc4 🚇 The light at the end of the tunnel? There's a ‘glimmer of hope’ for hospitality as train drivers reach a deal that could end rail strikes which resulted in widespread cancellations of both trains and bookings. • https://lnkd.in/e2wMGJc5? #ZonalUK #WeAreHospitality #HospitalityNews #HospitalityTech

24

1 Comment

We love having a cheese department. For us, it is far from trying to be all things to all people; but rather having experts to select some astonishingly great cheeses, for people who really care about cheese. It mirrors the way in which we approach the world of meat. We only select the top 1% of the best of produce- that cannot be available to everyone. It really is limited edition & we care about who we supply and ensuring we keep getting it right, rather than focusing on intensive growth. What do you focus on? High growth or growing with the clients you have?

24

Do you run a brew pub, or new micro-brewery? Understanding Hop Stability / Storage Index values is really important to the quality of your beer - read more in my latest blog post - https://lnkd.in/eZekBRbx

13