Megan Thresher

Move over #craftbeer 🍺 🍻 here comes #indiebeer. Small breweries in the UK 🇬🇧 are ditching the term “craft beer” in favour of “indie beer”, warning that global corporations have bamboozled many drinkers into believing that formerly independent brands are still artisanal hidden gems. The Indie beer movement has been recently launched in the UK by SIBA, The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates In a survey by YouGov that marks a new phase of the bitter war over what constitutes “craft beer”, consumers were asked to say whether 10 beer brands were made by “independent craft breweries”. Corporate branding has been so effective that 40% of those surveyed thought that Neck Oil, brewed by Heineken-owned Beavertown, was independent, higher than genuinely standalone breweries such as Vocation, Fyne Ales and Five Points. More than three-quarters of those surveyed said they felt consumers were being “misled” because pints of Beavertown, Camden, and Fullers were actually made by multinationals Heineken, Anheuser-Busch InBev and Asahi respectively. There is a new indie beer campaign in the UK 🇬🇧 that includes a mark that will be used on beer pump clips, cans and bottle labels, as well as a website, www. indiebeer.uk, where consumers can check the credentials of their pint. #beverages #beer #indie #brewing #craft #Ale #realale Francois Sonneville Will Keating Paul Villis Ian Chesworth Daragh Cuskelly Aaron Gore John Craven Bryan Roth Andrew Wardlaw Andy Crawford Lars Jensen Carol Dunne Kate Bernot Alison Wilkinson Sheelagh Pentony Erika Minaguchi Angelica Schiavone Jean-Philippe Delforge Dave Infante Bourcard Nesin David Deeley Shane Long https://lnkd.in/e7kfZj8m

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The deposit return scheme (DRS) is currently set to go live in the UK from October 2025, which means drink brands will have to adapt to this new system. This poses a huge opportunity for brands to explore post mix as a cost-effective alternative, which when used with refillable bottles, removes the requirement for single use plastics thereby streamlining processes and reducing expenses in alignment with the Deposit Return Scheme's goals. Post mix drinks continue to revolutionise the way in which drinks are served, did you know the advantages of serving them are huge? Read more about the benefits of post mix: https://hubs.li/Q02G9hvh0 #BeverageIndustry #Innovation #Sustainability #DepositReturnScheme #WeBringFlavourToLife

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The deposit return scheme (DRS) is currently set to go live in the UK from October 2025, which means drink brands will have to adapt to this new system. This poses a huge opportunity for brands to explore post mix as a cost-effective alternative, which when used with refillable bottles, removes the requirement for single use plastics thereby streamlining processes and reducing expenses in alignment with the Deposit Return Scheme's goals. Post mix drinks continue to revolutionise the way in which drinks are served, did you know the advantages of serving them are huge? Read more about the benefits of post mix: https://hubs.li/Q02TC7th0 #BeverageIndustry #Innovation #Sustainability #DepositReturnScheme #WeBringFlavourToLife

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The UK's functional drinks market is on the rise! 📈 As consumers become health-conscious, the UK’s functional drinks market has surged to a whopping £3 billion, and it’s not slowing down! Here are the top 5 trends driving this sector:  #Health #FoodandBeverages #UKMarket #ConsumerTrends #Serendipity2

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Charles Tyrwhitt opening a pub in Covent Garden - is this great marketing or just hopping on the ol brandwagon? Opening a branded pop up pub has been a marketing strategy of many different industries, and now Charles' Tyrwhitt join the likes of Percival and Tesco to open their own branded pop up pub - The Tyrwhitt Arms. Tesco opened their pub in Farringdon - The King in The Castle - using their Coronation themed food range as a bar menu, a great way of investing in their brand perception and allowing people to interact with the brand in a fresh context. PERCIVAL Menswear opened The Percival Arms in Bethnal Green with London based brewery Gypsy Hill, as a location for the Euro's, to go alongside their football themed clothing line. So whilst Charles' Tyrwhitt isn't the first fashion company to do this, I still think it's a great example of paid marketing: Pub and Bars main consumer mission is a social one - to spend time with friends/family account for 1/3 of all missions, and watching sports accounts adds to this with 7% of all occasions (Lumina Intelligence EDOP 52WE29/9/24). Appealing to memorable moments with friends & family helps associate the brand with social experiences. Pubs and Bars consumers are trading up - we can see consumers are drinking less, but when they do, they're opting for a higher quality drink (Pub & Bars Market Report 2024). Even in beer, consumers are opting for a higher quality option as a treat, be it through world, craft or stouts. Could their consumers carry this opinion through to their clothing choices also? For a brand known for its classic British style, a pub like The Tyrwhitt Arms taps directly into an iconic aspect of British culture. Pubs are where tradition meets social interaction—a perfect alignment for a brand with roots in British heritage. By creating this kind of immersive experience, Charles Tyrwhitt isn’t just selling clothes; it aims to create an emotional link between their brand and the quintessentially British pub atmosphere, making customers feel like they're part of a community with a shared identity. Is it just another pop up pub-licity stunt lacking originality or do you think a pub is Charles Tyrwhitt's style?

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I’m back with another Big Drinks News roundup… And there are plenty of major stories in the sector at the moment! 🍺 Key findings in the latest beer & cider category report include the market’s rise in value versus the fall in volumes, the importance of in-store promotions as the impact of inflation continues to be felt, and the shift towards ‘premiumisation’ for many brands who are aiming to stand out on the shelf. ☕ Coffee production is under threat across the world, from major coffee-growing regions like Vietnam and Brazil to areas with small but fast-growing industries like Peru, due to severe weather and poor harvests. As a result, production estimates have dropped – and prices are expected to soar. ☀ In lighter news, punchy | B Corp have introduced their new lightly sparkling ‘everyday hydration’ range! Available in mango and blueberry varieties, these delicious canned drinks are caffeine free, boosted with electrolytes, minerals and vitamins, and designed to support your wellbeing. 🍾 Sparkling wine is doing fine, with a surge in sales across markets such as the UK, US and Germany helping to compensate for declining demand across other products in the category. Have I missed anything? #Drinks #NPD #Coffee #Spirits #Wine #Beer #News #Agnews The Advocate Group

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Well it’s been a while so I thought I’d send you into the weekend with some insight in to category performance up to the end of June from CGA. LAD’s category has seen marginal value gains completely driven by stout as all other categories perform behind last year. The appeal of stout is growing not just to younger consumers but also 20% of drinkers are now female. Other winners in sub categories are Draught premium lager (World lager and Premium Cider) low and no continues to grow in importance to meet the demands of the health conscious consumer. 71% of Draught beer and cider stockists now have a Draught world lager on the bar. Sprits have been negatively affected by the shifting dayparts of consumer visits to the on premise. Gin has lost the most share (-13.3%) whilst vodka reaffirms position as leader but still in decline at (-2.3%) but virtually double the value of gin at £2143m versus £1239m. Cream liqueurs are seeing a positive growth as is rum and whiskey. Sparkling wine is the only style in growth, white wine performs ahead in of the wider category whilst red wine experiences the sharpest decline. The overall category is (-2.7%) in value share versus last year. With regard to the major grape varietals, it’s Sauvignon Blanc from NZ still capturing consumer interest whilst Pinot Grigio is just up, Merlot and Shiraz are struggling.finally the Softs category is being driven by cola and syrups with mixers struggling due to the declining spirit category, overall the category is up slightly on last year at £4598m in value. LWC Drinks #ontrade#hospitality#pubs#bars#hotels#

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Guinness 0.0 has surpassed Heineken 0.0 to claim the title of the UK’s biggest alcohol-free beer. Guinness 0.0 has seen its off-trade sales rise by nearly +110% to £33.2m in the past year [NIQ 52 w/e 13 July 2024]. Over the same period, Heineken 0.0 sales have only climbed by +4.2%, to £28.3m. According to NIQ, Guinness 0.0 overtook Heineken 0.0 at the end of March, based on 52-week rolling data, and has maintained its lead since. Rounding out the top five alcohol-free beers in UK retail are Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%, Corona Cero and Beck’s Blue. A focus on product quality, marketing activations around rugby’s Six Nations Championship and Diageo’s work with retailers to grow the awareness of alcohol-free had contributed to Guinness 0.0’s rise. #beer #guinness #zeroalcohol #alcohol #beverages #diageo #heineken Lars Jensen Jean Noel Ortal Paul Villis Carol Dunne Gwyneth Kelly Michelle Osagie Gilles Halotel Ian Chesworth Erika Minaguchi Francois Sonneville Bourcard Nesin Jim Watson Stephen Rannekleiv Andy Crawford Mark Gallo John Craven Nuno Teles Stephen. O'Kelly https://lnkd.in/e7w5V6TM

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📈 New Insights: Scotland Outperforming in Wholesale Channels Exclusive data from TWC and HDI, commissioned by the Scottish Wholesale Association, reveal that Scotland is outperforming England and Wales across key wholesale channels, especially in convenience retail and foodservice. Thank you to Hospitality Data Insights (HDI) and TWC Group for sharing these valuable insights to SWA members at the webinar on Tuesday. Key takeaways: 🔹 Scottish wholesalers lead in value growth within the convenience sector, boasting the largest regional share of sales in GB. 🔹 Strong growth across seven out of 10 retail categories, particularly in impulse buys. 🔹 Hospitality sales grew by 2.1% year-on-year, with pubs and bars leading the charge. Despite economic pressures, the Scottish wholesale sector remains resilient and optimistic about future growth opportunities.

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Tis' the season of pumpkin spices and gingerbread lattes... Costa Coffee & Starbucks top the list for consumer association with 50% for Costa and 49% for Starbucks respectively. https://lnkd.in/eXGqPe4E Want to learn more about this study and how YouGov can support you with seasonal research & planning? Send me a DM #yougov #coffee #qsr #marketresearch

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A MASTERCLASS in developing a startup brand from day 1 (which, imho, you must do). But how? Listen in to Imme Ermgassen and Lottie Unwin (she/her) on the Start-up Marketing Stories pod. Packed full of useful ideas and ways of thinking to help develop your brand. If you're looking to back a startup, back one that knows about brand. The startup world can feel devoid of good brand thinking. Because, who cares? Founders generally don't prioritise brand, investors generally don't understand about brand. Who cares? Your bl00dy customers do!! Great work Imme and Lottie 👊

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𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 has been hitting the headlines recently, with pub operators like O’Neill’s facing scrutiny for increasing drink prices during peak trading times. The Standard reported on a £𝟮 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬𝗽𝗺 at O’Neill’s Wardour Street, describing it as “inhospitable, greedy, and counter to the very essence of what pubs are meant to be about.” It’s fascinating how 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝘀 sparks such strong reactions—especially when it’s standard practice in so many other sectors. Perhaps the cheers in Parliament after the announcement of a 1p cut in beer duty reflect how deeply 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 is etched in our cultural psyche. Adjust the price of hotel rooms or airline tickets, fine - but touch the price of a pint or our Oasis tickets, and all bets are off! This debate raises important questions about pricing strategy, particularly as operators brace for 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 with increases in National Insurance and business rates on the horizon. 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 - businesses can’t afford to leave value on the table, yet there’s understandable caution about pushing prices too far and alienating customers. At Hospitality Data Insights (HDI), we specialise in 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 for the UK hospitality sector. With over 70 years of pricing expertise and tools like: ✅ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 from over 18,000 hospitality venues ✅ 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 from 10.2 million people tracking site-by-site spending behaviour We help operators take a more strategic approach: 📈 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 and reduce discounting in sites where customers are less price-sensitive. 💡 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘀 in sites where price sensitivity is highest. Pricing is both an art and a science—but with the right data, operators can strike the perfect balance between maximising value and maintaining customer loyalty. Want to learn more? Feel free to reach out for a chat about how we can support your pricing strategy or help with ongoing price tracking: [email protected]

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Calling all FMCG investors! You've heard of the RTD category being on fire, so have you added this hot spot to your portfolio yet? If not, this might be the perfectly positioned opportunity you've been waiting for. In brief... 📈 350% growth in spirits-based RTDs over next three years. 🌍 Spirit's-based RTDs currently make up 6% of the spirits sector, by 2027 this is forecast to be 22% 👍 87% of people in a blind test significantly preferred the taste of Tom Savano to the largest premium cocktail RTD's in the UK* 🌟 Tom Savano is the most highly awarded RTD brand on taste, with 18 Great Taste Stars, and nine medals 💷 £2.2m revenue to date, £1.4m forecast for 2025 ✈ Exclusive partner of RTD with Virgin Atlantic and the Eurostar, along with customers including Liberty of London, Princess Cruises, and BA lounges. 🇸🇪 Nationwide listing in Sweden of our Margarita through Systembolaget 🛒 Two VERY exciting conversations in play for spring 2025 🇺🇸 Export discussions underway into the biggest RTD market in the world. 😎 Current valuation allows excellent entry point to maximise returns, with EIS still eligible on all funds 💰 EBITDA positive already Tom Savano are aimed at being the most premium, desirable RTD brand globally, with a lean business model meaning we are profitable TODAY, protecting your investment from the usual cash burn associated with brands such as this. We have already raised 40% of our target, so please get in touch if you'd like more information and to see our Investors Memorandum with the view to invest. Please be aware the round will close in January 2025. * Blind test conducted with 500 random public in Kings Cross, July 2024, comparing our Tommy's and Hot Honey Margaritas against the three most widely distributed premium margaritas in UK supermarkets Note: Please seek professional investment advice before making any cash investments. Investment capital at risk. #invest #investor #investment #angel #angelinvestor #investmentopportunity #portfolio #rtd #drinksindustry #alcohol

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Latest grocery market share data showing grocery price inflation continuing to ease and growth of 3.3%, almost in line with the inflation number of +3.2%. My take is that the rubber is really going to hit the road now as growth will need to be found by driving sales (underlying volumes) rather than relying on price. The continued increase of sales on promotion reflects shoppers seeking value and managing their budgets. Do you have the right category growth strategies in place to drive sales through the right value to the shopper? Also interesting to see that Aldi growth of +2.8% is behind the market, in contrast to the +9.1% growth of Lidl. Following a sustained period where both hard discounters were aligned in high growth we are now seeing a divergence in performance - does this give us an insight to any kind of shopper preference for one discounter offer over the other?

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