15 minute read
London Cocktail Week 2020
LCW 2020
The drinks indusTry has uniTed To ensure London CoCkTaiL Week WiLL go ahead in 2020, WiTh a pLedge To supporT The on-Trade T he organisers of London Cocktail Week have announced that the 2020 festival will be taking place, running for the entire month of London Cocktail Week 2020 will focus on celebrating and supporting the London bar scene, and giving consumers a renewed reason to get back to some Cocktail Tours, in-venue brand activations and the addition of an at-home element. Hannah and Siobhan have been working tirelessly for a decade to put London October. Four leading spirits portfolios of the capital’s very best bars during the firmly on the map as the cocktail capital – Brown-Forman, Diageo, Edringtonmonth of October. The Cocktail Village will of the world. “We feel it is our duty to use Beam Suntory & Moët Hennessy – have not run this year. Instead, all efforts will be our platform and our voice to provide a committed their support alongside 26 focused on driving much-needed revenue solid, trusted foundation to support small individual brands. Together, they have to the partnering venues. For 2020, the businesses within our trade, and help joined forces with the festival’s co-owners, festival will be underpinned by a number of get the London bar scene back where it Hannah Sharman-Cox, Siobhan Payne and fresh commitments, to bolster consumer should be,” the pair said. “We feel hugely brothers, Rajbir and Sukhinder Singh, to confidence, support responsible operators grateful for the incredible backing of this ensure the festival can go ahead this year. and reignite supply chains through the £6 mission from our sponsors and believe that London can act as a blueprint to show other major cities around the world what can be achieved when an industry shows a united front in the face of adversity.” For more information about London Cocktail Week, visit www.londoncocktailweek.com.
Budweiser Brewing group uK&i reveals comprehensive reopening support
Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I’s Save Pub Life platform has expanded to provide a package of reopening support for pubs, bars and restaurants.
A host of resources are available to the on-trade, including a mobile ordering solution, enabling mobile payat-table, click & collect and home delivery in major cities; operational safety support and access to discounted PPE; digital marketing training; outdoor speed of serve solutions, such as mobile bars, buckets and coolers; and takeaway solutions, including PET bottles, compostable cups with lids and a variety of growlers.
Alongside this is the Boost Your Business loyalty app, a new platform supporting and rewarding Budweiser Brewing Group’s on-trade customers, providing access to exclusive rewards, offers and content; and Stella Artois Draught Masters, a digital training programme to help participants deliver the quality, service and perfect pour that pubgoers will be expecting from their reopened local venue.
Customers can also benefit from the exclusive green energy tariff offered by Budweiser Brewing Group in partnership with Opus Energy, with the potential to save up to 30% on electricity bills.
el Bandarra launches al Fresco variant Barcelonan aperitif drink brand El Bandarra, distributed by Mangrove UK, has unveiled a new expression – El Bandarra Al Fresco.
Developed by twins Alex and Albert Virgili, El Bandarra Al Fresco (15% ABV) combines high-quality garnacha wines with natural Mediterranean botanicals. Cherry red in colour, it offers “notes of liquorice, fresh herbs and mint, with a bitter grapefruit, citrus and rose petals background”.
Al Fresco has been in development for the last 12 months, with a signature serve of one part Al Fresco and two parts tonic, with an orange garnish. It joins the brand’s Rojo, Blanco & Rosé vermouth range.
Nick Gillett, managing director of Mangrove UK, said: “Spritzes and aperitifs have been gaining traction in the UK market in recent years, with their vibrant colours, lower-ABV, simple serves and laid-back vibe – none more so than the fun-packed spirit of El Bandarra.
“This latest expression, Al Fresco, can only enhance the current range, and we expect interest to be high.”
Diageo creates plastic-free Johnnie Walker bottle
Drinks giant Diageo has developed a plastic-free spirits bottle, made entirely from sustainably sourced wood, which will be used to package a limited edition run of Johnnie Walker whisky.
To make the bottles, Diageo has partnered with venture management company Pilot Lite to launch a new sustainable packaging technology company called Pulpex Limited. Pulpex will also produce packaging for the likes of Unilever and PepsiCo.
The “first-of-its-kind” scalable paper-based bottle, which will debut in early 2021, is made from sustainably sourced pulp. It has been designed and developed to be 100% plastic-free and fully recyclable.
Ewan Andrew, chief sustainability officer, Diageo PLC, said: “We’re proud to have created this world first. We are constantly striving to push the boundaries within sustainable packaging and this bottle has the potential to be truly groundbreaking.
“It feels fitting that we should launch it with Johnnie Walker, a brand that has often led the way in innovation throughout its 200 years existence.”
outlets see trade down 45% on opening weeKend
Managed pub, bar and restaurant companies that opened sites in England during the first weekend of July have reported like-for-like trading 44.5% down on the corresponding weekend last year, according to the latest Coffer Peach Business Tracker data, produced by CGA, The Coffer Group and RSM.
Tracker figures reveal that 36% of group-operated sites were open for eating and drinking inside on July 4 and 5, the first time that hospitality businesses were allowed to reopen fully since lockdown.
Managed pubs and bars that opened saw sales 44.7% below pre-Covid levels compared to the same weekend in 2019, whereas group-owned restaurants that were open were 41.1% down.
However, many more pubs opened their doors than restaurants. The industry barometer shows that 42% of managed pubs, bars and pub restaurants traded, while just 12% of restaurants were open for business.
In all, 32 companies provided data to the Tracker, with another 17 operators reporting that they had yet to open any sites.
Lanchester Wines unveils in-venue ordering platform
Wine and spirits supplier Lanchester Wines has developed an online order and pay tool to help on-trade venues reopen safely while following social distancing guidelines.
Built in response to Covid-19, Lanchester Wines’ newly created ReOpenApp.com enables customers to enjoy a meal or drink without close interaction with staff or other guests, and without handling menus, payment terminals or cash.
The web-based app has a fully integrated back offi ce, which can link with in-venue stock control and be used across any device, including existing till systems, tablet or smartphone.
Venues can upload both food and drink menus, and the ReOpen app off ers 24/7 UK-based support.
There is no need for customers to register before placing an order – they can simply arrive, open the venue’s unique URL, set their table and place an order with secure payment through Apple, Google Pay or any Visa, MasterCard or AmEx card.
According to Lanchester Wines, venues who sign up to the service online can be up and running, taking orders in around ten minutes.
KVÎST ENTERS THE NONALCOHOLIC SPIRIT MARKET
KVÎST, a new premium non-alcoholic distilled spirit, has launched in the UK with distribution agency Craftwork.
Created by The Bloomsbury Club UK, KVÎST, which takes its name from the old Norsk word meaning ‘twig’ or ‘botany’, is inspired by Nordic traditions and foraged forest plants.
The liquid itself is a handcrafted blend of eight botanicals: juniper, silver birch, cascarilla bark, gentian, rhubarb root, orange peel, cardamom and pimento.
Available to both the on-trade and off -trade, there will initially be two variants – KVÎST Classica, which leads with juniper and citrus notes, and KVÎST Rosa, infused with herb and spice bitters. Both can be enjoyed neat, over ice, in noABV cocktails and as a non-alcoholic alternative to a G&T.
Jeremy Rockett, managing director of Craftwork, said: “Craftwork are delighted to be working with KVÎST. It’s bang on trend, tastes fantastic and gives consumers a unique opportunity to access a high-quality, nonalcoholic distilled spirit at a very reasonable price-point.”
GLOBAL BARTENDING TALENT AGENCY LAUNCHES
Former Diageo World Class manager Dan Dove (pictured) has launched a talent agency dedicated to bartenders, considered to be the fi rst of its kind in the industry.
The Global Bartending Talent Agency has been developed to connect drinks professionals with luxury brands, consumers and each other.
Those who are part of the agency will off er services such as cocktail and menu innovation, liquid research and development, competition judging, TV presenting, social media campaigns and more. Each individual will have a detailed profi le, providing clear insight into their skill sets and attributes.
Dan said: “In the current climate and the diffi culties that the hospitality industry are facing today, Global Bartending will open doors to talent, allowing them to explore new paths in their career using their skill sets they have learnt over the years, bringing them new and exciting opportunities.”
Soft drink brand Sanpellegrino has updated its Classic Italian Taste range, unveiling a new premium look and summer marketing campaign. The new design is said to celebrate the brand’s authentic Italian heritage and indulgent fl avours. The can format has been designed using a traditional Majolica decoration (a popular Italian pottery style), representing the sun-kissed citrus groves and famous pottery style of Sicily. Available in two classic Italian fl avours, Aranciata (Orange) and Limonata (Lemon), the range is available now in major wholesalers, including Booker, Bestway and Acquisto.
Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery is celebrating the easing of lockdown measures with the release of its second ‘fi nished’ single malt whisky. Distilled in 2016, Filey Bay STR Finish is a fi eld to bottle single malt that spent years maturing in bourbon casks before transferring to shaved, toasted and re-charred (STR) red wine barriques, which came from Rioja vineyards in Spain, to be fi nished. It features “citrus and caramel fl avours from the bourbon casks and weaves them with the red fruits of the Rioja barriques”, creating a “complex whisky with spice and depth” that’s underpinned by a “light and fruity housestyle”.
Swift to open new all-day venue in Shoreditch
The team behind award-winning Soho cocktail bar Swift are opening a new venue on Great Eastern Street in Shoreditch.
Bringing an all-day offering for the first time, the venue will be open from 8am on weekdays and 11am on weekends, serving artisanal coffee and brunch-style dishes, in addition to cocktails.
Adopting a similar aesthetic to the ground floor of the original bar, Swift Shoreditch will “capture the heart and soul” of its sister site, with elegant, bright art deco touches throughout, banquette style seating, greenery and canopied French glass doors.
Co-owner Mia Johansson said: “Whilst we’re all still in uncertain times and have a long road ahead of us on our way to recovery, we have faith in the British public’s love of coming together for great food and drink and are hopeful that London’s world-class cocktail scene will rebuild itself to come back stronger than ever.
“Sticking to our plan to open our second site is just the embodiment of our faith in this and we are so excited to start hosting guests again.”
diageo recovery fund goeS live in the uK
The fund from Diageo’s US$100 million ‘Raising the Bar’ recovery programme, created to support the global on-trade as it reopens following lockdown, went live in the UK on 9 July. As part of the programme, Diageo has unveiled a range of UK partnerships.
Independent outlets and managed operators can apply for 5L hand sanitiser units, created in partnership with CleanedUp, available free-of-charge. Dispense units will be delivered with 20L of hand sanitiser donated by Diageo and a basic hygiene kit containing PPE masks and gloves.
Alongside this, there is a kit containing recycled, recyclable and environmentally-friendly rPET takeaway drinks solutions, as well as bespoke mobile bar solutions created by Special Bar Services, fitted with protective sneeze screens to ensure outlets can maintain high health and safety standards. Digital training and support is free to access via the Diageo Bar Academy.
Seperately to ‘Raising the Bar’, Diageo GB is funding a partnership with Omnifi to create a bespoke contactless mobile device platform OrderBee.
Kent organisations launch ‘Support Your Local’ initiative
Produced in Kent, the voice of Kent food and drink, and Visit Kent, the destination management organisation for Kent, have joined forces to “bolster the hospitality industry” with a new campaign dubbed ‘Support Your Local’.
The initiative, which promotes a country-wide community appeal and marketing campaign, has been developed to help local, independent businesses as they come out of lockdown. It aims to provide a much-needed boost to Kent’s £2.6 billion visitor economy, which has been badly hit since the pandemic.
‘Support Your Local’ encourages consumers to show their love for their favourite Kent food and drink businesses. Those wishing to support the campaign can make a Caring Customer Pledge to Kent’s local restaurants, pubs, cafes and hotels when they open. In doing so, patrons will be pledging their commitment to respect, protect and enjoy establishments as each one adapts to post-lockdown circumstances.
Chase Distillery is branching out into a new drinks category, unveiling a range of ready-to-drink gin seltzers.
Made from a blend of Chase Gin and sparkling water, with no artificial ingredients, Chase’s Gin Seltzers come in natural botanical flavours, including Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo, Seville Orange and London Dry & Lemon.
The distillery aims to tap into the active Millennial demographic seeking a drink that’s big on flavour and complements a healthy, wellness-driven lifestyle. Each can is just 89 calories per 250ml.
James Chase, director at Chase Distillery, said: “Consumers are becoming increasingly health conscious, and for those seeking a low-calorie alternative to wine, beer and cider, Chase’s Gin Seltzers are ideal. The range is designed for those active, on-the-go individuals that want to enjoy a drink without compromising their healthy lifestyle.”
Stella Artois supports pubs’ safe reopening with street art installations
Stella Artois is harnessing the power of smart street art to help bars and pubs maintain social distancing for customers in a safe yet creative way.
The Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I-owned beer brand installed a 28×14 metre artwork at the heart of the Old Truman Brewery in London, using a combination of geometric shapes and contrasting colours to help visitors safely social distance without the need for physical barriers.
Elements of the design are being shared with 1,000 pubs and bars across the UK to support their Covid-19 measures as they welcome back customers.
Developed by Stella Artois and creative agency Studio Number One, the work borrows techniques used in op art, urban planning, architecture and design to manage people’s movements and make keeping socially distant obvious and easy, without the use of offputting physical barriers.
The street art features a combination of circles, flowing lines and bright, contrasting colours, set within a representation of a woman toasting with a beer, creating a design that is described as both functional and artistic, transforming an otherwise featureless space
New ProveNçal giN hits the UK marKet A new distillery operating from the heart of Provence in France has launched its first spirit, QVT Dry Gin, in the UK.
Inspired by the range of flavours and fragrances of the French region, the gin was chosen to be the first product released by QVT after its founding members noticed that the vast into a vibrant place to linger safely over a drink.
majority of spirits consumed in the area were imported.
Selecting high-quality, local ingredients, the botanicals used in the distillation process include juniper, lavender, roseflower, rosemary, coriander seeds, pine and grape.
The result is “an aroma that captures the essence of Provence while satisfying all needs from a traditional dry gin”.
QVT is short for ‘quatre-vingt trois’, which translates as 83 in French, representing the code of the department’s base in the heart of Provence.
teNNeNt’s gifts Kegs to oN-trade oUtlets across scotlaNd
Beer brand Tennent’s is supporting Scotland’s on-trade as it prepares to reopen by supplying complimentary kegs to around 2,000 licensed premises.
The initiative, which launched on Wednesday 8 July, saw thousands of bars, restaurants, sports venues, social clubs and other on-trade outlets across Scotland receive a free keg of Tennent’s Lager or Tennent’s Light after enrolling through the ‘Dedicated to You’ campaign online portal.
In addition to thousands of kegs, the brand is also providing complimentary reopening POS kits to more than 1,000 Scottish outlets.
Tennent’s campaign was launched alongside a video featuring famous Scottish bars, including Glasgow’s Pot Still, Blackbird in Edinburgh and Abandon Ship in Dundee, as they prepared to return to work.
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London-based hospitality company Inception Group has announced a £25,000 bar tab for NHS workers spread across its sites as part of its reopening plans. From 4 July, Inception Group began to reopen its collection of bars, restaurants and pubs across London in phases, which include conceptled cocktail bar brands Mr Fogg’s and Cahoots. NHS workers had the warmest of welcomes back, with a £25,000 bar tab spread across the group’s reopened sites as a thank you for their phenomenal response to the pandemic.
Bacardí has launched a new Snapchat lens, designed to help consumers maintain a safe one-metre plus distance apart when they return to their favourite venues. The new Snapchat lens uses augmented reality, showcasing the distance between smartphone users and their friends while enjoying cocktails at their local bar or restaurant. Once activated, as users approach the one-metre distance, the Snapchat lens responds showing how much further they need to stand back to maintain that social distance. Once the distance is met, they will be digitally transported via the lens to a Caribbean island, with the addition of sunglasses, palm trees and the official Bacardí rum anthem, The Sound of Rum.
