January 2010 bar enewsletter www.barmagazine.co.uk A round-up of some of this week’s industry news. Independent operators dominate property sales in 2009 About two-thirds of properties sold in 2009 across the hotel, pub, restaurant, care and retail sectors were acquired by experienced independent operators, according to a study published today by property agents and advisers Christie & Co. It showed that only around five per cent of the individual businesses that Christie & Co sold in 2009 moved into corporate ownership, reflecting how large corporates curbed their acquisition strategies to focus on improving operating efficiencies. First-time buyers still accounted for around 34 per cent of the transactions analysed. Sales boost for Yates’s operator Town and City Pub Company, whose bars include the Yates’s chain, increased sales in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year. Sales were up 8.1 per cent in December year on ye ar. Income drops for Constellation Drinks giant Constellation Brands has reported a 47 per cent drop in net income for the three months to November 30, although the fall was not as great as some analysts had predicted. Net income was down from $83.5 million to $44.1 million. Net sales fell four per cent, which was partly blamed on the disposal of some spirits brands. Constellation Europe’s brands include Svedka vodka and, through a joint venture with Grupo Modelo of Mexico, beers Modelo, Corona and Tsingtao. Festive cheer from TRG The Restaurant Group (TRG), which operates chains such as Frankie & Benny’s and Garfunkel’s, has reported that trading for the six weeks to December 27 was “good with strong like-for-like sales growth”. Although this was described as an “encouraging improvement on the same period last year”, full-year like-for-like sales still fell by two per cent. In a trading statement, TRG said that it expected to report profits “well ahead ” of the top of the range of current market forecasts when it delivers its full-year results in March. The group opened 19 new venues last year and plans to open another 15 to 20 in 2010. ‘Significant’ plans for Cutty Sark Berry Bros. & Rudd has taken distribution of Scotch whisky Cutty Sark back in-house, ending its successful two-year UK distribution agreement with Emporia Brands. Regional business director James Steiner said the move was in advance of “significant plans” for the brand in 2010. It follows an increase in on-trade listings over the past two years while the whisky was in Emporia’s hands. New boss at WaverleyTBS Jonathan Townsend has taken over as managing director at drinks wholesaler WaverleyTBS after joining in September as commercial director. It follows the departure of Gordon Johncox “to pursue other interests”. Mark Riley has been appointed as trading director with responsibility for independent free trade and national sales. St uart Walker has joined the group as finance director. Marlboro launches new Red variant Marlboro has launched a metallic “soft pack” variant of Marlboro Red, introducing a retro feel to the brand by creating the appearance of a tin with a tactile logo and “rivet” design. It was made available in 175 pubs and clubs in the UK and Ireland last month after launches in Spain, Greece and Italy. Smirnoff supports new iPhone app Smirnoff has teamed up with London’s Time Out magazine to provide a free iPhone application that provides users with a guide to the bars, nightlife, restaurants and culture of the capital. It includes a function using geo-location technology to provide recommendations for the area where the user is within seconds. The content is also available at www.timeout.com/smirnoff

January 2010 bar enewsletter In the news...bar magazine A round-up of some of this week’s industry news.

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January 2010 bar enewsletter Advertise on the Bar eNewsletter. MPs call for minimum pricing and higher duty. The government is considering proposals from a cross-party committee of MPs for an increase in spirits duty and a minimum price for alcohol. The Commons health committee presented its report on Friday recommending measures for tackling drink-related problems. MPs recommended that the price of a unit of alcohol should be at least 40p but that setting it at 50p would prevent more people from developing health problems. It proposed that duty on spirits and industrial cider should be raised but also that beer with ABV of 2.8 per cent or less should be taxed differently. It also called for mandatory labelling of all containers of alcoholic drinks

A round-up of industry news from Bar magazine

MPs call for minimum pricing and higher duty MPs call for minimum pricing and higher duty

The government is considering proposals from a cross-party committee of MPs for an increase in spirits duty and a minimum price for alcohol. The Commons health committee presented its report on Friday recommending measures for tackling drink-related problems. MPs recommended that the price of a unit of alcohol should be at least 40p but that setting it at 50p would prevent more people from developing health problems. It proposed that duty on spirits and “industrial cider” should be raised but also that beer with ABV of 2.8 per cent or less should be taxed differently. It also called for mandatory labelling of “all containers of alcoholic drinks”. Read more_>>

Independent operators dominate property sales in 2009
About two-thirds of properties sold in 2009 across the hotel, pub, restaurant, care and retail sectors were acquired by experienced independent operators, according to a study published today by property agents and advisers Christie & Co. It showed that only around five per cent of the individual businesses that Christie & Co sold in 2009 moved into corporate ownership, reflecting how large corporates curbed their acquisition strategies to focus on improving operating efficiencies. First-time buyers still accounted for around 34 per cent of the transactions analysed.

Sales boost for Yates’s operator
Town and City Pub Company, whose bars include the Yates’s chain, increased sales in the run-up to Christmas and the New Year. Sales were up 8.1 per cent in December year on year.

Income drops for Constellation
Drinks giant Constellation Brands has reported a 47 per cent drop in net income for the three months to November 30, although the fall was not as great as some analysts had predicted. Net income was down from $83.5 million to $44.1 million. Net sales fell four per cent, which was partly blamed on the disposal of some spirits brands. Constellation Europe’s brands include Svedka vodka and, through a joint venture with Grupo Modelo of Mexico, beers Modelo, Corona and Tsingtao.

Festive cheer from TRG
The Restaurant Group (TRG), which operates chains such as Frankie & Benny’s and Garfunkel’s, has reported that trading for the six weeks to December 27 was “good with strong like-for-like sales growth”. Althou gh this was described as an “encouraging improvement on the same period last year”, full-year like-for-like sales still fell by two per cent. In a trading statement, TRG said that it expected to report profits “well ahead” of the top of the range of current market forecasts when it delivers its full-year results in March. The group opened 19 new venues last year and plans to open another 15 to 20 in 2010.

‘Significant’ plans for Cutty Sark
Berry Bros. & Rudd has taken distribution of Scotch whisky Cutty Sark back in-house, ending its successful two-year UK distribution agreement with Emporia Brands. Regional business director James Steiner said the move was in advance of “significant plans” for the brand in 2010. It follows an increase in on-trade listings over the past two years while the whisky was in Emporia’s hands.

New boss at WaverleyTBS
Jonathan Townsend has taken over as managing director at drinks wholesaler WaverleyTBS after joining in September as commercial director. It follows the departure of Gordon Johncox “to pursue other interests”. Mark Riley has been appointed as trading director with responsibility for independent free trade and national sales. Stuart Walker has joined the group as finance director.

Marlboro launches new Red variant
Marlboro has launched a metallic “soft pack” variant of Marlboro Red, introducing a retro feel to the brand by creating the appearance of a tin with a tactile logo and “rivet” design. It was made available in 175 pubs and clubs in the UK and Ireland last month after launches in Spain, Greece and Italy.

Smirnoff supports new iPhone app
Smirnoff has teamed up with London’s Time Out magazine to provide a free iPhone application that provides users with a guide to the bars, nightlife, restaurants and culture of the capital. It includes a function using geo-location technology to provide recommendations for the area where the user is within seconds. The content is also available at www.timeout.com/smirnoff

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