Speakers at the British Guild of Beer Writers off-trade seminar
The British Guild of Beer Writers shone a light on the vibrant off-trade beer market when it hosted its first seminar on the subject, in partnership with Drinks Retailing News.
The seminar, held at the Bottle Shop in Bermondsey, brought together speakers from across the beer retailing sector to share insights, including: Sarah Hammond, beer buyer at Waitrose; Jules Gray, owner of the award-winning Hop Hideout in Sheffield; Zeph King, of Real Ale, which buys beers for M&S; Pete Brissenden, of the Bottle Shop; and Neil Gannon, of There’s A Beer for That.
Editor of Drinks Retailing News, Martin Green, introduced the event with a market overview, reminding the audience that sales in the off-trade now outstrip the on-trade, and grew by 2.8% in the last quarter.
Multiple grocers are giving ever more space to interesting beers, and independent bottle shops — many of them with an on-trade element — are opening at a rate of three or four a month.
Although each speaker presented a different perspective on beer retailing, they shared an optimism about the ongoing good health of the sector. Themes included the need to help customers navigate beer aisles and to give them information about beer: its ingredients, particularly hop varieties, and its food matching potential.
Guild of Beer Writers director, Paul Hegarty, said: “It was wonderful to hear how beer in the off-trade is undergoing such a renaissance. A decade ago the focus was too often solely on price. Now staff knowledge, beer quality, range and consumer information are increasingly the priority.
“The off trade presents a great opportunity for guild members to find a new audience of beer aficionados. We’re grateful to Drinks Retailing News, to all our speakers, and to There’s A Beer For That, who supported the event.”
