12 Adnams draymen gave up their Saturday to learn about cellar management and take the Bii qualification so they can advise their customers with confidence about how to store, handle and dispense cask ales. The course was delivered by Annabel Smith, Cask Marque Training Manager, in the Adnams training room at the brewery in Southwold.
Cask Marque have trained sales teams and telesales for a number of breweries and pub groups but this is the first time draymen have been enrolled in this training course. Annabel commented “They were a great group to teach as they were very attentive, interested and asked very relevant questions. It is a good investment as draymen are fronting the company when visiting customers every week. Also the team will feel valued as the company invested in increasing their knowledge and this acknowledges the importance of their job role.”
Gary Stacey the Adnams Transport Manager also attended the course. “ Our draymen are frequently asked about cellar issues. Now they can feel confident in answering questions and giving advice. It will also reduce ullage returns. Annabel made the course both interesting and enjoyable for the team”
Currently Cask Marque’s focus has been on the cellar and all pubs will need to gain a 4*/5* rating to hold the Cask Marque award. By the end of 2023 over 8,000 pubs will have a cellar rating. In the first quarter of this year 27% of pubs failed to gain the 4*/5* rating. Apart from the normal issues, ice machines and glass washing machines failed from a hygienic aspect and a number of pubs did not have their gas secured which is a safety issue.
Paul Nunny, Director of Cask Marque, was pleased about the level of support and focus now being placed on the cellar “Good cellar practice delivers better yields and better beer thus helping pub profitability. Remember the cellar is to beer as the kitchen is to food. The star rating system, will drive up standards that will not only benefit the pub but also the consumer.”
Editors Notes:
- Cask Marque is a not-for-profit organisation that champions beer quality.
- It has 60 assessors making 22,000 visits each year supporting pubs.
- 77% of cask ale drinkers recognise the Cask Marque plaque and the CaskFinder app is used 60,000 times a month to find Cask Marque pubs.
For more information contact:
Paul Nunny 07768 614065
www.cask-marque.co.uk
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