Responding to new inflation figures out today, Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association said:
“Despite a slight drop in inflation our brewers and pubs are still experiencing an incredibly tough trading environment. Costs are much higher than previous years and our industry has been operating under duress for months on end as a result.
“Whilst December did deliver a small boost to our industry, profit is still nowhere near pre-pandemic levels because of extortionate costs on everything across entire supply chains. Businesses are between a rock and a hard place, they need to cover their costs but the last thing they want to do is push up prices for loyal customers.
“Add to this the recent announcement that energy support for businesses would be greatly reduced and more rail strikes in February and there seems to be no end to the challenges our pubs and brewers continue to face.
“We need the Chancellor to deliver long-term interventions for our sector in his Spring budget, to help us focus on growth and investment instead of just holding on from one crisis to the next.”
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Jessie Powell at jpowell@beerandpub.com / 020 7627 9199
Notes to editors:
About the British Beer & Pub Association
The BBPA represents UK companies which between them brew over 90% of the beer sold in the UK and own 20,000 pubs.
Our members include international companies, national and local brewers and pub businesses operating managed and tenanted pubs in cities, towns and villages across the country.
These businesses are at the heart of communities and local economies and include family businesses who have been brewing beer and running pubs for hundreds of years alongside emerging brewers and pub operators.
- The UK’s beer and pub industry supports close to 940,000 jobs
- The industry adds £26.2billion to the UK’s economy each year
Press release from the BBPA.
For more information or to arrange an interview contact Jessie Powell at jpowell@beerandpub.com / 020 7627 9199 .