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8th December 2023

Nearly Half Of Publicans Face Challenges When Training Their Staff In Pouring The Perfect Pint[1]

New research from Birra Moretti has found that over 40% of publicans have shared that they have faced challenges when it comes to training their staff in pouring the perfect pint, with ‘lack of time’ a contributing factor[2]. However, 70% of publicans agree that pouring consistently high-quality pints encourages return visits, with more than half saying a well poured pint can help to attract new customers[3]. To help publicans make the most of the perfect pint opportunity, Birra Moretti has launched its Pint Perfection Platform –– a quick step-by-step guide to give publicans, and their staff, the confidence to serve the perfect Birra Moretti pint, every time.

The importance of serving a quality pint is clear, with almost all publicans agreeing that using a clean glass, regularly cleaning beer lines, storing the beer at the correct temperature, and serving the beer at the correct temperature were key elements when pouring the perfect pint. This matches how consumers feel, with the perfect serve proven to improve their drinking experience5.

With the festive period fast approaching, 68% of publicans admit there are challenges to maintaining pint quality during the busy period, with the pressures of faster service and increased footfall impacting this[4]. To mitigate some of these pressures and maintain pint quality, over half of publicans (52%) plan to have more staff on the bar this Christmas, to help keep up with demand. Whilst 40% are set to have more branded beer glasses to further enhance the ideal serve. Other initiatives include, a refresh on training and more frequent cellar checks to ensure the beer is at the optimum temperature.

Importantly, in the current financial climate, publicans also stated that the perfect serve demonstrates value for money (26%)[5]. With more beer drinkers looking for this to make the most of their on-trade visits[6], this can lead to an increase in sales of more premium options. At the same time, a quarter of publicans agree that the perfect pint saves them money by reducing beer wastage (25%[7]).

Will Rice, HEINEKEN UK On-Trade Director, said: “These results showcase that publicans are clearly aware of the benefits of serving their customers the perfect pint every time. However, the research also reveals some of the difficulties operators have in consistently delivering the optimum serve, and where we can offer more support. We found that 97% of bar staff are trained by their manager, but over two thirds of publicans said they only train staff on how to pour the best-possible pint when they first join9.

“We understand that finding experienced staff has been more difficult in the last couple of years and that publicans are facing an uphill task to ensure that they have the best team in place to provide the ultimate pint experience. This is why we’ve launched the Pint Perfection Platform from Birra Moretti to help publicans and their staff find a quick and easy way to recap best practice techniques throughout the year.

“We know customers are prioritising value for money through quality experiences, so taking care of your pint serves can be a strong way to demonstrate value for money, quality and encourage return visits to your pub.”

– END –

For additional information please contact the HEINEKEN press office at heineken@cirkle.com or 01494 731750

ABOUT HEINEKEN UK

Headquartered in Edinburgh, HEINEKEN is the UK’s leading pub, cider and beer company behind iconic drinks and a full range of specialty brands, including Heineken®, Heineken® Silver, Heineken® 0.0 and Birra Moretti which cater well for sports fans. We are committed to supporting a thriving on-trade, underpinned by an ethos of ‘Helping Grow Your Business.’

In owning 2,400 pubs, we know what works – we test out products and advice before sharing this knowledge with our customers – and our expert team of over 2,000 people offer dedicated support. We strive to understand you and your customers, make things easier and profitable, and deliver an unbeatable quality experience to boost your business and ensure every guest is satisfied every visit.

Heineken® was the Official Beer Partner of UEFA EURO 2020™ and has extended its UEFA Champions League partnership by another three years, from 2021 to 2024. We’re proud to have become the official partner of UEFA Women’s Football with a four-season partnership including sponsorship until 2025 of UEFA Women’s Champions League™ and UEFA Women’s EURO 2022™. Heineken® 0.0 will also support W Series as its Official Partner, furthering the interests and prospects of female racing drivers.

In line with our sustainability strategy, Brew a Better World, we’re committed to reducing our environmental impact alongside helping our customers be more eco-friendly. We are proud to support thousands of operators using our industry-leading draught solutions, SmartDispense™, who collectively save 60M pints of water, beer, cider and cleaning materials and 273 tonnes of CO2 every year. We have also removed 400M teaspoons of sugar from our ciders, while 100% of the barley for our beers is sustainably sourced within the UK.

[1] Research undertaken on behalf of Birra Moretti conducted by KAM, November 2023. Telephone interviews with 200 UK publicans (landlord or manager).

[2] Research undertaken on behalf of Birra Moretti conducted by KAM, November 2023. Telephone interviews with 200 UK publicans (landlord or manager).

[3]  Research undertaken on behalf of Birra Moretti conducted by KAM, November 2023. Telephone interviews with 200 UK publicans (landlord or manager).

[4] Research undertaken on behalf of Birra Moretti conducted by KAM, November 2023. Telephone interviews with 200 UK publicans (landlord or manager).

[5] Research undertaken on behalf of Birra Moretti conducted by KAM, November 2023. Telephone interviews with 200 UK publicans (landlord or manager).

[6] KAM media research, March 2023, N=299 UK adults who consume beer at least once a month

[7] Research undertaken on behalf of Birra Moretti conducted by KAM, November 2023. Telephone interviews with 200 UK publicans (landlord or manager).

An accompanying image can be downloaded here


For additional information please contact the HEINEKEN press office at heineken@cirkle.com or 01494 731750

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