Nick Stafford, Commercial Director, SIBA commented ‘We are pleased this report notes that buying local products has the potential to greatly reduce the distance food is transported. An increasing concentration of pub ownership and the use of supermarkets’ commercial practices as a model by pubcos mean this issue is surely as relevant in the on-trade as it is in the off-trade.’

SIBA claims its members can play a role in offsetting the potentially harmful effects of pubcos’ distribution practices as they outsource distribution to large-scale logistic companies with a growing reliance on regional distribution centres. Nick Stafford commented further: ‘Local is usually interpreted as within a 30 mile radius yet the use of RDCs force transport over far longer distances than this. We note the report contrasts the social and environmental costs of light goods vehicles as driven by our members with the far higher costs of HGVs. Add to that the ridiculous practice of hauling beer all over the country to deliver it to a pub 5 miles from the originating brewery and it’s easy to see how the pub industry can play a responsible part in reducing these costs by allowing pubs to access local beers directly whether through individual negotiations with local brewers or through our own Direct Delivery Scheme.’