Bucking the industry trend of falling beer volumes, sales through SIBA’s Direct Delivery Scheme (DDS) rose by an average of eight per cent during the six months from January to June 2008.

The scheme delivers locally brewed beers from 352 brewers to licensees of major pub companies, supermarkets and off-licences.

SIBA now has more than 430 brewing members, who own a total 4,500 pubs, ranging from microbrewers to large regional companies such as Fuller’s, Adnams and Shepherd Neame.

SIBA DDS managing director Nick Stafford said: “Any licensee who is not able through ownership by a third party to explore the opportunity of stocking a local ale must be very disappointed. If local ales are a potential source of turnover and profit, as these figures suggest, then why are they not being allowed to by their pubcos?”

Taken from: www.thepublican.com
By James Wilmore