Welsh Brewery Tiny Rebel win SIBA Brewery Business of the Year
SIBA Business & Industry Awards 2016
The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) have today announced the winners of their annual Business & Industry Awards, presented at the huge BeerX event in Sheffield last night, with Welsh Brewers Tiny Rebel taking the top gong and winning Brewery Business of the Year, selected by judges from winners in other categories.
Tiny Rebel were selected the Brewery Business of the year following impressive entries in a number of categories and a win in the Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub (City) category.
Competition judges commented that “Their impressive activity across such a wide range of categories, combined with their meteoric growth and popularity with drinkers and industry experts alike made them a clear choice in this prestigious category and judges felt there was no more fitting recipient for the Brewery Business of The Year than Tiny Rebel.”
Bradley Cummings, Co-Founder of Tiny Rebel Brewery had this to say on their win,
“Unbelievable! It’s a dream come true to win such a prestigious award and I’d just like to thank everyone in our team who helped us win – It’s a team effort and I want to thank everybody across the whole business.”
Another big winner in the retail segment of the awards was Waitrose, who have been named the UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer (Multiple) for ‘helping a huge range of consumers gain access to independently-brewed craft beers on a scale which the judges said was vital for the industry’, judges commented.
“We are absolutely delighted to win this award. Waitrose is committed to working closely with small, independent, artisanal and local beer suppliers. It’s such an exciting category and we enjoy discovering new products, getting to know new brewers and communicating their stories to our customers. SIBA have been instrumental in supporting the category, and we look forward to continuing to work together in the coming years.” Anne Jones, Waitrose Spokesperson
Other winners on the night were Hobson’s Brewery in the Marketing implementation category, Rebellion Brewing Co in Community Support, Freedom Brewery in Green Business, Purity in Individual Design, Loch Ness Brewery in Concept Design, Hog’s Back in Business Innovation, Beer52 for Craft Beer Retailer (single location), Bundobust for Best Craft Beer Restaurant, There’s a Beer for That who won both categories for Craft Beer Promotion in the on and off trade, Charnwood Brewery in Commercial Achievement, Tiny Rebel in Best Independent Craft Beer Bar / Pub (City), The Yew Tree in Best Independent Craft Beer / Pub (Rural), and last but not least Thornbridge in the Export category in association with UKTi.
SIBA Business & Industry Award Winners and judges comments:
Marketing Implementation: Hobson’s Brewery (Worcestershire)
Judges felt that Hobson’s had clearly realised their vision to create an enhanced visitor experience at their brewery by developing a sustainable tasting room working alongside local food partners.
The visitors centre and tasting room is not only a huge marketing asset for the brewery, but an example of what can be done on a limited budget when social media and other public relations activities are utilised effectively.
Community Support: Rebellion Beer Co (Buckinghamshire)
The judges unanimous in their praise of the outstanding commitment Rebellion brewery have shown to not only raising money for charity but in genuinely making support for their local community integral to their business.
Rebellion’s partnership with the Shaw trust, a charity which helps place in employment disabled and disadvantaged people, was particularly admirable and showed a real conscious decision to do good for their local community.
Green Business: Freedom (Staffordshire)
At a time when many breweries across the UK are beginning to consider their impact on the environment judges felt Freedom really stood apart as making ‘green’ a core ideal to their business.
The conscious effort taken to consider the environmental impact of the business at every level was highlighted as unique by judges.
Best Individual Design: Purity Brewery for ‘X’ (Warwickshire)
In a hotly contested category judges felt that the bold and brave simplicity of Purity’s X design really made it stand out from the pack. They also commented that the thought which had gone into the packaging as a whole, including the use of a champagne style 750ml bottle and a simple hanging tag style label, all added to the premium feel of the product – which they said was fitting of a beer designed to celebrate the breweries 10th anniversary.
Best Concept Design: Loch Ness (Scotland)
Judges were impressed by the cleverness of the Loch Ness design, which took something which is iconic – the loch ness monster – and presented it in a way that was both clever and genuinely innovative.
The clean, minimal design translated well across a wide range of products and mediums, showing a genuine consideration for the overall concept of the design and who it would translate in various uses.
Business Innovation: Hogs Back Brewery (Surrey)
Hog’s Back impressed judges with their bold approach to growing their own hops to supply the brewery which not only makes good financial and business sense, but shows a real commitment to sustainability and British brewing heritage – values which seem core to their business.
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – multiple: Waitrose winner
Waitrose are helping a huge range of consumers gain access to independently-brewed craft beers on a scale which the judges said was vital for the industry. Their commitment to selecting a quality, curated range, was also highlighted and the move wherever possible to sell local brands to the store also impressed the competition judges.
Red Squirrel – Highly Commended
Judges were impressed by the unique way in which the brewery shops fused an american style tap room and a more traditional retail shop – the format is clearly loved by locals and the company have shown real commitment in rapidly expanding their operations, something judges felt was hugely commendable for a brewery to undertake.
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Retailer – Single: Beer 52 (Online)
Beer 52 stood out in the retailer category thanks to their willingness to try something different. Their subscription service and craft-beer magazine were both seen by judges as a positive ay to both encourage business and educate drinkers on craft beer.
Judges felt this, combined with a wide, high quality range of beers, pushed them to the top of the pile in this close-run category.
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Restaurant: Bundobust (West Yorkshire)
The innovative nature of Bundobust’s food and drink offering was highlighted by judges as a key factor in them being selected winners of this category. The fusion of Indian streetfood dishes and a well-chosen selection of craft beers from independent breweries was, the judges felt, a winning combination that is totally unique in the UK.
Best Independent Craft Beer Promotion – On-trade & Best Independent Craft Beer Promotion – Off-trade: There’s a Beer For That
Judges took the decision to offer Best Independent Craft Beer Promotion in both the on and off trade to There’s a Beer For That, who they said have made an unprecedented investment into the promotion of craft beer across the UK.
Judges felt that no other initiative has had the scope of There’s a Beer For That and the campaign has been a force for good in bringing new beer into the world of beer,something which can only be good for the industry as a whole.
Commercial Achievement: Charnwood Brewery (Leicestershire)
Judges felt that the business growth and achievements made by Charnwood brewery since they began just two years ago are nothing short of staggering and the brewery are clearly meeting their own ambitious targets.
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – City: Urban Taphouse (Wales)
The Urban Taphouse, owned and run by Tiny Rebel brewery, impressed judges with it’s modern yet relaxed aesthetic and commitment to quality independent craft beers.
Whilst beer was clearly the focus the food offering was equally well-chosen and suited the pub well. Overall their was a feeling amongst judges that this would be a place popular with both beer aficionados and those just discovering craft beer, something they felt was a key appeal to the pub and something which set it apart.
UK’s Best Independent Craft Beer Bar or Pub – Rural: Yew Tree Inn (Cheshire)
Judges commented that the Yew Tree Inn managed to combine the warmth of a country pub with the beer selection of a top craft-beer-bar, something which really set it aside from the competition.
The judges felt that the broad selection of British independent craft beers in both cask and keg, combined with a good range of bottles and cans was both appealing and approachable – making the Yew Tree a clear winner.
Export Award: Thornbridge (Derbyshire)
Thornbridge have massively expanded their export operations in recent years and judges were impressed by the number of different markets which they are now sending their craft-brewed British beer, as well as the commitment to ensuring quality was at the forefront of their offering.
Supplier Associate of the Year: Saxon Packaging (member voted)
Saxon packaging work with 50 SIBA breweries to provide modern, effective packaging solutions and members were clearly impressed – voting Saxon their Supplier Associate of the Year in the SIBA Business Awards 2016.
Brewery Business of the Year: Tiny Rebel (Wales)
Tiny Rebel were selected the Brewery Business of the year following impressive entries in a number of categories across Community Support, Design and other business activities including the Best City craft beer bar – a category which they of course won.
Their impressive activity across such a wide range of categories, combined with their meteoric growth and popularity with drinkers and industry experts alike made them a clear choice in this prestigious category and judges felt there was no more recipient for the Brewery Business of The Year.
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Supporting images available upon request, please email neil.walker@siba.co.uk or call 07493 883273
