SIBA Annual Brewing Conference & AGM 2007

2007 promises to be a busy year. The Licensing Act appears to be behind us and retailers can focus again on doing business and not bureaucracy. However, smoking is to be banned from pus and restaurants – can it be turned from a threat into an opportunity? The Competition Commission is investigating the supermarkets and due to report in October. Binge drinking needs to be tackled.
This year’s theme is Responsible Trading and we have speakers from within and without the industry to inform, stimulate and inspire us to do better.

Responsible use of PBD and joint commitments from suppliers and retailers must surely lead to premiumisation and growth of the Cask Ale category. Marketing of alcohol must also be sensitive to the market place with the Off Trade especially doing its bit for the UK’s Alcohol Harm Strategy. Local sourcing continues to be a dominant force, including health and sustainable community issues. The growing success of SIBA’s Direct Delivery Scheme adds substance to our members’ claims to be more environmentally friendly. Furthermore SIBA members are to be more responsible as defined in a revamped Code of Practice. And last, but not least, quality of product and service is the responsibility of brewer, retailer, wholesaler, category manager and consumer.

Annual Conference 2007 was packed with information, insight and, of course entertainment.

The event is the best networking opportunity of the year with the National Beer Awards, the Chairman’s Reception, Industry Day and the Annual Dinner.

Additionally this year, Conference opened a full six hours earlier on Thursday 1st March at 1300 hours with the SIBA DDS Annual Reporting and the official Trade Session of Exhibitors.

Delegates were free to come and go throughout the three days, so that there was plenty of opportunity to enjoy Leeds’s shopping, restaurants and extensive entertainment. Not least there was the Scarborough Hotel adjacent to our Conference venue which hosted the National Beer Challenge 2007. This famous northern beer palace is one of the finest supporters of local brewers.

In perfect harmony, what SIBA has achieved in the last few years and its aspirations for the future came together at SIBA’s Annual Conference 2007.

SIBA Annual Brewing Conference 2007
The Queens Hotel, City Square, Leeds, LS1 1PJ