Latest news with #craftbeer
Times
17 hours ago
- Business
- Times
BrewDog leaves punk era behind to focus on staff wellbeing
Brewdog has trained 200 staff as mental health first aiders as the 'punk' craft beer brand aims to distance itself from historic claims of bullying and a 'culture of fear'. James Taylor, the new chief executive, insists the business is 'well past' the previous controversies which culminated in dozens of former employees signing an open letter claiming they were bullied and treated like objects. The company is attempting to shed its past and usher in a new era focused on employee wellbeing and a broader appeal. Lauren Carol, Brewdog's chief operating officers, is promising 'fresh direction and energy' at the company The era of provocative advertising — including serving beers in taxidermised animals and projecting nearly naked images of the founders on to the Houses of Parliament — appears to be on hold. A recent rebrand showcases a softer, more family-friendly image, highlighting BrewDog's diverse menu of offerings across its more than 120 bars and hotels.
CTV News
17 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Cheers to ten years: Cape Breton craft brewery marks big birthday
Ten years ago, two young men in Sydney - a consulting engineer, and a teacher - had a dream. 'Myself and Andrew (Morrow) were both home brewers at the time,' said Breton Brewing Co., co-owner Bryan MacDonald on Friday, of the pair's fledgling business idea back in 2015. Bryan MacDonald and Andrew Morrow Breton Brewing celebrates their 10th year anniversary. (Source: Facebook) MacDonald said he and Morrow, who were both starting their families as well, felt an entrepreneurial itch. That's why they left their jobs, and on the final weekend of June 2015 opened the first craft brewery in the Sydney area. Cape Breton Island has two other microbreweries - Big Spruce Brewing in Nyanza and Route 19 Brewing in Inverness. 'It was definitely a leap,' MacDonald said. 'But we had a good business plan and a belief in our idea, so we decided to take that leap.' 'It seems like a whirlwind,' Morrow added. 'The last ten years have been filled with a lot of highs, and a lot of support from the community that we live in.' Breton Brewing's beginnings were relatively humble. The brewery started with just two kinds of beer - Black Angus IPA and Stirling Hefenweizen German wheat beer, growlers only -and a building the two men renovated along the way while selling their first several months' worth of pints. Breton Brewing Co. Breton Brewing brewed a beer specially for their ten-year anniversary. (CTV Atlantic/Ryan MacDonald) Now, their beers are among the best-sellers throughout Nova Scotia and the Maritimes. 'Because of that support, we've been able to increase our staff to about 30 and employ people here in Cape Breton,' Morrow said. 'And that was our main goal, was to keep more people home here in Cape Breton.' There are events happening at the brewery on Keltic Drive in Coxheath all weekend long to celebrate the ten-year anniversary, but the big day is Saturday. The main day of festivities includes an outdoor concert headlined by Jordan Musyscyn, The Tom Fun Orchestra, and Rankin MacInnis & The Broken Reeds. No decade in business is without its challenges, and the past one included the COVID-19 pandemic when Breton - and so many others in the industry - pivoted to make home deliveries. As for what might be in store for the next ten years, the two men say something new could be 'on tap' by as soon as the fall. 'We're working on a downtown location in Sydney,' MacDonald said. 'We have a building that we have been working on retrofitting, so that's kind of the next step for Breton Brewing.' Heading into their big birthday weekend, there seemed to be only one thing left to say. 'Cheers to ten years,' Morrow said. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
21 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Pedal pubs in Ottawa will be allowed to serve alcohol
A typical tour will visit up to three breweries, restaurants or pubs where patrons can sample craft beers or other beverages at each stop. Pedal pubs operating in Ottawa will be allowed to serve alcohol this summer, if the City of Ottawa passes a bylaw to permit the operations. The Ontario government announced changes to allow alcohol to be served on the large quadricycles, starting on July 1. Pedal pubs are large bicycles where people bicycle around a city and stop at pubs along the route for an alcoholic beverage. Alcohol is not currently permitted on board the bike. On Friday, the province announced as of July 1, pedal pubs operating in Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Windsor will be permitted to serve alcoholic beverages to customers once a municipality passes a bylaw to permit the operation. 'In addition to existing provincial requirements, municipalities may set specific local rules governing the operation of pedal pubs on their roadways, such as designated riding routes and hours of operation to support community safety and ensure pedal pubs do not cause disruption or contribute to traffic issues,' the Ontario government said in a statement. Pedal pubs will need to get a licence from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario to sell and serve alcohol.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Never tried craft beer? Here are the 10 best high street brews to drink first
Defining what craft beer is might be one of the most controversial conversations you can have in the beer world, but to me, it's simple – it's the misunderstanding of a political bargaining tool that came from brewers in the United States, the progenitors of the movement. Put simply, the Brewers Association (the body that represents independent beer makers over the pond) defines a craft brewery as an independent business and coined the term to negotiate with governments at all levels for their members. Unfortunately, it has caused some confusion for UK consumers. According to research recently conducted by Asda, nearly half (49 per cent) of its customers are still unsure what craft beer actually is – other than an expensive beer in a fancy can. The research also shows 55 per cent of Britons say they've never tried a craft beer, rising to almost two-thirds (61 per cent) among those over 55, and one in 10 believe craft beers are too expensive. Rather worryingly, given we invented it and it's the UK's favourite craft beer style (as evidenced by its overwhelming presence on our supermarket shelves), one in five consumers think IPA stands for Independent Pale Ale, but those in the know will tell you otherwise in the comments below (and you'll find the correct answer at the end of this piece). There is no 'style' that defines craft beer itself, as the beers straddle everything from light lagers to barrel-aged imperial stouts. What defines it however, is not being mass-produced by multinational organisations and, in most cases, having a lot more flavour than those that are. As for the cost, well, we all know small independent businesses don't have the buying power that the big players do, so it's your choice whether you want to support independent British businesses by spending a bit more money or not. For starters, these are my top choices, easily snapped up on the high street. If you were wondering... IPA stands for India Pale Ale. IPA was a style born of the colonial era, when pale ales were shipped from England to India, along with other things unavailable there, and eventually word spread amongst brewers back home that the hops should be increased in order to get more money for the beer, when the East India Company sold it to the colonisers after the four- to six-month sea journey (hops being natural preservatives, as well as adding flavour, aroma and bitterness to beer). Today, hops from all around the world are used, from bolshy piney, citrus US varieties to the fragrant, sauvignon blanc-like New Zealand hops – which give the beers their popular, but powerful, aromas and flavours.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Brewdog IPO ‘not on radar for now, says CEO'
BrewDog is reportedly not making steps towards launching an IPO at the moment, according to its CEO. In a report from The Times, BrewDog's chief James Taylor said an Initial Public Offering (IPO) was "not on the agenda at the moment', as the company announced a return to profitability for the first time since 2021. The company, which confirmed Taylor's comments to Just Drinks, said that Taylor remained "focused on strategy and delivery". BrewDog's former boss and co-founder James Watt had reportedly been considering an IPO for years, but detailed plans on the flotation have been few and far between. In 2022, Watt announced plans to donate 20% of shares in the Scottish brewer, but noted the shares were unable to be traded, given the firm's plan to launch an IPO had been delayed due to 'market uncertainty'. For the period ended 31 December 2024, the Elvis Juice brewer booked adjusted EBITDA of £7.5m, a 400% hike on its £2.5m loss in 2023. 2024 gross revenue however was relatively flat, declining 2.4% on the year prior to £357m. Net revenue reached £280m. Speaking on the results, CEO James Taylor said: '2024 was a transformative year for BrewDog, and I am pleased to report the company has returned to profitability for the first time in several years. After a challenging 2023, we streamlined operations and improved our efficiency across our global footprint, which had a tangible impact on our bottom line. "While our topline revenue growth slowed, we remain at historic highs demonstrating the continued appeal of our brilliant beers, the power of our brand, and the strong appetite for quality craft beer – especially in the UK where we achieved our highest ever share of the beer market and in Australia, which saw revenue growth of 34%." The Times also reported that Taylor said the company would see a pre-tax loss in 2024. BrewDog did not disclose pre-tax loss figures for the year but confirmed to Just Drinks that there was no dividend for 2024. James Taylor was promoted from CFO to CEO in March, replacing James Arrow who stepped down from the company after less than a year in the position. At the time, the Black Heart brand owner said Taylor would bring 'a wealth of financial and strategic expertise' to the role, having managed its financial operations at a point 'of significant transformation, including the return of the business to profitability in 2024'. Prior to holding the CFO role at BrewDog, Taylor also held senior leadership positions at childcare company Mayborn Group. The appointment, BrewDog said represents 'a seamless transition' as it focuses on 'profitability, global bar expansion and innovation in the beer market'. "Brewdog IPO 'not on radar for now, says CEO'" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
