SIBA speaks out on behalf of small brewers

Pub companies are still failing to offer small brewers access to the market, according to the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA).

The trade organisation has just released its third annual Small Brewing Industry Report, and in it commercial director Nick Stafford is concerned that the same issues are being raised again and again.

"What is worrying is that this is the third annual report and we are coming back with the same data - the single most important issue for small brewers once again is access to market," he told The Publican.

"We are not whingers. Progress is being made as can be seen through the actions of Enterprise Inns and Avebury Taverns - with SIBA's Direct Delivery scheme. But so much more is needed."

Mr Stafford also spoke out against agreements between the big brewers and big pub companies, claiming they were undermining the growth in popularity of local brews.

"Thousands of local licensees are not able to exploit an increasing consumer interest in regionalism and product diversity because of the business practices of an increasingly concentrated pub industry," he said.

"Four out of five local brewers said they had lost customers in the last 12 months due to pubco acquisitions."

Local brewers are one of the big success stories of the beer market, according to the report. Average sales growth for members is at 12 per cent and six out of 10 respondents to SIBA's survey reported growth of more than 10 per cent over the last year.