Clark's loyalty club supports freetrade

Matthew Clark is making a determined drive into the freetrade with a new loyalty club aimed at giving pubs keener prices and more business support.

Freehouses and tenants and lessees who are free-of-tie will gain access to exclusive deals by signing up as "mc more" members. Pubs are not charg-ed to join and will receive a "significant" one-off cash bo-nus of more than £1,000 in return for buying products from a specified range across all the main drinks categories.

The scheme is being rolled out gradually across the country and Matthew Clark hopes to attract about 2,000 members who are free to leave at any point.

As well as "competitive" pricing, point-of-sale material and an end-of-year bonus, benefits include access to free business advice from a specialist agency employed by Matthew Clark to offer support to customers.

Members can call Licensed Solutions Limited directly to obtain help on a range of issues, including finance, car leasing, sourcing gaming machines and training.

Matthew Clark marketing and business planning director Graham Donald said:

"For many outlets it's getting harder to be successful and we want to help create more businesses that are more financially robust.

"The market is very challenging and freetraders are stretched for resources. They have to spend time chasing deals in different cash and carries, which is time diverted away from running their pubs. We offer a one-stop shop and access to free advice.

"The specified list is made up of products based on their brand strength and the price of the deals we have negotiated with suppliers.

"We will be monitoring the prices competitors offer them and adjust as required; however, there is always a chance that they will be cheaper elsewhere. But our preferred route is to give members a substantial bonus at the end of the year."