Booker sells beer kegs
Free traders who run out of kegged beer can now stock up at Booker.
The cash and carry operator has become the first to sell beer kegs across the country. All leading brands are available from most of Booker's 172 branches after a trial, including Carling, John Smiths, Boddingtons, Guinness, Fosters and Strongbow.
The service is being targeted as a top-up shop for freetraders who have run out of beer at busy times. But it could also provide a new temptation for pubs to buy outside of the tie.
Booker is not offering delivery, with licensees expected to load up kegs in the back of their cars.
Catering director Ron Hickey said: "Booker has supplied food and drink to the independent publican for years and this is exactly what our customers have been asking for. If a pub runs out on a Friday afternoon the licensee can come to the cash and carry and stock up."
Hickey said the company had "absolutely no intention" of interfering in the beer tie with the service.
"We will make kegs available to customer on a top-up basis. We see this as being complementary rather than competitive with other suppliers," he said.
"We will not supply someone who's under a tie - if we found that they were we would not sell to them."
Pub companies said they were unconcerned by the move.
Andrew Cooney, commercial director for Union Pub Company, said: "Booker is a reputable firm and I'm sure they will operate this in a business-like way. Providing it is not enticing customers to buy outside of the tie we wouldn't have a problem with it."
