Row erupts over ALMR remarks on beer tie

Related tags Licensed multiple retailers Managing director Nick bish

A number of pub companies are believed to be reviewing their membership of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) following this...

A number of pub companies are believed to be reviewing their membership of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) following this week's evidence session of the Business Enterprise Committee inquiry into the pubcos.

Giving evidence during the session ALMR chief executive Nick Bish appeared to tell MPs that the beer tie was not working.

"The ALMR would say that the pub company model does not work well particularly because it is operating in a declining market," he said.

Bish said later last week that he was standing by his comments, which he said were particularly made on behalf of the ALMR's core multiple lessee members.

But the view is not likely to be shared by the ALMR's larger member companies.

"It's a matter of record that the pubco model is having a bad time, and in bad times things have to be re-examined," Bish said.

"The model doesn't work well in a downturn - and we all need to look at how this problem is managed going forward.

"The ALMR represents multiple lessees amongst others - but as an industry together we need to address the issues, and flexibility among the national pub companies has to be part of that."

Simon Emeny, managing director of regional brewer Fuller's retail division, confirmed that the company was reviewing its membership of the ALMR.

"At first glance Mr Bish's comments look to have been very unhelpful," he said.

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