Supply problems for Bulmers Pear finally resolved

Stockists of Bulmers Pear are breathing a sigh of relief after Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) finally sorted out supply problems that have denied much of the on-trade access to the brand in recent weeks.

However, it may have come too late for some licensees, who have complained of losing drinkers because of the situation, or of having to switch to rival brands.

It is understood that, faced with supply issues, S&N prioritised the off-trade, where much of Bulmers Pear is sold.

Patricia Balcombe, licensee of Punch Taverns tenancy the St Anne's Castle, has been without Bulmers Pear for six weeks. She said: "We had two regulars coming in every afternoon for the pear cider. We have lost them now."

An S&N spokesman confirmed that "at the end of June, sales of Bulmers Pear exceeded forecasts" and "we had to prioritise allocations across all trade channels and consequently many of our customers were affected to some degree by the issue."

A Punch Taverns spokeswoman said: "We have experienced stocking issues with regard to Bulmers Pear cider as the producer has been unable to meet demand. Our orders were not being delivered in full and this was subsequently affecting the supply to our licensees. We have worked with the producer to resolve the issues and we are now back to full stock levels. Throughout this period, licensees have had the option to purchase other brands of pear cider, including Magners and Kopperberg."