News round-up: wine issues ahead predicted and permanent outside structure plans

• ​Pubs set to face wine supply issues​

Pubs could be facing issues with wine supplies in the lead up to Christmas​, leading wine bosses have revealed.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has confirmed that there are already wine supply difficulties while Robert Foye, chief executive officer, at Accolade Wines, recently admitted there  would be supply issues of wine and prosecco in the lead up to Christmas. 

A combination of issues with supply, lack of HGV drivers, labour shortage, red tape for imports and availability of sea freight are factors that are affecting the market. 

• ​Government to extend rights on outside marquees and moveable structures for pubs​

Pubs could be able to keep marquees and moveable structures​ introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic under new Government plans

The temporary measures called permitted development rights (PDR), which were given to pubs and hospitality businesses, during the pandemic could become permanent as the Government has launched a consultation.

The Government has said it wants to make these permanent so people can continue to enjoy outdoor hospitality and local attractions, and businesses can innovate to build back better from the pandemic. 

• ​Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company consolidates logistics​

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) is consolidating its secondary logistics​ network into a single inhouse solution for on-trade customers commencing March 2022.

It said this would create the largest logistics network dedicated to the on trade operated by a brewer in the UK.

The move follows the creation of CMBC in November 2020, a joint venture between Carlsberg UK and Marston’s PLC​​, which included an existing inhouse logistics and depot network previously operated by Marston’s.

• 89 pubs ‘vanished’ since May​

Some 89 pubs have closed for good​ having either been demolished or converted into other types of buildings in England and Wales since May, figures have revealed.

Altus Group figures from May this year revealed an average of six pubs a week (total of 384) had ‘vanished’​​​ during the pandemic. Statistics to the end of June meant this number rose by 89 to 473.

The pubs were first ordered to close in March 2020, there were 40,886 in England and Wales including those that were vacant and being offered to let.

Following three national lockdowns and a plethora of restrictions on the trade, as of 30 June 2021, the number had fallen slightly to 40,413.

• JDW hit by bread shortage​

Pub chain JD Wetherspoon (JDW) has been hit by a bread shortage​, which has impacted on 13 of its breakfast menu dishes.

A supplier of bloomer bread to JDW has had labour difficulties at its production facility, the pubco revealed.

JDW confirmed that 13 breakfast menu dishes have bloomer bread as part of the meal. It said that 11 other breakfast meals are unaffected, including meals, which have breakfast muffins, breakfast wraps and eggs benedict, which continue to be available.

In order to minimise disruption for customers, JDW pub managers have been asked to source bread locally, where required.