BEER
Hand in hand Pubs and beer go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that when pubs were forced to close, it was the breweries who were among the first to show their pub partners support – and have continued to do so over the last two months.
Stomping Ground has donated 5000 schooners of beer to pubs across Melbourne
PUBS HAVE been under immense
– CUB and Lion – had stepped up with
on in the crisis, and quickly started the
pressure in the last two months. For all
initiatives to help support their pub
‘For the Love of Your Local’ campaign.
the good of pivoting to takeaway and
partners in any way they could. Lion
Through the initiative, the public could
delivery models, it still does not make
immediately announced that it would
purchase a $10 voucher for 2-for-1
up for the normal turnover a venue
credit any unused kegs that would
pints of Great Northern Crisp or Carlton
would make with its doors open, the
otherwise go bad, and to put a little more
Draught when their local re-opened,
music pumping and the beer flowing.
money back into the coffers.
with the money to go directly to their
The industry was shellshocked at the
Within the first month, Lion had credited
nominated pub.
end of March when venues were forced
more than 4000 venues nearly $23.5
to close, with operators trying to get
million for approximately 85,000 kegs.
raising $1 million, but after smashing the
their heads around how to keep their
It has also cleaned over 10,000 couplers
goal late last month, CUB has doubled the
businesses afloat and their staff employed.
and other pieces of draught equipment for
target to $2 million.
It didn’t take very long to realise that cash
its venue partners.
flow was going to be a real problem.
“We remain absolutely committed to
The scheme started with a target of
“Some venues are facing the prospect of never opening their doors again if they
doing everything we can to support licensed
don’t get cash flow. It is an unprecedented
Putting your money where your mouth is
venues during this challenging period,” says
challenge, not even during the world wars
managing director James Brindley.
or the Depression did the pubs close,”
Within a fortnight of the announcement,
At CUB, the company identified cash
the two biggest brewers in the country
20 | Australian Hotelier
flow as a major problem from pubs early
stated CUB CEO Peter Filipovic. “But we know Australians want pubs