Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has announced plans to sell Hampshire-based Ringwood Brewery and the Ringwood ale brands. Ringwood, which was founded in 1978, was bought by Marston’s in 2007. Its brand include Razorback, Old Thumper, Boondoggle and Fortyniner. As part of the announcement, CMBC said its logistics operation at Ringwood is slated to close, with deliveries relocated to CMBC’s depots at Tiverton and Farnborough,…

Spirits industry giant Diageo has announced a new campaign to support parents in preventing underage drinking.  Based on research commissioned by Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP), Diageo is collaborating with influencers to highlight the dangers of underage drinking.  Demonstrating the role of parents in preventing underage drinking, the research found that 53% of parents have allowed, or would allow their children to have…

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has urged the chancellor to address concerns that continue to threaten smaller retail businesses. The Fed’s national president, Jason Birks (pictured) has written to Jeremy Hunt with a list of issues, ahead of the Budget on March 15. His concerns highlight rising costs across a number of areas, including energy. Birks said: “The energy relief scheme is simply…

Circularity Scotland has announced a £22 million support package for Scottish drinks producers ahead of the introduction of the deposit return scheme (DRS) later this year. Producers currently have until March 1 to register their products for the scheme. However, after smaller producers voiced concerns over the cost of the scheme, Circularity Scotland established the support package in a move to lessen…

Curious Vines has launched its first Master of Wine support programme aimed at women who are studying for the qualification.  Curious Vines works to address gender inequality in the wine industry. Established by Queena Wong, the platform is furthering its work to support women in wine by offering three MW scholarships as part of the programme.  The scholarships are: six hours of…

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called the government’s new energy support package for businesses “inadequate, poorly targeted and ultimately pointless”. Late yesterday, the government announced plans for business energy support beyond the current scheme’s expiration in April. A new Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) will run for 12 months, for eligible businesses in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The government said that the…

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) is encouraging retailers to get involved with safety initiatives to support colleagues and customers in the winter months.  ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “In many cases, convenience stores may be the only business operating when it’s dark and the surrounding areas may be quieter, leading customers to feel vulnerable.” He continued: “We are encouraging retailers…