Kinship And Community In Trying Times
These are worrying and unprecedented times. In the midst of rising anxiety and concerns about family, friends, colleagues, customers, and the poorest and most vulnerable to the global economy, it can be tempting to shut ourselves away, and to isolate ourselves from the pains of a reality few welcome. Individualism tempts us to pull away from the fullest sense of interconnectedness, and ready ourselves to face whatever fight arises alone. But this industry, rooted in deep social connections, is at its best when we all pull together.
Today, we are launching the first in a series of initiatives to support our fellow breweries at a time when we’re all faced by a great number of challenges. We have spent our first five years in business building a platform on the quality of our beer, the depth of our convictions, and the breadth of our values. We are here because we are a part of an industry we believe in. Though we have little idea what comes next, or how we’ll chart a course that ensures our business survives this pandemic or the global recession we are reportedly now in, we would rather our journey be one vested in the kinship and community that drew us into beer in the first place, than one that sees us turn our back to our communities.
We reached out to local breweries that don’t have the licensing, a widely known platform, staff already honed into delivering online sales, or broad visibility to sell their small pack (canned and bottled) beer direct to consumers with an offer to provide this service on their behalf, and guarantee them a precious income stream at a time of great need. The price you’ll pay for their beers will see 90% return to the breweries, with a 10% administration fee retained as a contribution to our costs. For a £5 can of IPA, each brewery will pocket £3.50 (£0.50 as a contribution to our administration, retail, and shipping costs, and £1 as VAT), a handsome return over a wholesale price of around £1.00 per can to the trade.
As part of this initiative, local beer from Mobberley Brewhouse, Pomona Island, Runaway Brewery, Squawk and Track will be available via our online store and tap rooms from Thursday. We will also be featuring beers from Belfast’s Boundary Brewing Cooperative as soon as we receive stock.
View the Taste of Manchester Pack 1: Greatest Hits
View the Taste of Manchester Pack 2: Hop Around
It is vital that the manufacturing foundation of the UK’s independent craft beer scene survives throughout this global crisis. Independently-owned breweries that centre themselves in an ecosystem of independent businesses are essential to the success of modern British brewing.
Whilst our wholesale business may suffer immensely, as advisory distancing and avoidance or mandatory closedowns irreparably damage distributors, wholesalers, pubs, bars, and bottleshops, the most profitable and reliable income available to smaller breweries will be direct retail to customers. We sincerely hope that sharing our platform with breweries around us, deeply in need, helps to keep us all in business.
We are also launching a new discount scheme for all staff in the NHS - now the country’s most vital workforce. We will all owe a debt of gratitude to thousands of people that are about to face unimaginable pressures with deep care and compassion. We will gladly offer 25% discount off any of our own beers or merchandise to online accounts registered with an NHS email address, or in-person purchases with an NHS ID badge.