Miller Brands UK (MBUK), subsidiary of SABMiller, which brews both Pilsner Urquell and Peroni Nastro Azzurro, has become an associate member of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), joining Caledonian, Fullers and Marston’s in this membership category, introduced by SIBA earlier this year for brewing companies that don’t qualify for full membership.
Mike Edwards, director of sales - multiple on-trade at MBUK, said, “We’re delighted to be joining SIBA. Like existing SIBA members, we have a passion for producing quality, distinctive beers and want to give drinkers the opportunity to try the great variety of styles and flavours that are now available. We look forward to working with fellow SIBA members in pursuit of our shared goal of a brighter future for Britain’s thriving quality beer sector.”
Julian Grocock, SIBA chief executive, commented, “We welcome Miller Brands as an associate member and are confident that their engagement with British brewing under the SIBA banner will be a great asset to the organisation. The fact that we can now accept very sizeable brewers as associate members reinforces our commitment to make SIBA the only trade association exclusively representing the broad spectrum of quality brewing. We’re here to promote the values and defend the interests of quality brewers of all sizes as full or associate members – as long as they commit to our aims and ambitions by signing our Members’ Charter.”
SIBA is also attracting new members at the lower end of the output scale. In the last six months, 23 brewers have joined SIBA across the UK, from The Ayr Brewery in Ayrshire to Topsham Brewery in Exeter, and from Harwich Town Brewery in Norfolk to Waen Beer company in Powys. New members are initially granted provisional status, with full brewing membership confirmed after 12 months. Associate membership is open to brewers producing in excess of 200,000 hectolitres per annum, which was set as the upper limit for full membership in March this year. Associate members are able to engage with SIBA in much the same way as full members, though they are not eligible to vote or stand as a trustee.
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Notes to Editors:
SIBA
SIBA was founded in 1980 as the Small Independent Brewers Association by 20 pioneering microbrewers. Today, it has around 450 members, the majority of them classed as ‘micro’ or ‘local’ brewers and its growing credibility and campaigning success – particularly achieving the introduction of Progressive Beer Duty in 2002 – have established it as one of the most authoritative bodies in the brewing industry. SIBA was renamed as the Society of Independent Brewers in 1995, but retains its original acronym.
SIBA Direct Delivery Scheme (DDS) consolidates local ale orders from multiple operators, thereby making it easier and more attractive for them to buy from local brewers. Sales of DDS-supplied beers grew by 11.9% in the 12 months to end June 2009, compared to the same period last year. Over the same period, the number of pubs buying beers through DDS grew by 5.8%, and sales per pub of DDS-supplied ales were up by 5.7%.
Miller Brands
Miller Brands is the UK and Ireland subsidiary of SABMiller, one of the world's largest brewers. Miller Brands has responsibility for the development of SABMiller’s international premium brands across the UK and Ireland; these include Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell and Miller Genuine Draft. Through its consistent pricing and distribution discipline, supplemented by engaging marketing activities, Miller Brands is bringing value back into the beer category. Sales are currently growing in excess of 20% year on year in a declining market and this is increasingly recognised and referenced by retailers. More information can be found at www.millerbrands.co.uk.
SABMiller
SABMiller is one of the world's largest brewers with brewing interests and distribution agreements across six continents. The group's wide portfolio of brands includes premium international beers such as Grolsch, Miller Genuine Draft, Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Pilsner Urquell, as well as market-leading local brands such as Aguila, Castle, Miller Lite, Snow and Tyskie. SABMiller is also one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products in the world.
In the year ended 31 March 2009, the group reported US$3,405 million in adjusted pre-tax profit and group revenue of US$25,302 million. SABMiller is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.
Issued on behalf of: Society of Independent Brewers
By: Shiel Communications
For information: Ros Shiel
Tel: 07841 694137/ 01403 267971
email: ros@shielcomms.co.uk