Pubs in the Greater Manchester area could run out of beer soon as distribution problems mount.
Delivery networks across the country are facing a flurry of problems including driver shortages related to Brexit, Covid pressure and two major strikes planned for the coming days.
It has forced some customs officers to warn customers that the faucets may dry up soon, putting an increasing strain on the hospitality industry, which is still trying to fight back from the effects of the pandemic.
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The problems will not affect every pub in the region and bottlenecks are mostly limited to drinks of the Heineken brand, which are supplied by the logistics giant GXO.
The Manchester Evening News estimates this to include Fosters, John Smiths, Kronenbourg, Amstel and Strongbow Dark Fruit.
John Wray, owner of the Bolton city center venue, said he was only offered a quarter of his usual offer when he tried to get a delivery this week, prompting him to look at another dealer.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, he said there had been “chronic problems” with beverage deliveries for the past four weeks and he was particularly concerned about the upcoming holiday.
John Wray, owner of The Venue in Bolton, is concerned about shortages
(Image: Manchester Evening News)
“It’s the first public holiday we’ve been trading without restrictions since Christmas 2020,” said John.
“There is a concern that the upcoming holiday could run out of product, basically yes, we might run out of beer.
“Our supplier has probably offered me the equivalent of about a quarter of my normal order.
“That’s all they can offer anyone, and I’m nowhere near the busiest. There will be people wondering how to get their hands on their beer.
“Which is a big problem because we are only just getting out of the 18 months of closure. What people are forgetting is that we didn’t really start trading until June.”
Anita Kirkham, manager of the Britannia Inn in Farnworth, agreed with John’s concerns.
“We had missed deliveries and I think after everything we’ve been through last year we just don’t need any more battles with hospitality,” she said.
“It only happened to us last week, but I know they’ll be on strike next week, which will probably really hit us before the bank holiday weekend.”
The problems are so serious that some landlords even warn against having to close their bars temporarily.
Ian Ward, landlord at The Spring Vale Inn in Chadderton, said the distribution problems caused them to close the doors to customers.
Fosters is one of many drinks that could be running low
(Image: PA)
The pub, like many others with problems in the region, has a contract with Heineken dealers.
“What we think because we are really low right now is that we may have to close Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,” he explained.
“We got through the weekend, closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays and see if the beer comes by Thursday or Friday.
“They told us we could buy up and go to the wholesalers, but they had exactly the same problem.”
Concerns about beer deliveries are partly due to a driver shortage caused in part by the impact of Brexit on non-UK workers and workers isolated by Covid-19.
They are also related to an ongoing dispute between the beer suppliers – the showmen – represented by the Unite union, and the distribution giant GXO Logistics Ltd.
The company is responsible for around 40 percent of beer deliveries to pubs across the UK and has a distribution center in Newton Heath as well as Preston and Runcorn.
Unite has hit back on a so-called “paltry” salary offer to its 1,000 Draymen members, announcing plans for two strikes on Tuesday, August 24 – before the August bank holiday weekend – and Thursday, September 2.
Drivers also refuse to work overtime and Unite has warned of a “beer drought”.
Overall, 97 percent of Unite members voted in favor of the strikes after being offered a 1.7 percent raise, well below the current RPI inflation rate of 3.9 percent.
Both Amstel and Heineken could be affected by bottlenecks
(Image: Graham Young / Birmingham Live)
In a statement, Unite’s National Beverage Industry Representative Joe Clarke said: “Our members have suffered great financial hardship during the pandemic and have voted almost unanimously in favor of industrial action. Our mandate for such an action is resounding and reflects the deep anger of our members about their treatment by their superiors. “
He added: “The risk of a late summer beer drought is now increasing for the UK’s thirsty beer drinkers as our members supply 40 percent of the country’s beer shipments. This disruption would be on top of the ‘pingdemic’ and the much publicized shortage of truck drivers that is already affecting the sector. “
In response, a GXO spokesperson said, “We encourage dialogue in all of our negotiations. Talks are ongoing to reach an agreement, particularly for the hospitality sector, which is only now emerging from the effects of the Covid-19 lockdown. “
A Heineken spokesman added, “We are doing everything we can to get our beers and ciders to customers.
“In view of the planned industrial action, we have advised customers to order additional products in advance and check alternative delivery methods at short notice. We keep our customers up to date.”
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