PREVIOUS EVENTS

The fourth Publican Directors Club dinner, supported by Coca-Cola, took place on at The Lanesborough Hotel, London on Thursday 21st May 2009.

Guests had the unique opportunity to hear from Domino's CEO Chris Moore and take part in a lively off-the-record debate among a select group of industry leaders.  Chris offer his views on “How to adapt business to the challenges of a recession, how to wine the battle of for the leisure pound, what he thinks of the pub trade’s current problems and how franchises work in his business. and take part in a lively off-the-record debate among a select group of industry leaders.

Chris gave an informal presentation on how his franchised business model works to nearly 30 leading lights from the pub trade.  The model he has so successfully adopted allows franchisees a significant cut of the profits in return for strict controls on everything from service, to product quality and delivery times.

Domino’s was found in the US in 1960 with the aim of delivering pizza to customers, largely comprising student populations, within 30 minutes of ordering, a goal that is consistently achieved nearly 50 years later, Moore said.  Quality of product is key to the business’s success, as is having motivated operators, he added.

Caroline Nodder, Publican’s editor, who hosted the event, said: “I have been fascinated to hear from speakers from outside our sector at these events and none more so than Chris, who gave a really good insight into the weakness of some pub business models through his comparison with his own franchised system.  He spoke to a packed room which shows how these events have become a must-attend for many within the pub sector.

Professor Ian Gilmore sparks lively debate on presenting the health lobby’s views

The latest Publican Directors Club (PDC) event, held in association with Coca-Cola Enterprises, took place at the Landmark Hotel in London earlier this month.

The guest of honour was Professor Ian Gilmore, chairman of the Alcohol Health Alliance and president of the Royal College of Physicians, seen by many as an outspoken critic of the pub trade in recent years. He has gone on record several times calling for the introduction of a tougher regulatory framework on alcohol – and an increase in tax.

However, Professor Gilmore told the assembled gathering of industry chiefs that there was common ground between the health lobby and the pub industry, and that there was acknowledgement that the off-trade had a role to play in this issue.

In the off-the-record discussion he explained how he approached these issues from the perspective of a health professional given that cirrhosis of the liver was now a disease of the young. During a lively question and answer period one member of the PDC stressed that the pub industry felt that it was under fire and that he and other trade leaders could not understand why pubs got the blame and supermarkets got away with deep discounting and loss-leading.

There was also a great deal of discussion between Professor Gilmore and those present regarding the issue of minimum pricing, with a large percentage of the attendees agreeing its introduction was necessary to tackle cheap off-trade pricing.

If one lesson was to be taken from the evening it was that there is potential for the health lobby and the pub industry to take part in more constructive dialogue.

Government is neither anti-alcohol nor anti-pubs, argues Home Office minister

Vernon Coaker’s appearance at the second Publican Director’s Club (PDC) event, in association with Coca-Cola Enterprises, had all the makings of a ‘Daniel entering the lion’s den’ exercise.

Yet the Home Office minister responsible for the roll-out of alcohol disorder zones (ADZs) – which he described as a weapon of “absolute last resort” – and the government’s ‘selling to drunks’ campaign was keen to stress that his ministerial colleagues were neither anti-alcohol nor anti-pubs.

Instead they were committed to fighting the abuse of alcohol by drinkers and irresponsible retailers.

With, not against

In his speech, Coaker said the government wanted to find better ways to work with the pub and drinks industry, not against it. His comments were well received, although there were predictably notes of dissent.

In an off-the-record roundtable discussion following dinner one attendee said he thought Coaker had given an “even-handed presentation”, but asked why the pub trade came under such an assault from government. “We don’t believe we operate on a level playing field. We’re highly regulated, unlike the supermarkets. Two stings and we’re closed down; not so them,” he added.

One PDC guest called for the government to “tax the supermarkets more”, while another suggested that some of the government’s anti-alcohol initiatives risked “criminalising those who worked in pubs” and had the effect of discouraging people from entering the trade.

One attendee said he was encouraged by Coaker’s comments, but said he believed the problem for the industry was that it had “another five ministers who covered the licensed trade who were not as amenable to what it was trying to achieve”.

Clearly discussions between the industry and government remain a ‘work in progress’.

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Sainsbury's chief executive Justin King was the guest of honour at the first Publican Directors Club dinner

The first of these exclusive off-the-record briefings, held at the Dorchester in London, saw 30 club members gather to hear from Justin King and exchange views on the current state of the pub market.

Justin offered an overview of his experience in turning around the Sainsbury's brand, as well as offering his views on lobbying, and responsible retailing.

Lively off-the-record debate among the group followed, covering topics including the current financial downturn, building a strong retail brand and, of course the arguments between the on and off-trade over pricing.

The Publican's editor Caroline Nodder, who hosted the event, said: "This was an amazing opportunity for the industry to hear first hand from one of the giants of the retail world - and he did not disappoint, offering forthright views on a whole range of topics.

"It is all too easy to become wrapped up in your own industry and to hear from someone outside the pub sector, with a completely different perspective on things, was not only refreshing but extremely thought provoking."

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