Waitrose Takes on Butcombe

The West Country's fastest growing Brewery, Butcombe, is to have three of its key brands; Butcombe Bitter, Gold and Brunel IPA, stocked in fourteen Waitrose stores across the South West from the end of March 2012.

Oliver O'Mara, Waitrose Product Manager, Local and Regional said:
"Britain enjoys a rich and vibrant brewing heritage and it is important that we support the breweries in the communities we trade. We're delighted to be stocking Butcombe beers as part of our regional beer initiative which will see beers from innovative regional and craft brewers alongside the bigger brands."

Butcombe now has the fastest growing major bottled ale brand in the UK (Source: Nielsen Scantrack Top Thirty Brewers Retail Sales 52 weeks to December 24th 2011).

Guy Newell, Butcombe Brewery's boss, says: "We are delighted to now have our beers available through such a respected retailer regionally. Butcombe beers are enjoyed on draught in a 75 mile radius of Bristol, and it's great that Waitrose customers will now also be able to enjoy a Butcombe beer at home."

Butcombe brands are stocked in over 550 supermarkets across the UK, as well as a large number of independent convenience stores and off licences. The range includes: Butcombe Bitter (4.5% A.B.V.), Butcombe Gold (4.7% A.B.V.), Butcombe Blond (4.5% A.B.V.), Butcombe Brunel IPA (5.0% A.B.V.) and Adam Henson's Rare Breed (4.2% A.B.V.)

Updated:15/03/2012
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Butcombe Buoyed by Fastest Growing Bottle Sales in UK

Butcombe, the fastest growing Brewery in the West Country, now has the fastest growing major bottled ale brand in the UK (Source: Nielsen Scantrack Top Thirty Brewers Retail Sales 52 weeks to December 24th). Butcombe has enjoyed growth of its brands by a huge 317% during 2011.

The growth is due to the expansion of its bottled beer range led by its flagship ale, Butcombe Bitter, in major retail accounts including: Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Morrisons, as well as an increased distribution through its exclusive wholesaler Booker.

Butcombe has also had great success in its recent joint initiative with television's favourite farmer, Adam Henson, developing and launching a new beer during 2011 - 'Adam Henson's Rare Breed'. This high profile association has also led to the Brewery extending its distribution within the Gloucester and Cheltenham territories where Adam's Cotswold Farm Park is well-known as well as northwards up to Hereford and Worcester.

Guy Newell, managing director, Butcombe Brewery says: "The recent expansion of our bottled beer sales has been phenomenal and, without doubt, our link with Adam Henson has benefited the rest of the Butcombe range. Through our recently launched dedicated bottle beer website, browsers can view independent reports, guides and trends on the bottled ale business as a whole. While we of course promote our own brands, we aim to support the bottled ale category as a whole, as we are encouraging retailers to stock a wider range of beer".

Updated:06/02/2012
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Adam Henson and Butcombe Brewery Launch Their 'Rare Breed' at Tesco

Butcombe, the West Country’s fastest growing Brewery, has more than doubled its volume of bottled beer sales over the past twelve months.   The Brewery’s latest initiative has seen them join forces with famous television presenter and partner of The Cotswold Farm Park, Adam Henson.  Together, they have used the finest local ingredients: Maris Otter malting barley, aromatic Herefordshire hops and Mendip spring water, to create this distinctive refreshing and clean tasting golden ale – Adam Henson’s Rare Breed.

Adam Henson’s Rare Breed will be launching in bottle within the fifty largest Tesco stores in the South West as well as within all Booker’s 150 England and Wales Depots from mid-November 2011.  It will be available on draught from the 1st January 2012  through Butcombe’s own retail estate and the local Free Trade. Heineken will be promoting Adam Henson’s Rare Breed nationally throughout the month of February.

Chris Minter, Local Marketing Manager - South, Tesco says; “We are delighted to be able to offer another Butcombe product in the form of Adam Henson’s Rare Breed ale, it’s great to be working with such an enthusiastic team and with Adam’s pedigree we have very high hopes for the success of this launch.”

Guy Newell, Managing Director, Butcombe Brewery says; “Having Adam’s name on the beer will appeal to the millions of people who watch him regularly on the television and his endorsement is likely to introduce many new consumers not only to Rare Breed but also the rest of the Butcombe range.”

Updated:23/11/2011
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A 'Rare Breed' Brewed Between Television's Best Loved Farmer and Butcombe Brewery

Adam Henson's farm in the Cotswolds pioneers rare breed conservation and his expertise makes him a regular fixture on our television screens. He has recently been breeding a 'rare brew' of his own and has joined forces with the West Country's fastest growing Brewery – Butcombe. Together, they have used the finest local ingredients: Maris Otter malting barley, aromatic Herefordshire hops and Mendip spring water, to create this distinctive refreshing and clean tasting golden ale – Adam Henson's Rare Breed.

Adam Henson says: "I have a passion for farming as Butcombe has for brewing and I have wanted to produce a beer sourcing local ingredients for a long time. As soon as we spoke with Butcombe I knew we had found the right partner. I'm delighted with the results".

To sample the delicious new Adam Henson's Rare Breed beer just visit your local Wetherspoon's during the popular October 2011 real-ale festival or buy it in bottle from all good local independent retailers from the middle of October.

Updated:10/10/2011
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Butcome Brewery
Here and Now 2011/2012

Read the new Butcombe Here and Now 2011/2012 magazine here. The Magazine is free to download, print or view. Hope you enjoy it. »View Here and Now Magazine

Updated:16/08/2011
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Tesco to stock Butcombe Bitter

Bristol’s fastest growing Brewery, Butcombe, has been listed by Tesco which is stocking its flagship ale – Butcombe Bitter – in 70 stores nationally. The product retails at £1.89 per 500ml bottle.

Chiara Nesbitt, beer buyer at Tesco, says about the brand: “An interesting local speciality beer, Butcombe Bitter from the West Country should prove a popular addition to the Tesco range of craft beers.”

Butcombe Bitter is an award-winning ale and is currently enjoyed on draught in over 1,000 pubs and clubs within a 60 mile radius of Bristol.  It is brewed using pure Mendip Spring Water and is refreshingly dry and distinctive, using 100% best Maris Otter malt together with a blend of English hops.

Guy Newell, Butcombe Brewery’s managing director, said: “It’s great that Tesco has selected Butcombe Bitter which only launched in bottle last year.  This allows those who have been enjoying it on draught for many years to now have the opportunity to drink it in their own home, as well as introducing new consumers to the brand who are looking to sample something deliciously different”.

Tesco has also increased the number of outlets for other brands within the Butcombe portfolio; Butcombe Gold has increased from 30 to 70 stores, IPA from 15 to 40 and its Ashton Press has been listed for the first time in 50 of its outlets.

Updated:09/08/2011
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Bronze medal for
Butcombe Gold in International Beer Challenge 2011

A host of beer aficionados, drinks journalists and other category experts judged this year's International Beer Challenge, organised by Off Licence News. A total of 25 gold medals, 64 silvers and 127 bronzes were awarded to a diverse array of beers from around the world. Butcombe was delighted to be judged as one of the winners, with Butcombe Gold receiving a bronze medal. Tim Hampson, chairman of the British Guild of Beer Writers, praised the diversity of beers he judged on the day. He said: "Overall, I thought the standard of entries was very high, reflecting the huge variety of beers which consumers can choose between."

Butcombe Gold is available in a number of outlets across the West Country including Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose stores as well as independent retailers and the Brewery Shop. It is also stocked by Booker Wholesale

Updated:03/08/2011
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Booker Wholesale
Take Butcombe Range...

Food and drink wholesaler Booker, has signed up three Butcombe beers plus Ashton Press Cider, (also owned by Butcombe Brewery), and will make them available to its customers within a sixty mile radius of the West Country's favourite Brewery.

Roger Needham, Booker Wholesale Category Manager Beers & Cider said: "Booker wants to support smaller local breweries and Butcombe is a perfect example and produces fantastic beers. Butcombe is very well known throughout the West Country and we are delighted that many more independent retailers will now be able to buy their beers directly from us."

Guy Newell, managing director, Butcombe Brewery, says: "our award winning bitters are currently enjoyed on draught in over 1,000 pubs and clubs within a 50 mile radius of Bristol. This deal with Booker will enable independent retailers to also offer their customers Bristol's favourite beers in bottle."

Butcombe Bitter, Butcombe Gold, Butcombe Brunel IPA and Ashton Press Cider are now available to Booker's independent clients from ten different depots including; Avonmouth, Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham, Exeter, Gloucester, Taunton, Trowbridge, Western Super Mare and Yeovil.

Updated:18/05/2011
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SAINSBURY'S SWEET
ON BUTCOMBE BITTER...

Bristol's fastest growing Brewery, Butcombe, has been listed by Sainsbury's which is stocking its flagship ale – Butcombe Bitter – in 85 stores nationally. The product retails at approximately £1.80 per 500ml bottle.

Oliver Chadwyck-Healey, beer buyer at Sainsbury's, says: "It is really important to offer customers something different in this category – whilst you need the bigger brands you also need variation to keep customers interested and trying new things. Butcombe has a great following from an on-trade point of view and we already have their Butcombe Gold as a regional listing, so it made sense to expand to a national listing with their flagship ale. I was impressed by Butcombe Bitter's clean finish and bitterness as well as by its packaging - a hugely important part of deciding what we put on our shelves.

"We pride ourselves on our range of fantastic tasting beers – giving our customers a reason to keep coming back to us. This new addition contributes to maintaining that reputation."

Butcombe Bitter is an award-winning ale and is currently enjoyed on draught in over 1,000 pubs and clubs within a 50 mile radius of Bristol. It is brewed using pure Mendip Spring Water and is refreshingly dry and distinctive, using 100% best Maris Otter malt together with a blend of English hops.

Guy Newell, Butcombe Brewery's boss, says: "We are delighted that Sainsbury's is now offering Butcombe Bitter in bottle, helping us establish Bristol's best-selling beer in the pub as a national brand in such a high profile major multiple."

Updated:10/05/2011
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300 Morrisons Stores
give sweet news to Butcombe Bitter...

Butcombe Brewery launched Butcombe Bitter, the West Country's favourite beer, nationally through multiple retailer Morrisons in January 2011.

“Morrisons prides itself on offering its customers a wide range of beers and we like to select brands from smaller British brewers like Butcombe.  Butcombe Bitter went into three-hundred stores across the country and sales are growing steadily.  For a relatively unknown brand outside the West Country, this is good news for Butcombe, especially in what is a very crowded sector," comments Matthew Cain, Beer and Cider Buyer, Morrisons.

Guy Newell, managing director, Butcombe Brewery, says: “We are currently brewing 25,000 barrels of Butcombe beers a year (over 7 million pints), and would expect bottled Butcombe Bitter to add a further 5,000 barrels over a 3 year period.  We are very pleased with the sales figures through Morrisons.  Butcombe Bitter is a favourite in the West Country, and this national profile, will help the brand attain the increased attention we believe it deserves.”

Butcombe Bitter is brewed using pure Mendip Spring Water and is refreshingly dry and distinctive, using 100% best Maris Otter malt together with a blend of English hop varieties.  The bottled version is available in an 8-pack 500ml bottle at 4.5% ABV. 

Updated: 17/02/2011
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Butcombe Brewery Appoints Holland
as dedicated off-trade sales director...

Butcombe Brewery has appointed Martin Holland as its first ever off-trade sales director. The Bristol-based Brewery began bottling its flagship beer, Butcombe Bitter, at the end of 2010 and has been selling the West Country's favourite beer nationally through Morrisons since January.

Holland has been assigned to develop Butcombe's national accounts as well as oversee its wholesale and independent business. He is an experienced sales manager in the food and drinks industry and has previously worked with national brands such as Golden Wonder, Panda Pops, Badger Ales and Brecon Mineral Water.

Guy Newell, managing director, Butcombe Brewery says:
"Martin's excellent knowledge of the multiple retail, convenience and wholesale sectors will be a great asset to the team. Butcombe Bitter is a favourite in this region, we want to ensure that it now gets the national attention we believe it deserves".

Updated:22/02/2011
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