New breakthrough for SIBA Direct Delivery

April 1, 2007: The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has announced a major new distribution agreement with the Orchid Group.

This represents a breakthrough in the managed house sector for SIBA’s Direct Delivery Scheme (DDS) and caps a spectacular month for the increased availability of local ales, which started with news of gains on the high street for bottled beers as a result of an important deal with Thresher.

From the beginning of April local ales will be directly delivered to 23 local pubs within the 300-strong Orchid Group’s estate. SIBA DDS customer base has to date been in the tenanted and leased sector, as well as the off-trade.

Nick Stafford, DDS managing director, said "This is a very significant win for local ales in the managed pub sector.

"We have consistently proved that local ales are one of the biggest success stories in the beer market and as the smoking ban approaches we believe our members’ beers represent a major opportunity for pub groups to generate footfall and premium business.

"We are delighted with Orchid’s confidence in the commercial benefit of local beers and the effectiveness of our direct delivery scheme."

Simon Dodd, commercial director of the Orchid Group, added: "We were impressed with the potential of local ales to boost not only beer but total pub sales. It really is a logical step to put local based beer into local pubs and DDS makes it practical to do so."