Pubs caution Guinness supply constraints could severely impact operations

“If I can’t get it in it will probably cripple me.” Steven Crosbie expressed this concern regarding the current challenges impacting Guinness availability. For Crosbie, who operates The Liffey, an Irish pub situated in Liverpool, Guinness represents his highest-selling product. Typically, Steven receives 12 50-litre barrels weekly from his primary supplier. However, he reported that on Wednesday, he was informed he would only receive a single barrel this week due to allocation restrictions implemented by Diageo, the owner of the Guinness brand. Publicans nationwide indicate that their distributors have been providing them with reduced quantities of Guinness compared to their usual orders, a measure intended to ensure sufficient inventory to satisfy demand during the Christmas period. A spokesperson for Diageo stated, “Over the past month we have seen exceptional consumer demand for Guinness in GB.” The company added, “We have maximised supply and we are working proactively with our customers to manage the distribution to trade as efficiently as possible.” Enda Murray, who manages three pubs in London, reported that his supplier has limited his Guinness provision to one or two kegs per establishment, which amounts to merely 10% of their required volume. He mentioned successfully securing additional stock from an alternative supplier, anticipating enough “for the next week or two”. According to pub managers, they have been making strenuous efforts to obtain supplies at fair costs. Shaun Jenkinson, operations manager at Katie O’Brien’s, commented, “It’s been hard work.” He expressed uncertainty about whether the chain’s seven Irish pubs would possess adequate Guinness stock to last through the weekend. Jenkinson also noted that other operators he has consulted “really are on their bare bones,” with some having depleted their Guinness reserves by Friday night. Certain publicans suggest that establishments have engaged in “panic buying” of Guinness. Patrick Fitzsimons, the landlord of the Faltering Fullback in Finsbury Park, London, stated that this behavior “has dried up the market even further.” He explained that his pub’s small cellar necessitates ongoing deliveries, preventing him from accumulating stock as others might. Publicans assert that Guinness’s distinctiveness makes it challenging to offer a substitute. Enda remarked, “Guinness has a very niche market,” adding, “A lot of pubs don’t sell other stouts.” Several pubs report that customers had been accumulating Murphy’s as a substitute for Guinness, but they contend that this has also resulted in Murphy’s imposing allocation limits. Guinness sales have shown an upward trend in 2024. Data from the food and drink research firm CGA indicates that the volume of Guinness sold in kegs increased by more than a fifth between July and October compared to the corresponding period last year, contrasting with a minor decrease in general beer sales. Although a Diageo spokesperson cited “exceptional demand” over the last three weeks, Enda observed a substantial increase in Guinness sales at his pub since the pandemic. He stated, “We’ve seen a massive upshot in young people especially drinking Guinness,” attributing this to “the trend of splitting the G, all the Guinness influencers, everyone seems to want to be a Guinness influencer”. The practice known as “Splitting the G” involves drinkers attempting to consume a sufficiently large initial gulp of Guinness so that the stout level reaches halfway down the “G” in the word “Guinness” printed on a pint glass. Furthermore, with an increasing number of individuals consuming non-alcoholic beer, sales of the zero-alcohol Guinness 0.0 are also robust, now comprising nearly 3% of the total global Guinness volume. These restrictions on Guinness availability coincide with a notably busy period for pubs, which typically host significant gatherings for Christmas and New Year festivities. Steven from The Liffey anticipates that if pubs exhaust their Guinness stock, patrons will likely move “bar to bar” seeking establishments that continue to offer it. Nevertheless, not all publicans are apprehensive about the supply limitations. Ashley English, a landlord at the Kings Head in Docklow, Herefordshire, indicated that his wholesaler had not imposed any restrictions on him, as he typically orders only one or two barrels weekly regardless. He stated he is “not too concerned” about depleting his stock. Similarly, Bryan Fitzsimons, the landlord of Skehans in Nunhead, London, expressed no concern about selling out, explaining that he utilizes multiple suppliers and managed to secure some stock beforehand. The BBC comprehends that the company continues to operate at 100% production capacity, and the allocation limits exclusively impact Great Britain. A Diageo spokesperson informed BBC News NI that scheduled deliveries across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland would proceed “without disruption”. Patrick, from the Faltering Fullback, voiced apprehension about running out of Guinness by Wednesday, but noted he had successfully obtained a supply of Camden Stout as a substitute. He commented, “Hopefully customers will realise that there’s more than just Guinness on the market.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.