Guinness has announced that it has ramped up its brewing operations to produce more than five million extra pints per week for pubs, which will be permitted to provide outdoor services from June 7 and indoor services from July 5.
Guinness Statements
Guinness stated, "Ahead of the highly anticipated reopening of pubs and bars across the Republic of Ireland, Guinness has ramped up its brewing operations to produce over five million extra pints at St. James's Gate every week, ensuring that beautiful, fresh Guinness is available in pubs nationwide.
"To guarantee the creamiest of pints, the dedicated Guinness quality teams are back on the road too, calling to more than 8,000 pubs across the country and cleaning more than 50,000 beer lines."
Guinness continued, "To support the pubs to emerge stronger from the pandemic, Guinness announced a €14 million fund called 'Raising the Bar' last June. This initiative provides the Irish pub and hospitality trade with vital services and expertise, allowing it to operate safely and securely within the communities it serves. Additionally, from day one of lockdown, Guinness helped its customers by retrieving more than 500,000 kegs from Irish outlets, crediting its customers for the beer and dispersing of the product through a number of environmentally sustainable routes.
"To date, through 'Raising the Bar', Guinness has provided equipment and confidence building measures, aiding outlets to reopen this summer and to operate on a safe and sustainable basis. The provisions for publicans range from technical solutions, such as access to online booking systems and training for staff right through to the essential physical equipment and infrastructure required for outdoor socialising.
"Since the launch of the fund 11 months ago, more than 5,000 publicans have signed up to the 'Raising the Bar' programme benefitting from:
- Supply of 5,000 safety kits, 50,000 staff uniforms and 125,000 litres of hand sanitiser for staff and customers.
- Upskilling and COVID-19 Safety Training of 21,872 bar-staff
- Helping to construct over 1,200 outdoor spaces in pubs around the country with 6,000 plus pieces of equipment including windbreakers, pagodas and parasols."
Diageo Marketing Director For Ireland Statement
Guinness manufacturer Diageo's marketing director for Ireland, Hilary Quinn, stated, "Guinness is committed to supporting Irish pubs and the hospitality trade to emerge stronger. We've worked hand in hand with trade partners to provide vital solutions since lockdown measures were introduced on March 15th, 2020, and we will continue to do so through 'Guinness Raising the Bar' - the initiative is our commitment to the future of the Irish pub which serves as the social hub at the heart of our communities; a place to connect, to converse, to share, to enjoy.
"The brewers at St. James's Gate and our quality teams across the island have been working flat out to ensure every outlet is fully equipped with fresh, beautiful Guinness, ready and waiting for people to enjoy in those much-anticipated moments of reconnection and socialising again."
© 2021 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
