OnTrade Scotland Magazine February Edition 2024 by ontradescotland

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Magazine February 2024

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Welcome to the February edition of OnTrade Scotland Magazine. I can’t believe we are in February already time is flying by it seems. February is the month of LOVE and we wanted to show the industry some love with our cover this month AND WE MEAN EVERY WORD This month we have the feature from John Mason MSP where both myself and Michael Bergson put the MSP for Shettleston on the spot following his recent comments and if you haven’t yet seen the interviews on AT THE BAR head over to our website it’s an interesting watch. We have expanded both our Growth Program for niche and emerging brand and our Engagement Program for venues this year and we are looking forward to what we can do to support. The first of the Engagement Program events start with El Santo with a unique speed dating event in the stunning new bar El Santito which we also feature in this months edition, later on the 5th of March we have an exclusive up close and personal gig in the amazing Wunderbar Ballroom with the one and only Gareth Gates performing live supported by Natalie James and Wunderbar’s own James McFarlane with tickets available from Skiddle.com (back cover). Our focus is to work with venues and brands to help drive footfall to venues and give the customer a further reason to go out and enjoy hospitality. If this is something you would be keen to be involved in get in touch via our website or social and one of the team will be happy to support and see how we can help. We as an industry have to move forward TOGETHER and look at how collaboration can give the customer more of an experience. Have a fantastic February and as always. STAY STRONG STAY TOGETHER STAY POSITIVE LOVE Justin Wingate Director at TopGunMedia Hayley Ewing Head of Events - events@topgunmedia.co.uk Fiona Gauld Production - info@topgunmedia.co.uk For press enquires or advertising opportunists please call or email: Email: info@topgunmedia.co.uk Telephone: 0141 556 4111

John Mason SNP MP taken to task

El Santo The Saint in the City

The Sound of Silence

Niche Cocktails strengthens position 3

Industry News SCOTLAND FOOD & DRINK APPOINTS SPECIALIST TO REALISE UK AND LONDON MARKET OPPORTUNITY Jamie will be responsible for extending Scotland Food & Drink’s reach with customers in London and the wider UK market identifying opportunities for growth across all food and drink sectors, including customer-led initiatives across retail and foodservice that enables food and drink businesses to expand their footprints in the London and national markets.

Industry leadership body Scotland Food & Drink is strengthening its position in the UK market with its first London-based appointment, Jamie Durkin as UK Strategic Marketing Manager. Analysis published in the recently launched industry strategy ‘Sustaining Scotland. Supplying the World.’ shows a £4 billion market opportunity for the Scottish food and drink sector to capture across key markets within the next five years, including a £1 billion market opportunity in the rest of the UK. In line with the strategy’s promise to focus significant effort on a market that offers growth for all Scottish food and drink sectors, Jamie Durkin has been appointed as UK Market Specialist, joining from consumer goods sales agency Stack Solutions and bringing more than 20 years’ experience in the food and drink industry.

Amanda Brown, Programme Director at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “Jamie’s appointment marks a significant step in the rollout of our new UK market activation strategy, and will be the first time we have dedicated resource in London to increase the profile of Scottish food and drink products with new and existing customers. Jamie’s expertise and connections will allow us to identify and develop commercial opportunities for businesses of all sizes and across all sectors as we seek to grow sales in the English market.” Over his career, Jamie has managed some of the most prestigious hospitality venues in Edinburgh and London before working in a variety of FMCG sales and partnership roles at brands including craft beer wholesaler Pigs Ears Beers, SAB Miller brewing company and independent beer chain Duvel Moortgat. Jamie said: “I am incredibly honoured to be joining Scotland Food & Drink in what is an extremely exciting chapter in its evolution. As a Scot living in London, I have consistently been championing Scottish producers for many years, and to have the chance to work with some of the world’s finest products first-hand, is an exciting prospect. The team have been so welcoming and supportive and I am really looking forward to getting stuck in.”

ECOPURE WATERS REVOLUTIONISES WATER PROVISION WITH ECOPURE BLU GLASS EcoPure Waters, a pioneer in eco-friendly water provision for the hospitality sector, is delighted to mark the remarkable success of its latest innovation, the EcoPure Blu Glass water filtration system. Since its introduction in early 2023, the Blu Glass system has quickly become the go-to water filtration choice for a wide range of hotels, hotel chains, and hospitality venues across the UK and Europe. This acclaim is due to its unique blend of cost-

effective technology, unparalleled water quality, and its environmental benefits, particularly when paired with EcoPure Waters’ reusable glass bottles. Paul Proctor, Managing Director of EcoPure Waters, shared his enthusiasm about the product’s overwhelming reception: “The Blu Glass symbolises a major stride in our commitment to providing eco-conscious water solutions without compromising on quality. Its widespread acceptance in the UK and Europe is a testament to our efforts in combining luxury with sustainability. The positive response it has received is truly encouraging”. The Blu Glass is the newest addition to EcoPure Waters’ comprehensive range of water purification systems, designed to suit a variety of venues.

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Brand News UNDERSTORY GIN FROM DARK ART DISTILLERY AWARDED GOLD AND COUNTRY WINNER AT WORLD GIN AWARDS 2024 UnderStory Gin which was launched by Dark Art Distillery in October 2023 has won Gold and Country Winner in the classic gin category at the World Gin Awards 2024. UnderStory Gin is described as a ‘woodland gin’ and takes its inspiration from the floor and undergrowth of the forest (i.e. the understory). It has an earthy taste with delicate pine and subtle hints of sweetness from rowan berries and rhubarb root. UnderStory Gin is the 2nd release from Dark Art Distillery, Scotland’s most southerly distillery which opened in 2021 with its Sky Garden Gin. Sky Garden Gin is a multi-award winning gin including winning Emerging Brand of the Year at OnTrade Scotland’s Awards in 2023. In addition to their gins, Dark Art Distillery, has a sustainable ethos having planted 500 trees since it opened. Dark Art Distillery have further releases in the pipeline. In the next month or so, they will launch a spirit aimed at the ontrade and one that they believe will be unique for a Scottish distillery. More details will be announced shortly – exciting times ahead!

TASTE THE NEW BUZZ WITH ABSOLUT HUNNI and delivers a premium, sweet vodka with a distinct flavour of golden honey, providing a smooth, delicious taste that mixes perfectly with lemonade. 60% of UK vodka drinkers choose lemonade as their mixer of choice when drinking vodka and honey has been identified as an emerging flavour profile in the UK spirits market , making the Absolut Hunni & Lemonade one to watch in 2024. The design of the bottle is striking, and its distinctive packaging ensures it stands out within the Absolut portfolio, as well as the wider category, with bold black and yellow stripes emulating those of a honeybee.

Absolut is elevating the flavoured vodka category beyond fruit-led flavours with a new honey flavoured vodka. There’s a new Absolut flavoured vodka in town that’s sure to cause a bit of a buzz. Absolut Hunni, brand new and exclusive to the UK, will land on shelves and behind the back bar from this month, offering Flavoured Vodka fans an alternative to fruit-led options. Made exclusively with natural flavour, Absolut Hunni contains no added sugar

Ian Peart, Commercial Director for Pernod Ricard UK, comments: “Absolut Hunni is our Queen Bee for 2024, providing Flavoured Vodka fans with a new and exciting flavour profile to sip and enjoy with friends either at home or in the On-Trade. This new addition to the Absolut range has been designed to be enjoyed with lemonade, making elevating at-home occasions super simple. For the OnTrade, we know flavoured martinis are enjoying their time in the sun as the UK’s fifth most popular serve , and our Absolut Hunni Lemondrop Martini offers a balanced yet sweet, zesty serve that will ensure customers aren’t stung when ordering at the bar.” 5

John Mason SNP MSP taken to task I

n December we wrote to all Scottish MSPs requesting their support in parliament for a reduction in NDR on a par with the 75% relief give to venues in England in the recent budget. We received a huge number of responses, some seemed to be a generic “cut and paste” response , some were very positive that showed empathy for the situation and promised to raise the issue , some however mostly from SNP MSPs were a little more concerning and seemed to show a total disconnect from not only the industry but also the grave situation venues are in without the support. One in particular astonished the team, that response was from SNP MSP for Shettlston & Barlanark John Mason.

the reaction was on of disbelief and anger from thousands across the industry.

Mr Masons responce was that support was not required and could not be funded nor should be funded by government as in his opinion “a lot of venues are raking it in” as he could not find a hotel in Edinburgh under £100 per night and he had passed many venues and seen them “packed”.

Senior individuals from across the industry like Michelin Star Chef Dean Bank commenting “ It is unbelievable how disconnected and out of touch this comment is “.

We published the response through our social media and 6

Other comments Fromm as far as even England from industry champions like Sacha Lord who commented “ outrageous statement, utterly embarrassing you should be ashamed of yourself Mr Mason“. ontradescotland.co.uk

Mr Mason continued to stubbornly defend his position for a number of day with the thread on LinkedIn & X ( formally Twitter ) receiving over 220,000 interactions combined and over 30,000 comments. The comments caused so much offence in the industry that local and national radio stations and TV ran features on them. Our founder Justin Wingate wanted to give the MSP the opportunity to address these topics face to face as well as giving Mr Mason the chance to better understand first hand from an operator that is perceived to be “ doing well “what the difference is between turnover & profit as THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING. To his credit Mr Mason Met with Justin and owner of Buck’s Bar Group Michael Bergson on the first opportunity after the festive break at Buck’s popular Trongate venue in Glasgow. When Justin put the question to John, “ firstly Mr Mason what gives you the impression that venues are raking it in, or do you still believe this is the case?” The MSP seemed to backtrack more than a little when he said “ No I don’t think every venue is raking it in and I understand some are facing difficulty however there are some venues doing very well. He continued, The Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh for example has posted massive profits so clearly not all venues are struggling, I believe that any support should be targeted like the support that has been agreed for island venues. We can’t be looking to provide blanket support for an industry that isn’t right. “ When Justin put the question to John “ Do you believe that is doing enough ? You seem to want to discuss small

minorities instead of looking bat the bigger problem, you don’t want to provide support to the majority that need it because a small percentage of a huge industry at present are managing to perform well.” The MSP was the given a very simple presentation by Michael Bergson on the actual profit margins a venue that is perceived to be doing well taking for example £1m per year turn over would actually take. John seemed to genuinely start to understand a little more clearly the problems, you could see the cogs turning. Both Justin & Micheal raised the topic of communication with Mr Mason or more to the point the LACK of communication from Scottish Government on matters that have had a huge impact on the industry such as DRS, Music Bans, Covid, LEZ and now support when the industry needs it due to venues closures, jobs being lost and ultimately loss of revenue in tax to the government to help fund other vital services. Mr Mason agreed with the pair and stated “ It has been clear that the communication has not been good enough from what you have both shown and that can’t be the case moving forward.” The MSP also stated “ I will take these points up directly with Shona (Robison Deputy First Minister ) at the coming finance meeting and see what I can do to help “ We await the next step ….. 7

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EL SANTO The Saint in the City T

his month we look at a venue coming up a stir in Miller St in Glasgow the stunning EL SANTO & the new offering of El SANTITO. We’ll hand over to the venue to tell you more ….

El Santo, a renowned Latin American bar & restaurant located in Glasgow’s Merchant City, is buzzing with anticipation. We have just celebrated our first anniversary on the 1st of December This 90-seater venue, including the hidden gem ‘El Santito’, a speakeasy Margarita bar, has carved a niche for itself in the realm of laidback luxury. El Santo brings a slice of Latin America to Glasgow, offering guests a vibrant, all-day dining and drinking experience steeped in Latin American culture. Our esteemed Brazilian Head Chef, Juliana Kipper, has curated the menu and is always researching new ideas to bring to Scotland. El Santo’s Brazilian Head Chef Juliana

Kipper finds herself rejuvenated after a recent trip back to her homeland in January. “My time at home has sparked inspiration for new creations that will soon feature on our menu,” expressed Juliana, who boasts an impressive culinary background at various five-star resorts in Brazil. “I hope our customers will relish these excuting tastes, flavours, and presentations. The restaurant’s signature offerings, from succulent steaks grilled on a South American Charcoal Grill to generous tapas-style sharing platters, interactive ‘make your own guacamole’ sessions, and what is arguably Glasgow’s most extensive selection of tequila and mezcal, have all 9

contributed to its rapidly growing reputation. El Santo has received an overwhelmingly positive response from both Glaswegians and visitors from across Scotland. Immerse yourself in an intoxicating mix of crafted cocktails, gastronomic pleasures, and an electrifying atmosphere accentuated by an eclectic fusion of live performances at El Santito. Experience the captivating allure of our revered Latino dancers, rhythmic bongo drummers, saxophonists and Latin American DJs We have several upcoming events in February, including La Vida Es Un Carnaval, a Carnival celebration based on La Solar, a Latin American festival which takes place in February. This event will include live musicians, live and interactive performances from Carnival & Samba dancers, Dazzling Costumes, authentic Brazilian cuisine and spectacular cocktails that capture the true Latin American spirit in a glass. 10

In recognition of International Tequila Day, held on 22nd February, plus the fact that February is Margarita Month, El Santo is holding “Margarita weekend” between 22nd to 24th of the month, with an exclusive margarita menu, live music from 4pm, and a performance from Latin Dance Duo, Pawel & Maria. Worq Hospitality an independent group of restaurateurs and hoteliers with an expansive hospitality portfolio, creating industry-leading products. With over 11 brands including restaurants, stylish boutique hotels and community restaurant and bars, across central Scotland. The company has been going for 10 years in hospitality, Worq Group creates an immersive Latin American Experience at El Santo, serves up Italian delights at Chianti, Riva and Luci’s, raises the bar at Boutique 50, Revolver and Riva Boutique Hotel and serves local communities at Tally Ho, Hemingway’s, Golden Acre and Inchcolm Inn and creating exciting authentic pizza/pasta concept - Papi’s. ontradescotland.co.uk

The sound of silence I

n the past few years the industry has faced a number of challenges from Covid , Government restriction , poorly planned and rolled out schemes like DRS & LEZ and there are 2 things that have stood out above all others over all of them …..

1. How the people across the whole industry have pulled together. 2. The defining silence and utter lack of engagement from Scottish government The trade bodies, venues, owners and trade press alike have asked, lobbied, emailed, begged government for answers, support and engagement on ALL of the above with the overwhelming majority being utterly ignored or responded to with “sound bite” political retorts. My question is WHY? With insolvency up over 60% in the last 13 months in hospitality there are numerous examples over popular long established venues closing their doors, livelihoods destroyed, jobs lost and from the government point of view tax revenues lost forever. These businesses closing doesn’t just impact our industry it has far wider reaching impacts on other business like taxies, clothing, beauty, retail, distribution, logistics directly and indirectly NHS, Education, Transport Policing as if there are less business pay taxes there is less funds to pay for vital services, it’s not rocket science. However when businesses like biscuit factories, bus companies, ferry companies, car manufacturers, ship builders fall into financial difficulty through bad Managment or supply chain issues they are publicly endorsed and government fall over themselves to publicly support, again my question is WHY NOT HOSPITALITY? Government and it’s partners in the Scottish Green Party wasted over £169m on their planned DRS rollout in 2023 £169m that could have went to the NHS, to better roads, or in helping support a rates reduction to hospitality businesses like venues in England who are receiving 75% for another year, £4m of that was completely wasted on 40 machines to contain the products that were not fit for purpose in the first place. AGAIN WHY? Many across the industry are feeling there is an underlying “ anti alcohol “ agenda in play which is not surprising given the former first minister Nicola Sturgeons statements in 2014

when deputy first minister that she wanted “ her biggest legacy in government to be ridding Scotland of its biggest ill that of ALCOHOLISM”. The feeling is that many “ in power “ are allowed to force home personal or religious beliefs as part of policy under the banner of “ public health “, I had had comment from Scottish government a representative during a discussion surrounding the “ music ban “during Covid and us having a feature where Dr Jason Leitch the face of the government health messaging during this time to communicate with the industry directly and was told “Jason is not a member of government and sometimes his own belief system can get in the way of the messaging although he means well”. Other examples: Current First minister - Anti alcohol - publicly due to belief system Scottish Green co leader - anti alcohol - publicly Former finance minister - anti alcohol- publicly due to belief system Dr Jason Leitch - Goverment Health Spokesperson - anti alcohol- publicly due to personal beliefs Former first minister - publicly anti alcohol- publicly due to personal beliefs … the list goes on. Is this why? Do we have a government in place that is not just anti business and anti growth as many now come to believe but also have an agenda against the industry due to personal beliefs and experiences? Whatever the reason and whatever the WHY the sound of silence can not continue from a goverment that’s fundamental role is to grow the prosperity of its people and safeguard the people of its country. ITS TIME FOR CHANGE ITS TIME WE ALL AS PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND HAD BETTER. WE ALL DESERVE IT. ontradescotland.co.uk

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NICHE COCKTAILS STRENGTHENS POSITION WITH FULL BRAND REFRESH & COLLABORATIONS

t’s all change at Niche Cocktails as it unveils a brand new look and two monumental partnerships that will elevate its position as the leading premium cocktail brand.

The Suffolk-based brand, renowned for its all-natural, ready-to-drink cocktails, has refreshed its branding across the whole range, with a new premium and modern look that will appeal to a more discerning demographic. “We are so proud of our journey so far, taking a visionary idea and making it into an acclaimed ready-to drink cocktail brand,” explains CEO, Rob Breakwell. “The investment into giving Niche Cocktails the premium look it deserves is part of our mission to become market leaders and meet customer desires for a quality cocktail brand that reflects their aspirational values.” As well as a sleek new look for its cans, the brand has also announced new partnerships with established premium drink brands, The English Distillery and Adnams. Keeping to its provenance, the East Anglian-based brands bring

another level of credibility and professionalism to Niche Cocktails’ offering. Adnams is now the exclusive partner for Niche’s range of gin and vodka cocktails, elevating their flavour profiles with its finest malted barley and carefully-selected botanicals. The English Distillery, with its multi award-winning whisky, will craft Niche’s whisky and rum cocktails, including its Matcha Mojito, Blood Orange Old Fashioned and Whisky Sour. “We are thrilled to announce these two new partnerships that not only elevate our cocktail offerings and endorse the Niche brand, but also bring exceptional flavour to our already outstanding cocktails. We hope these developments will help solidify our position within the premium drinks sector and bring more consumer confidence with names they recognise and trust,” adds Rob. ontradescotland.co.uk

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DIFFERENTIATOR BRANDS APPOINTS NEW UK BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

ifferentiator Brands, a subsidiary of Glasgow-based JW Filshill, is ramping up its presence in the competitive tonic wine market with the appointment of Kerr Mclaren as UK business development manager for Eldorado Tonic Wine.

Kerr, who succeeds Paul Doran in this key role for the business, has vast experience in the food and drink industry and joins Differentiator Brands, a subsidiary of Glasgow-based wholesaler JW Filshill, from World of Sweets, the UK’s largest distributor, importer and wholesaler of confectionery products. “Eldorado Tonic Wine is a growing brand that has carved an excellent position in the market under the stewardship of Paul Doran, who is retiring,” said Kerr, who lives in Bowling at the foot of the Kilpat-rick Hills. “I’ve been working alongside Paul in recent weeks to learn more about the brand, its current markets and identify growth areas ahead of him leaving the business at the end of January. “It’s a hugely exciting proposition for me to be in this new position to take ownership of an exciting alcohol brand with such huge potential to reach new markets both in Scotland and across the UK. “Under Paul’s leadership, Eldorado Tonic Wine has secured great brand loyalty in Scotland and my role will be to further strengthen its presence on its home turf but also identify and reach new markets south of the Border. “I’m looking forward to working closely with Filshill’s business development, marketing and social media teams, tapping into their vast experience of the retail marketplace. “Filshill is a company I have long admired and to be joining a company with a focused, long-term business plan and an

unenviable reputation across the UK wholesale industry as a great place to work – plus being based at its new, industryleading headquarters at Westway Park near Glasgow Airport – is something I relish. “This year will be an exciting one for development of the brand and we are also taking a stand, for the first time, at the 2024 National Convenience Show, taking place from April 29 to May 1 in Birmingham.” Craig Brown, chief sales and marketing officer at JW Filshill, described Kerr as an “ideal fit” for Differentiator Brands and Filshill. “We’ve had our eye on Kerr for some time now and he is an ideal fit our business given his experience in both the retail and wholesale channels – we’re delighted he has joined us to play this key role in driving growth of Eldorado Tonic Wine and the wider tonic wine category. “In addition to working with our marketing team to implement innovative marketing initiatives, extending Eldorado’s geographical distribution and grow sales across the UK in both retail and wholesale, Kerr takes on a pivotal role in our business. Our presence at this year’s National Convenience Show in Birmingham will allow us to showcase the brand to a wider UK audience. “We’re ramping up support for Eldorado in 2024 and look forward to supporting Kerr build on the excellent work carried out by Paul Doran over the last two years and wish him the best in his retirement.” ontradescotland.co.uk

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Care with Flare supporting your staff on World Bartender Day 2024 Bartenders are crucial to Scotland’s hospitality sector and with World Bartender Day on 24th February, Craig McCracken, an employment law specialist at Anderson Strathern, highlights some challenges bartenders face at work. He also recommends ways employers can help their bartenders feel happy and supported at work, and hopefully to retain talented people for longer. MINIMISING WORK-RELATED VIOLENCE Due to the nature of bar work, there is an increased risk of work-related violence through alcohol, long shifts and difficult customers. Employers have a legal duty to protect all staff from this. The Health and Safety Executive defines work-related violence as ‘Any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work.’ This can include verbal abuse or threats. Employers should: • Implement control measures to prevent or reduce violence, e.g. providing adequate staffing, security, lighting, communication and emergency systems, and designing the layout and workplace equipment to minimise conflict potential. • Provide training for staff on how to prevent and deal with violent situations, e.g., recognising and defusing aggression, 22

and reporting and recording incidents. • Support staff who are involved in violent incidents. • Review and evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken to prevent or reduce violence and make improvements when necessary. Since 2021, Scotland’s ‘Get Me Home Safely’ campaign has encouraged employers, particularly in the licensed trade, to provide safe and free transport home for staff working past 11pm, or their latest public transport option. This has been backed by multiple Scottish councils, and in December 2022, Glasgow licensing board introduced a policy where any new alcohol licence applicant, and existing operators applying for extended operating hours, must provide safe and free transport home for staff working late. ontradescotland.co.uk

TACKLING TABOOS – MENSTRUAL HEALTH AT WORK Recently, the CIPD reported that more than two-thirds of employees who menstruate have experienced a negative impact at work due to their symptoms. Oftentimes, women won’t tell their employer when their period is causing them issues at work. In an occupation where over half of employees are female, it is good advice for employers to take steps to tackle this issue and support female staff regarding this matter. Last year, a new BSI standard was published on menstruation, menstrual health and menopause in the workplace which provides guidance on how employers can develop good practice to support their staff. The advice covers culture, training, facilities, whether policies consider menstruation and menopause, and adjustments such as flexible working and comfort. Ways to support bartenders include: • Provide easy access to toilets and free period products. Even having an accessible supply of pain relief or heat packs available could prevent staff from needing to leave early. • Encourage good channels of communication to normalise conversations around menstrual health. ADDRESSING SEXUAL HARASSMENT Sexual harassment is a serious issue affecting many sectors, including hospitality and leisure. Sexual harassment is defined as any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that violates dignity or creates an offensive environment. It can include verbal or physical behaviour, such as sexual comments, jokes, gestures, and/or touching. The new Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2024, introduces a new legal duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment of their employees in the workplace. This means employers should: • Adopt and communicate a clear and comprehensive policy on sexual harassment, defining what it is, how to report it, and how it will be addressed. • Provide regular mandatory training for

CRAIG McCRACKEN - SOLICITOR all staff on sexual harassment, including recognising, preventing and responding to it, and how to support victims. • Encourage a zero-tolerance culture. • Monitor and review the prevalence and nature of sexual harassment in your workplace, taking corrective and preventive measures as needed. • Investigate and deal with complaints promptly, fairly and confidentially, taking appropriate disciplinary action against perpetrators. Managing staff is one of the most difficult tasks employers face. Keeping these considerations in mind will help foster a supportive business culture, demonstrating to staff that they are valued. Craig can help with policies and training programmes relating to these complex topics, as well as with monitoring tools so you can effectively support staff as well as exhibit diligence if you ever need to investigate a complaint. Contact Craig for assistance, confidential and expert advice at craig.mccracken@ andersonstrathern.co.uk or 0141 285 3803. 23

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