Contents
BrewDog has signed a five-year partnership with Leicester Tigers rugby union club to become its official beer partner from the 2026-27 season, per The Caterer. The deal gives the brewer exclusivity across lager, craft beer, ale and alcohol-free categories at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium, and includes upgraded dispense and cellar technology, a first branded Punk IPA stadium bar, and a new Leicester Tigers-branded ale called 1880 Ale.
For vendors selling into hospitality, a stadium exclusivity deal of this length is a locked-in equipment and technology window. The upgraded dispense and cellar tech means new hardware, installation and maintenance contracts at the venue, and the branded Punk IPA bar is a new build-out with its own POS, payments and fit-out requirements. Competitors selling beer, cider or alcohol-free products into that stadium are now shut out for five seasons.
Supplier contracts in motion across UK hospitality
The Caterer's September supplier roundup shows a series of listings and renewals that signal where buying decisions are being made. Five Guys has listed Hawkstone Cider from Jeremy Clarkson and Cotswold Brew Co, adding to its existing Hawkstone Premium Lager listing. The selection sits within Five Guys' stated commitment to a locally sourced, British-backed strategy across its UK outlets.
Italian vermouth producer Cocchi has secured a partnership with Rudy's Pizza Napoletana at locations across the UK, secured by distributor Speciality Brands. Cocchi Storico Vermouth di Torino, Cocchi Rosa and Cocchi Americano will appear on the group's Negroni Month menu throughout September and then remain on the menu. The Caterer notes this is the first listing of this scale in the on-trade channel for the vermouth.
Claridge's hotel in London has renewed its contract with coffee roastery Workshop for a further three years, building on an existing seven-year relationship. Workshop will supply coffee to all food and beverage spaces within the hotel, from in-room dining to the newly launched Dante Mayfair restaurant, and will overhaul the coffee programme with monthly staff training at the Workshop Academy in Belgravia.
Pub operator Brakspear has signed up Hogs Back Brewery in Tongham, Surrey, to brew its cask ales, including flagship Brakspear Original Gravity bitter. The move will lead to investment in installing traditional double drop brewing vessels at the Hogs Back site. Since the closure of the Wychwood Brewery in 2023, Brakspear beers have been brewed in Burton-upon-Trent by Carlsberg Britvic.
For vendors, renewals like Claridge's and Workshop are the contracts to watch. A three-year extension after seven years means the incumbent has defended the account, but the programme overhaul and training commitment suggest new equipment, service and possibly software requirements inside the hotel. Brakspear's brewing move is a production relocation with capital expenditure attached.
Equipment suppliers land niche wins
Hoshizaki supplied its EliteCube ice-maker, the premium option in its IM Cube range, to the Prep House bar in Rothwell, near Leeds, per The Caterer. The compact unit saves space in the small bar and provides UV sanitation, which prevents harmful bacterial build-up between cleans.
Hobart created a one-off signature planetary mixer for chef Nathan Outlaw, for use in the kitchens of his Outlaw's Guest House and Bistro in Port Isaac, Cornwall. The HSM20 mixer was hand-finished at Hobart's North Devon facility in the chef's deep blue colourway with his signature and logo. The Caterer reports the mixer has halved the prep time required for Outlaw's breads, pastries, muffins and afternoon cakes.
These are single-site wins, but they matter as reference accounts. Hoshizaki and Hobart both now hold named, recent installations in independent venues, which their sales teams can cite when pitching other independents. For competing equipment vendors, these accounts are now defended.
AI receptionist pilot shows measurable revenue
Focus on Hospitality by Focus Group piloted Aila, an AI receptionist, at Brazilian steakhouse Viva Brazil in Cardiff. The three-month trial contributed £7,400 in gross revenue to the restaurant and recovered approximately 60% of the time previously spent managing front of house call handling, per The Caterer.
Aila integrates with the restaurant's booking platform, records and confirms bookings with customers, and captures information such as allergies and special occasions, transferring the data into the table management software for service teams to access. Focus on Hospitality is exploring the next phase of development for Viva Brazil to integrate in-call upselling.
£7,400 in gross revenue over three months from a single site is a concrete, quotable return. For vendors selling booking platforms, table management software or AI tools into hospitality, this is a named case study with a revenue figure attached, which is rare in trade press.
Scottish pharmacy group enters administration
Two companies linked to 22 Scottish high street pharmacies have been placed into administration. Scotpharm (MNA) Limited and MSLNA Healthcare Limited entered administration on September 7, per The Herald. James Stephen, Danny Dartnaill and Benjamin Peterson of BDO were appointed joint administrators.
The two groups employ around 420 employees within their central functions in Glenrothes and Lochgelly and the pharmacies, which are located across east central Scotland. None of the subsidiary companies have been placed into administration and these are continuing to operate as normal with the assistance of senior management.
A BDO spokesperson said: "The two groups employ around 420 employees within their central functions in Glenrothes and Lochgelly and the pharmacies, which are located across east central Scotland. None of the subsidiary companies have been placed into administration and these are continuing to operate as normal with the assistance of senior management. The joint administrators have secured funding lines to support the continued trading and suppliers will continue to be paid as normal. The joint administrators will now seek to implement a strategy to sell the pharmacies as going concerns. Interested parties are invited to register their interest with the joint administrators as soon as possible."
For vendors selling POS, payments, workforce management or supply chain software into these sites, this is a going-concern sale in progress. The administrators are actively seeking buyers, which means the 22 pharmacies could change ownership quickly. That creates re-tender risk across the estate. Suppliers are being paid normally for now, but any vendor with exposure to these sites should be tracking the sale process.
A note on Peach Data
When supplier contracts shift and pharmacy groups enter administration, the vendor's problem is knowing which sites are affected and who now holds the buying decision. Peach Data provides verified, TPS-screened contact data across thousands of UK hospitality venues. peachdata.co.uk