Ei Publican Partnerships has launched Premier Club, a new incentive programme that rewards outstanding publicans with additional support to help them further grow their sales.
The first cohort of nine Premier Club members were chosen by Divisional Directors and Regional Managers across the business, with their decisions based on beer category performance, volume sales growth, profit growth and engagement with Ei Group.
The initiative, which has been supported by national brewers Molson Coors and Heineken, rewards the chosen publicans with access to a range of additional business building tools, from wine appreciation courses, to cellar training and staff uniforms.
In addition, publicans will also have complimentary use of some of the sector’s leading technology providers, such as Trail, a work management app for operators, and Wireless Social, a smart guest wi-fi provider. They will also have access to several preferential supplier rates across different services, ranging from travel and accommodation, to digital marketing.
The first cohort includes:
Woodman, Ruislip
Junction Tavern, Kentish Town
Rising Sun, Embankment
Horns Tavern, West Norwood
Hassocks Hotel, Hassocks
Toby Jug, Kingshurst
Bell & Cross, Clent
Old Windmill, Coventry
Doctor Johnson, Lichfield
Procurement Director, Miles Selby said, “We’re passionate about rewarding and supporting the publicans in our estate who are driving retail excellence and going above and beyond to serve their communities.
'This new initiative not only provides those operators with rewards for their endeavours, but crucially offers them access to sophisticated retail support, ranging from beverage education to smart technology, that will allow them to further realise the true potential of their sites and grow profitability.”
Steve Banks, publican at the Woodman in Ruislip, added, “I feel very honoured to have been selected to join the Premier Club. I’m relatively new to the pub trade, having spent over 25 years in the retail industry, and while there are similarities around customer service, standards and staff development, the support and guidance of Ei Group has been fantastic in driving business growth.
'It has certainly opened up new opportunities for me, and also provided a support network and community of likeminded operators through which we can share best practice and learn from each other.”