Beer at home returns with ordering on-line
A Black Country brewery today relaunched a once-famous beer delivery service across the country, hoping to boost profits and create jobs in the Midlands.
Walsall-based Highgate & Davenports Brewery is reviving the tradition of Davenports Beer at Home, which started in 1904. The last delivery was made from the former Davenports brewery in Bath Row, Birmingham, in the 1970s.
The service has been brought into the 21st century, with an online ordering system at www.davenportsbeer.co.uk
It signals a new era for the former Highgate Brewery, which went into administration earlier this year with reported tax debts of more than £1 million.
Brewery marketing manager Stu Baker said: "We are very excited about the prospect of re-launching Beer at Home.
"With the current market showing growth in the off trade, we feel that offering our drinkers an all-round experience of the brand is key to growing our existing market share across the board."
The re-launch is being backed with billboard posters and radio adverts across the West Midlands to rekindle interest in Davenports.
Mr Baker added: "The exercise is two-fold.
"Whilst the aim is to increase our sales through the website, we also feel that reinforcing the values of Davenports and increasing exposure of the brand across its homeland will encourage people to try the brand in licensed outlets, and invite people back in to pubs once again.
"We have no indication yet as to what the turnover could be from this."
The brewery will be using courier Fast Way to deliver the beer to start with but hopes to roll out its own fleet of delivery vans if the service proves a success.
Customers will be able to choose from the brewery's whole range of ales and order delivery for the next day.
The brewery in Sandymount Road was sold in a deal for £80,000 by administrators Arrans to two property developers, Simon Toon and David Lindol.
It has since been relaunched as Highgate & Davenports Brewery.
