Guinness is gearing up ship hundreds of thousands of pints to pubs across the island.
And the move is brewing just as the drinks giant has announced a €14 million cash injection to help Ireland’s bars pay for a post-lockdown comeback.
The funding is part of a big-money programme that booze maker Diageo is rolling out for the hospitality sector from Belfast to Dublin, and as far away as Shanghai and Bangalore.
The cash is aimed at helping under-pressure pubs pay for equipment and software they’ll need when they reopen in Northern Ireland on July 3.
Diageo say the ‘Raising the Bar’ will be a two-year programme available from July 2020.
They say they will provide $100 million to “support the recovery of major hospitality centres, including: New York, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Shanghai, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Sydney and beyond”.
Diageo says a survey of bar owners across the planet found their top priorities include “hygiene measures, digital support and practical equipment to transform how their outlets will work”.
In Ireland, the programme “will be focussed on the provision of practical equipment and confidence building measures needed for outlets to reopen and operate on a safe and sustainable basis”.
Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive of Diageo said: “Pubs and bars sit at the heart of every community. We have launched ‘Raising the Bar’ as so many outlets have been impacted by this crisis and badly need help to open their doors again.
“We are calling on governments around the world to provide long-term recovery packages to help the hospitality sector. These businesses play an essential role in bringing people together to socialise and celebrate - something that we have all missed so much during this terrible crisis - and sustain hundreds of millions of jobs, often providing a first foot on the employment ladder for young people.”
Oliver Loomes, Managing Director of Diageo Ireland added: “The hospitality sector in Ireland requires long-term investment and support to get back up and running. Not only has the financial impact to their business been significant, but they have missed their place at the centre of Ireland’s social fabric. Through this €14 million “Raising the Bar” Fund, our ambition is to support pubs in Ireland in welcoming back customers in the safest possible way, when they are ready to do so.
“It is more important than ever to work with our partners to create a safe and sustainable night time economy together. This fund is our commitment to the future of the local pub in Ireland. It will also be essential for the authorities on this island to work together with our industry to build both a safe and a sustainable hospitality and bar sector.”
From 24 June 2020, bar owners across all of Ireland will be able to register their interest for the ‘Raising the Bar’ programme via www.mydiageo.com.
