Greene King is celebrating after picking up two honours at the WiHTL Inclusion In Awards.
Unity, the company’s employee-led inclusion group, which represents ethnic minorities and their allies, was named most impactful employee resource group.
Greene King chief executive, Nick Mackenzie, was named the most inclusive group CEO in hospitality, travel, and leisure.
The WiHTL Inclusion In Awards recognise and celebrate organisations, teams, and individuals who go above and beyond in promoting inclusion and positive changes across the hospitality, travel, leisure, and retail industries. The awards also acknowledge those helping to make a real difference to improve the working lives of the millions of people within these sectors.
Unity was recognised for its outstanding efforts in championing, raising awareness of, and celebrating ethnic diversity across Greene King.
This year’s judges praised the winning group for the energy, influence, and impact they’ve had across their organisation, setting a benchmark for what employee resource groups can achieve when they are supported and empowered.
Unity plays a key role in reviewing company policies, advising on best practice, and supporting colleagues from all backgrounds.
• Timothy Taylor’s has appointed Ian Sykes as sales director. He will join the company on 5th January from Molson Coors, where he has enjoyed a long career.
“I am delighted that Ian will join our executive leadership team, bringing strong leadership skills and excellent long-term customer relationships, to build on the outstanding work that has been done by Paul Matthews during his time in the sales director role,” said Andrew Carter, chief executive at Timothy Taylor’s.
“We have been fortunate to have such an exceptional sales leader in Paul and to be able to attract such a high calibre successor as Ian. We will continue to build our long-term customer partnerships and invest in the quality or our beer, our brand, and our people, to grow our leadership position in the cask ale market.”
Ian said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Timothy Taylor’s brewery as sales director. It’s a fantastic brand with a rich heritage and an unwavering commitment to quality cask beer. I’m really looking forward to working with the team to build on the great work that they have already delivered.”
• Circularity is becoming part of the public mindset, according to the third wave of the international study commissioned by Every Can Counts, conducted across 16 countries and more than 16,000 participants.
Half of respondents associate circular packaging with being recycled back into the same type of product again and again, and only 43% with being reusable. At the same time, 57% define recyclable packaging as “designed for circularity”, showing that the concept resonates with consumers.
“Circularity doesn’t have to be complex,” said David Van Heuverswyn, global director of Every Can Counts. “Infinitely recyclable and already widely collected, aluminium cans are proof that truly circular packaging is possible. What’s missing is awareness.”
• Experienced operator Terence O’Sullivan has taken on The Trooper, in Aldbury, Hertfordshire. It brings the O’Sullivan family’s estate to 30.
O’Sullivan founded the Wishing Well pubco in the mid-90s, later purchased by Ushers. When the brewery closed, several of the pubs were leased back to Terence.
• The newly-formed Candover Pub Company is to relaunch the former Purefoy Arms, in Preston Candover, Hampshire. The pub will become known as The Candover.
• Pub group Brunning & Price returned to profit in the year to 29th December, 2024. Revenue increased from £131,603,000 in 2023 to £139,131,000, with profit at £4,521,000. The company is owned by The Restaurant Group.
• The Horse and Jockey pub, in Chorlton Green, a Joseph Holt lease, has been re-opened by Neil Burke and Ben Chaplin. The duo are also behind The Black Friar, Salford.
• Joe Grossmann, owner of burger company Patty & Bunn, has opened his second pub, the Shaston Arms, in Soho. The premises was previously operated by Hall & Woodhouse. Grossmann is also behind The Watermans Arms, in Barnes, London.
