AB InBev and Deliveroo launch limited edition Beer Bicycle

BUMPER TIME FOR BEER THIS CHRISTMAS AS AB INBEV PREDICTS ONLINE BEER SALES TO GROW 16% YOY

 

 

●     AB InBev predicts one million households will buy beer online in December – 200,000 more than last year^[1]

●     Leading Maître D’ Fred Siriex will be working with AB InBev and Deliveroo on a ‘Beer Bicycle’ delivery service to celebrate the launch of ‘The Beer Store’

●     Research reveals that lager is more popular with women than Prosecco – 30% of women have consumed lager more often than Prosecco in the past few months (13%)

 

 

Bored of mulled wine and eggnog? This Christmas, beer is set to become one of the main festive drinks of choice. AB InBev online sales predictions and research commissioned by the company reveal beer will cement its place on the Christmas dining table with one million households buying beer online in December, 200,000 more than 2014^[2]. Half of Brits (50%) are planning to serve beer to their guests on Christmas Day and three-quarters (76%) are planning to serve beer at some point over the festive period.

 

Another indicator of growth is the increasing popularity of beer amongst women. When asked what alcoholic drink they’ve consumed the most over the past few months, almost a third of women (30%) said lager, compared to one in ten (13%) who stated Prosecco and 7.6% of women who answered ale.

 

To meet the discerning beer palate of online customers, AB InBev and Deliveroo, the end-to-end food delivery service, have teamed up to launch ‘The Beer Store’; an online delivery service in which customers in central London can get chilled beer delivered to their doorstep in just 15 minutes.

 

From Cyber Monday, 30^th November, there will be a limited edition “Beer Bicycle”, the UK’s first tandem-bicycle beer delivery service, fronted by Michelin-star hospitality expert Mr. Fred Sirieix. Available to adults only, Mr Siriex and a dedicated Deliveroo driver will ride a bespoke tandem to a handful of London addresses, delivering chilled bottled beer to select customers*. Fred will be on hand to provide each household with his Michelin star knowledge and ideas on how to entertain and serve beer this Christmas.

 

The research also revealed:

●     Almost seven in ten (66%) Brits will be hosting this Christmas

●     They’re taking their role seriously, with over a third (37.9%) planning an official drinks menu

●     To meet the ever expanding tastes of their guests, hosts are extending their beer repertoire with plans to serve, on average, three different types of beer - with Lager (85%), Ale (52%) and Stout (24%) being the most popular choices

 

 

Fred Sirieix says: “There are so many ways beer brings people together over Christmas, from glittering parties with friends to laughter-filled family dinners. I know how important it is for Christmas celebrations to be special so I’m thrilled to share my tips on how to make a celebration truly stand out with the nation’s favourite holiday beverage. I’m also excited to see the surprise on customers’ faces when I’m on hand to deliver their online beer order”.

 

Dries Mertens, eMarketing manager, AB InBev says: “At AB InBev, we are predicting 2015 will be a record year for online beer delivery sales – our biggest yet. Not only is beer a popular beverage at Christmas parties, but we are seeing a growing interest in pairing beer with food – and Christmas lunch is perfect for this.“

 

Will Shu, co-founder and CEO of Deliveroo, says: “We’ve seen incredible demand for top-quality food delivered to homes and offices, and think beer is a natural extension of our service. With the rise in popularity of online beer sales this Christmas, we feel this is the perfect time to launch this new project.”

 

Here are some of top Christmas entertaining tips from Fred Sirieix:

 

1.       If you are planning a sit down meal with guests, impress with a beautiful sharing beer, such as Leffe Blond or the limited edition Stella Artois Heritage bottle

 

2.       Do you have guests coming to your house that perhaps don’t know one another? Think about ways to break the ice by thoughtfully placing conversation starter cards on tables and by drinks

 

3.       Be a considerate host and make sure you cater to guests who are driving or do not like to drink alcohol. Beck’s Blue is the perfect non-alcoholic offering

 

4.       Did you know that Stella Artois was originally brewed to be a holiday gift to the local residents of Leuven, Belgium? In fact, Stella Artois is Latin for Christmas Star. Impress your friends with this knowledge, or use as a handy ice breaker

 

5.       It’s always a good idea to prepare in advance if you’re hosting a festive party this season. Serve canapés that can be made a couple of days in advance and frozen until needed

 

To place your Christmas beer orders from ‘The Beer Store’, go tohttps://deliveroo.co.uk and visit The Beer Store.

 

*‘The Beer Store is open daily between 4pm and 10pm and available to over 18s only and in certain London locations**. Mr Sirieix will be personally delivering beer orders to the first customer to order, within these areas, between 4pm and 4.20pm on Monday 30^th November, 2^nd December between 7pm and 7.20pm, and 3^rd December between 7pm and 7.20pm.’