C&C Group plc, the owners of Tennent’s, has resigned from the Portman Group citing amongst other reasons the fact that it has moved away from its founding principles.
Paul Bartlett, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at C&C, comments,
“We informed the Portman Group last year that we planned to resign in order to focus our resources on a strategy of investing in community projects rather than industry lobbying. Since then we have launched our Help for Heroes beer, announced an investment of £1m in UK orchards and taken on the distribution of One Water in Scotland. These are very worthwhile projects that aim to put something back into the communities in which we operate.
“We remain passionate about the rights of adults to enjoy alcohol responsibly and our credentials in this area over a long period of time are very strong. We support minimum unit pricing in Scotland and across the island of Ireland because, as a local company, we understand the needs of the communities in which we play a part.
“Sadly the Portman Group has moved away from its founding principles and is now dominated by the large multi-national drink companies with an agenda at odds with our colleagues in the wider UK industry. On this basis we feel it’s time to leave.”
The Portman Group responded with the following statement:
C&C Group plc tendered a withdrawal notice to the Portman Group last year on 21 June 2013 citing that they wished “to focus directly on local issues”. All Portman Group members are bound by a one year notice period and C&C Group’s will end on 30 June 2014.
Henry Ashworth, CEO of the Portman Group said:
“Portman Group members lead the drinks industry in promoting responsible drinking and reducing alcohol-related harm across the UK through effective self-regulation and partnership working. This leadership is in the long term interests of the majority of responsible consumers as well as all those who produce and sell alcoholic drinks. It is a shame that C&C Group has chosen to step down from this leadership role in the UK and Ireland.”