Supporting rural entrepreneurship in the UK microbrewery sector. Issue 11 (2nd November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ellis, Victoria; Bosworth, Gary; Griffith, ChristopherJ.
• Is Part Of: British food journal. Volume 117:Issue 11(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-11-02
• Subjects: Food industry and trade -- Periodicals; Food -- Marketing -- Periodicals; Food adulteration and inspection -- Periodicals; Food -- Periodicals; 381.456413
• DOI: 10.1108/BFJ-12-2014-0412
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-070X

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec sec-type="purpose"> <title>Purpose</title> <p>The UK has seen rapid growth in the number of microbreweries but a concurrent decline in public house numbers raising concerns about the sustainability of this growth. This research explores the impact of funding upon competition in the sector and the entrepreneurial characteristics of microbrewers. With an emphasis on rural based businesses, the local economic impacts are also examined. </p> </sec> <sec sec-type="design|methodology|approach"> <title>Design/methodology/approach</title> <p>The research is informed by analysis of trends in both the brewing and public house sectors in the UK. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with microbrewers, including 5 who had received funding to support their development. These were supplemented with three days of participant observation at collaborative brewing events with 26 microbrewery owners and 3 microbrewery managers</p> </sec> <sec sec-type="findings"> <title>Findings</title> <p>The findings indicate that the value attached to microbreweries extends beyond their economic contribution with wider outcomes including training and job creation, the preservation of listed buildings and the enhancement of rural tourism. Funding stimulated entrepreneurial responses but support for these wider outcomes ran the risk of distorting competition.</p> </sec> <sec sec-type="originality|value"> <title>Originality/value</title> <p>As competition increases in the sector, microbrewery owners need to become more entrepreneurial to maintain their market position. Competition is heightened by a number of lifestyle enterprises that can survive with lower profit levels while routes to market are limited by a decline in the public house sector. In such a pressured market, there is a need for clearer assessments of the impacts on local economies and entrepreneurship when grant funding is provided. </p> </sec> </abstract>