Celebrating 23 years of helping our clients grow their businesses

PRIME MINISTER David Cameron is at war with supermarkets over cut-price booze deals that are turning town centres into the “Wild West”.

According to the Daily Mail, Cameron says high-street deals are now so low that a pint is less than 50p. Cheap alcohol fuels a “pre-load” mentality where drinkers get drunk before going out, he adds.

So how do government and drinks industries work together? Initiatives of the drinks industry to sell and market alcohol responsibly include:

Are high street booze deals the only cause of "Wild West" town centres?

➢    The Portman Group [www.portmangroup.com]

“We work with drinks producers to raise standards of alcohol marketing.  We challenge companies to be socially responsible and inspire them to achieve best practice.”

➢     DrinkAware

Drinkaware provides consumers with the facts about alcohol to make informed decisions about the effects of alcohol on their lives and lifestyles. Our public education programmes, grants, expert information, and resources help create awareness of alcohol and affect positive change.

[www.drinkaware.co.uk]

➢    The Responsible Drinks Retailing Awards

Launched by Off Licence News in 2003, the Responsible Drinks Retailing Awards and Conference have become established as one of the most credible initiatives for the drinks industry.

This year’s conference and awards will be taking place on Wednesday 10th November at The Sheraton Park Lane Hotel, London.

[www.responsibledrinksretailing.co.uk]

Responsible winners in 2009
Pub Company: JD Wetherspoon
Pub: The Globe Inn, Chichester, West Sussex
Independent Retailer: TheDrinkShop.com
Supermarket chain: Asda

WILLIAM MURRAY COMMUNICATIONS has been appointed by the Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) UK & Ireland to handle its PR and communications.

The marketing and communications specialists will raise awareness of the FCSI in the hospitality industry and communicate the benefits and value the society can add to businesses.

“Part of a worldwide group of foodservice consultants, our members hold a wealth of expert foodservice information, solutions and advice,” says Jonathan Doughty, FCSI UK & Ireland chairman.

“We have the knowledge to solve challenges with innovative, commercial and sustainable solutions and we can help with everything from foodservice strategy and kitchen design to hygiene and contract tendering.

“William Murray Communications has been tasked to raise the profile of the society, demonstrating how we help our members and the wider sector.”

Anita Woods, managing director at William Murray Communications, adds: “The FCSI is passionate about sharing their knowledge. At a time when businesses are having to work smarter to stay ahead of the competition, we are excited to be working with the FCSI. Their know-how and expertise, if communicated and shared, will have a huge impact on the industry.”

For more information on the FCSI and how it can add value to your business, call 01483 761122, or for media information contact Fiona Hamilton or Charlotte Davies at William Murray Communications on 0208 256 1360.

Press Information
For media enquiries please contact:
Fiona Hamilton / Charlotte Davies
William Murray Communications
020 8256 1360
fiona@williammurray.co.uk / charlotte@williammurray.co.uk

London, Aug 2, 2010:

THE CAVENDISH LONDON has invested in social media network training for its hotel staff with the help of William Murray Communications.

The Piccadilly hotel was made famous in 1902 when it was taken over by Rosa Lewis – the chef for Winston Churchill’s family. It has now embraced Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to create communities around its historic brand. It will also use social media to drive direct room bookings online.

The Cavendish London, located opposite Fortnum & Mason on Jermyn Street, called in William Murray to help it engage more effectively with customers, to create more online buzz for the brand and increase traffic to www.thecavendishlondon.com.

William Murray, an award-winning communications agency for food, drink and hospitality, is to implement a three-step social media strategy, which includes a social media workshop to guide staff through online tools, social media etiquette and effective content writing.

The London-based agency, founded 23 years ago, will take over traditional PR and communications for The Cavendish London with immediate effect.

Notes to editors:
The hotel was named The Cavendish in 1836 and the lease was taken over in 1902 by celebrity chef of her time Rosa Lewis. It is rumoured Edward VII helped her with the initial £5,000 investment.

Rosa was renowned in London and Paris for her exemplary hospitality and quality British food, and this lives on at the award-winning 4-star hotel today.

An independent 230-bedroom hotel, The Cavendish London has a contemporary British style and is within a few minutes’ walk of the UK’s top tourist attractions, such as Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus and Buckingham Palace.

The popular tourist and London business hotel is also close to designer shopping in Mayfair and the West End.
• Gold awarded by Green Tourism London for sustainability
• Holds an AA rosette for its modern British restaurant Petrichor
• Gold winner of Visit London 2009 for Outstanding Service
• 91% rating on TripAdvisor.com

The Cavendish London’s vision:
To be the best four-star hotel in central London with special people creating special experiences.

The hotel exceeds guests’ expectations, creating memorable experiences day in and day out – The Cavendish London is in TripAdvisor’s top 50 list of 1,058 London hotel reviews.

Facebook link: http://bit.ly/d17R20
Twitter: @cavendish_hotel

BRITS are set to be hit by a price hike in bread, biscuits and pasta  – the highest monthly increase in 37 years.

The worst droughts for 130 years in Russia, one of the biggest producers of wheat, have stemmed a surge in global grain prices of up to 50%.

Wheat crops on fire in Voronezh, south of Moscow, Russia

Neil Saunders, consulting director at retail analysts Verdict, said: “With wheat prices so elevated, suppliers and retailers will have to pass across costs to the consumer, and it’s not just in bread”

The price of a tipple of wheat-based drinks, such as beer and spirits, could also rise.

The news follows stats by the Office of National Statistics which says last year food prices in the UK were 8.9% up in 2009.

IF YOU’RE not a sponsor of 2012 then mind how you market your products at the Games

The London 2012 Organising Committee has warned UK companies, who are not sponsors of the London Olympics, that associating their brands with the Games could result in court action.

Firms cashing in with marketing jargon related to the London Olympics or Paralympics – in ads and press releases – also face paying out hefty compensation for breaching the rules. (more…)

Then come and work with William Murray and you’ll be rubbing shoulders with the crème-de-la-crème of chefs.

An award-winning PR and communications agency, William Murray runs trade and consumer campaigns across all media platforms. We’ve worked with Hell’s Kitchen stars including Marco Pierre White and Jean-Christophe Novelli, as well as chefs Michel Roux Junior and Glynn Purnell.

Work with masterchefs like Jean-Christophe Novelli

We are now looking for a senior account manager with an eye for detail, ideas by the dozen and a passion for food, drink and hospitality.

You’ll work on a range of major accounts for print, trade, consumer, TV and social media. In return for your previous experience as a PR account manager, we promise you a fast-track career progression in a top 100 agency.

Interested?
Persuasive?
Great writing skills?
Organised?
And above all, fun to work with?
Then we’d like to hear from you.

To apply for the role of senior account manager at William Murray:
Please send us an email telling us your proudest PR achievement to date, along with your CV and salary expectations to Judith Williamson: Judith@williammurray.co.uk
For further questions call +44 (0)20 8256 1360.

William Murray location
William Murray’s office is in East Croydon -  just 15 minutes from Victoria and London Bridge and with some of the best shopping facilities in the South East.

Package
We offer a competitive salary, on-going training and flexible benefits.

According to the latest issue of the Morning Advertiser top chef Marco Pierre White is planning to open 14 Wheeler’s pubs in a joint venture with independent pub company Powder Train, following the re-opening of an East Sussex pub this week.  The Chequers has benefited from an extensive £150,000 refurbishment to enhance its 18th century character. The pub has previously traded mostly on wet sales but is now set to become a food destination with an exciting new menu. Sounds like it could be a great new place to try for William Murray’s Diva’s Who Dine!

With a licensee transforming her back garden into a community allotment it goes to show that local pubs still have that community spirit.

Bringing the community together to appreciate ‘home-grown’ fruit and vegetables not only encourages locals to get involved, but could also help to establish healthier eating in our children giving them the opportunity to see first hand picking of the fruit and vegetables when ready.  Although this isn’t viable to many licensees out there – it’s a nice thing to do if you can.

KAREN BROWNE – reporting live from the Bocuse d’Or final in Geneva:

Count down to the Bocuse d’Or results

“This is just so exciting. The crowd is being entertained by the Swiss National Orchestra and a dance troupe. Talk about an ‘event’ – it’s a real homage to the chefs and the spectacular food we’ve seen. Not long to wait now…”

Log in later for the results

SIMON HULSTONE RIB EYE ROAST - Image courtesy of Michelle Diederichs

KAREN BROWNE reporting live from Bocuse d’Or …. ‘I’m here in Geneva for the Bocuse d’Or Euro Finals as part of ‘Team UK’ supporting Simon Hulstone. Simon has been amazing and the atmosphere is electric. It’s the chef equivalent of the World Cup!’

Log in for results later this afternoon