As usual the Bermar Team will be on hand to show you our industry standard wine and Champagne preservation systems. Come and find us on stand J20 in London and at Booth 3660 in Chicago to decide which system will be perfect fit for your business!

London International Wine Fair: 20 - 22nd May at Excel, London

NRA Show, Chicago: 18 - 21st May at McCormick Place, Chicago

Two key members of our export team will be supporting our Exclusive Irish Distributors, Febvre & Co, at the ever popular CATEX show in Dublin. Come and find us on stand D1.

We're also delighted that, as with previous years, Professional wine solution experts Horesy AG will be showcasing the Le Verre de Vin and Pod Bar ranges at ProWein in Dusseldorf from 24th - 26th March. If you would like to see the full range of products in the Bermar Collection for yourself, the  team will be pleased to welcome you to their stand (Hall B1.0G, Stand # 301) at the event so pop along and see them!

Professional wine solution experts Advineo will be showcasing the Le Verre de Vin and Pod Bar ranges at the SIRHA exhibition in Lyon from 26th - 30th January.

Advineo are leading suppliers to the French hospitality and supermarket industries and specialise in commercial grade wine serving solutions. We are delighted that Advineo have selected this key European exhibition to showcase the Bermar Collection (including the full range of Le Verre de Vin systems and Pod Bars).

SIRHA is a bi-annual event for those involved in the hospitality industry. With over 160,000 visitors expected and some 2,200 exhibitors, this is undoubtedly a fantastic showcase for world-leading products and a stand out date in the diary for professionals involved in the hotel and restaurant trade. If you would like to see the full range of products in the Bermar Collection for yourself, the Advineo team will be pleased to welcome you to their stand (6H19) at the event so pop along and see them!   

Here at Bermar we’ve started a new testimonials mini site to share some of the feedback we have received from our customers over the years.  We hope it will help inform and reassure you that when you choose a Bermar wine preservation system you are making the right choice.  Testimonials are divided into categories to help you find the information that is most relevant to you.  If you have something to contribute to the site we would love to hear from you - just send us an email. 

Our new-look stand was a real hit with show visitors, many of who stopped for a photo against the backdrop of the Illuminated Bermar Wall of Fame.  In an homage to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, our multi-coloured wall featured the names of a few of our well-known customers such as Gaucho Restaurants, The Savoy and Le Gavroche, each below one of our iconic ‘Classic Le Verre de Vin’ systems (see photo below).  

We could wax lyrical about the unique benefits of professional wine preservation systems from The Bermar Collection … how they can eliminate wastage, boost profitability, have one of the lowest cost per pours of any system on the market and usually pay for themselves in just a matter of months.  But then we would say that … so we will let the article speak for itself.  Click here to read it in full.

There’s plenty of chatter about the Grey Pound and Young People’s Venues/Sports Bars …but a recent survey into the drinking habits of pub and bar goers in the UK revealed something that’s perhaps a little surprising.  It is in fact women who are the key decision makers when it comes to deciding where mixed sex groups will eat/drink. Sowhat does this mean for you?  How can you capitalise on this trend and use it to boost your business?

The Pub Goers Survey (published in the 3^rd September issue of Pub & Bar) recommended that operators develop or introduce elements to help their business become more female friendly.  They went on to suggest offering a decent range of wines and/or selling prosecco by the glass as key ways to do this.  These recommendations are supported by findings showing 24% of people cite a larger range as influencing their choice of pub or bar. 

Pub&Bar magazine wrote: “Consumers have become more demanding and more discerning when it comes to their pub-going habits.  With increases in standards of living and better quality homes, not to mention the advent of modern coffee shops and the growth in fast casual dining, today’s pub visitor is looking for something more than a simple watering hole.”

So how should you go about implementing female friendly initiatives such asan extended range of wines or selling ‘fizz’ by the glass as the report recommends?

Bermar’s range of commercial grade wine preservation systems allow you to expand your range of wines‘by the glass’ to satisfy customer demand but without the risk of wastage or serving a ‘bad’ glass.  The patented technology re-seals opened bottles of still wines and Champagnes and keeps them fresh in the condition the winemaker intended for up to 21 days. 

Josh Reid (The Chequers, Chipping Norton) said: “We offer 20 wines by the glass and love the system.  It’s one of the best investments that I’ve made.  Sales have gone up and it’s easy to increase the average spend per head and well as drawing and retaining non beer drinking customers.’  Similarly The Buccleuch Arms Hotel in the Scottish Boarders now offers some 35 wines by the glass using their Le Verre de Vin system and Arnaud Goubet (Chef Sommelier at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons) noted: “With the Le Verre de Vin in place, we are able to offer over 40 of our fine wines and 6 Champagnes by the glass without any risk of serving a wine that is past its best or experiencing costly wastage.”

For more information on how Bermar’s professional wine preservation solutions can help your business become more ‘female friendly’ by extending your wine and Champagne ‘by the glass’ offering, drop us an email or call us on 01473 612062.

News broke in the media earlier this week of the UK restaurants named in The Good Food Guide 2013.  As we looked through the list of who is sitting atop the gastronomic charts, it was exciting to note so many of the country’s premier restaurants use Bermar wine preservation systems, including Heston Blumenthal’s ‘The Fat Duck’ (declared number one by the guide).

Katherine Meyrick (Assistant General Manager of Battlesteads) declared the new venture a runaway success saying there has been a “tremendous uptake.  We’re noticing a lot of people booking in for a treat on a special occassion”.  She added “we just wouldn’t have been able to offer the matching wines before we had the Pod Bar.  It’s added a whole new element to what we’re able to offer our customers.”

Trusting a wine preservation system to deliver on its promises often requires a leap of faith for operators, particularly when it comes to Champagnes and sparkling wines.  So it’s great for us to be able to report directly from customers who have put our products to the test and witnessed at first hand that our 21 day freshness guarantee is based on hard facts and not just “sales talk”.  

Brasserie Zédel opened on 25 June 2012.  The restaurant, owned by Jeremy King and Chris Corbin, serves classic French brasserie fare at affordable prices.  The wine list is derived entirely from France with all non-reserve wines available by the glass and pichet.  Click here to see a copy of Brasserie Zédel’s wine list.

Spanish restaurant chain Brindisa are putting their newly installed Le Verre de Vin systems to good use.  The restaurants offer a great range of sherries by the glass alongside their impressive selection of wines by the glass.  

Tapas Brindisa in London's Borough Market was declared the best tapas bar in Britain by The Independent in 2007.  The talented chef Jose Pizarro led the chain's expansion to two new sites in Soho and South Kensington in 2008.  The chef, who has appeared on the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen and UKTVFood’s Market Kitchen, has since opened his own sherry and tapas bar, Jose, on Bermondsey Street and a Pizarro, a full sized restaurant, nearby (all complete with Le Verre de Vin systems of course!)

We've had a look at their drinks menu and we must say their wine list is just as impressive as their food offerings.  Not only do they boast the unusual opportunity to sample a selection of sherries by the glass, they also offer a fantastic wine list.  Brindisa say "Our wine list brings you a changing selection of new Bodegas and established names in the world of Spanish wines.  Many are made from indigenous grape varieties or are from some of the lesser known wine-making regions." 

You can find out more about the great selection of wines and sherries offered by the glass at Brindisa thanks to their Le Verre de Vin systems on their website http://www.brindisa.com/

Why offer more ‘Fizz’ by the glass?

Surely the most remarkable statistic in the report is that there are currently 5 million UK consumers who choose to drink sparkling wine of some sort at least once a week.  So it’s perhaps not surprising that operators who have invested in a Le Verre de Vin or a Pod Bar have responded by increasing the range and price points of Champagnes and sparkling wines they’re offering ‘by the flute’.
 
Opening up this profitable and growing market (UK consumption of ‘sparklers’ has been growing annually for the past decade) has seen our customers sales of ‘Fizz by the flute’ increase dramatically during the last 6 to 12 months.  The results are so spectacular that there’s almost a bit of cloak and dagger about it!!  Selling more sparklers/Champers, at higher average prices, with no waste….. no wonder there’s a ‘shhhhhh’ about the profits!
 
If you’d like to set your fizz sales on fire, give us a call on 01473 612062 or email info@bermar.co.uk to find out more about our range of wine and Champagne preservation and service systems.  We’ll also send you details of the new, stand-alone Champagne preservation system, La Flute.  Imagine being able to offer a fabulous range of sparklers and Champagne with no risk of wastage and a guarantee that the wine’s aroma, flavour and mousse will be delivered perfectly in each and every flute….
 
Our award winning systems, are compact, easy to install and will re-seal multiple open bottles in seconds….. and with retail prices starting at just £995.00 + VAT, what’s not to love?
 
Latest trends in the ‘Fizz’ market
Now, perhaps for the first time, there’s a valid argument that there is such an animal as a ‘committed sparkling wine drinker’. Those who consume at least once a month – represent 90% of the market by volume; they are slightly more likely to be women than men, but divided fairly evenly across the generations and social spectrum (41% are from the AB socio-economic group.)
 
Wine Intelligence found that 56% of alcohol drinkers enjoy sparkling wine of some sort at least once a year – not far behind the number that drink beer
 
What’s driving ‘Fizz’ sales?
The role of Prosecco in driving sales has been widely acknowledged although consumer data shows that it’s not just Prosecco that’s been performing strongly. Champagne continues to hold its own in the restaurant trade although it’s now matched by New World sparklers.  Prosecco is close behind, with English sparkling wine perhaps a surprise contender.
 
Will the trend continue?
The great news is that apparently we can expect sparkling wine’s upward curve to continue.  Richard Halstead, COO of Wine Intelligence says growth is “a trend that is largely independent of economic conditions” and the vast majority of sparkling wine drinkers foresee no change in their drinking habits in the coming year. In 2012 it seems that the UK sparkling wine market will have much to celebrate.
 
For more information about our extensive range of wine and Champagne preservation and service systems, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
 

I have abandoned house wines in favour of extending the 'Special Selections' to cover a wider price range. I aim to combine the lesser known with the classics and hope you find choosing easy but please ask me if you would like any suggestions or details of any wine in any price bracket.

Two years after it was first launched and already hailed as a ‘design classic’ the Pod Bar concept has evolved!!... and Restaurant Show 2011 visitors were wowed by the launch of Pod Bar2, which boasts more features and even greater flexibility.

…and to showcase the flexibility of our latest development we demonstrated temperature controlled, wine and Champagne by the glass systems, for operators wishing to offer between 8 and 500 wines by the glass!!..... You read that right; we showcased the world's first ever 500 wine by the glass, wine bar!

Click here to see some pictures of our giant Pod Bar >>

2011 – Bermar’s Year of Wine By The Glass

Thousands of the UK’s on-trade operators are yet to take the leap and introduce an extended wine and Champagne by the glass service into their businesses. In 2011, the ‘Year of Wine by the Glass’, taking the plunge couldn’t be better timed or more straightforward.

Consumers are more wine savvy than ever before and they’re ready and willing to trade up wherever there’s a great service and something ‘a little different’ on offer. October sees the long promised introduction of laws that allow the sale of wine tastes (below 75ml). Using Bermar’s world renowned Le Verre de Vin wine preservation systems, any operator can maximize the potential of these changes and can profitably add tastes, samples and flights to further enhance a great wine by the glass offer.

The unique, patented technology incorporated in each and every Bermar system has proved the test of time with more than 37000 users investing in Le Verre de Vin systems over the course of the last two decades. During this time Bermar’s range of products has grown dramatically and is now perfectly matched to the needs of a contemporary wine service - anywhere from corner pubs to Michelin 3 star restaurants. In 2009, Bermar launched ‘Pod Bar’; a range of modular, temperature controlled, wine by the glass cabinets which were readily embraced by leading hospitality operators looking to further enhance their wine and Champagne by the glass service. Already hailed as a ‘design classic’, the Pod concept has been further enhanced by Bermar’s technical team – culminating in the development of Pod Bar2, which will be unveiled at the 2011 Restaurant Show in London.

Pod Bar2 cabinets have a superb design and can easily be combined with the new Le Verre de Vin ‘Tower’ range of wine and Champagne preservation systems. Simply by adding any number of Pod modules to a proven ‘framework design’, you really can build a ‘Pod Bar to fit your business and your budget’! What’s more, additional temperature controlled modules can be added at any stage. At last….. beautifully preserved glasses and tastes of wine and Champagne, served at perfect temperature from attractive, individually lit and temperature controlled display cabinets…. wine heaven!

To demonstrate the flexibility of Pod Bar2, Bermar have created a visually exciting display for the Restaurant Show featuring a number of temperature controlled, wine and Champagne by the glass systems….…ranging from 8 to 500 wines by the glass..... yes, you read that right, Bermar will be showcasing the world's first ever 500 wine by the glass, wine bar.

Come along to stands F119 & F120 at the Restaurant Show to experience the Pod Bar2 for yourself and find out how you can use Bermar’s unique range of professional, preservation systems to enhance your wine service, and boost your profits.

Extract from wine.dine.everything fine - a blog by Eiling Lim

(http://eiling.blogspot.com)

Besides being a restaurant with no menu as Chef max calls the shot, it is also afterall going to be the 1st restaurant in the region to serve all the legendary 1st growths of Bordeaux by the GLASS.

The bottles that were opened for indulgence that evening includes aChateau Haut-Brion, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau d'Yquemall of which are of the 2001 vintage. We were given an introduction by Lionel Lau, co-owner of Millesime whom has been in the wine industry for many years.

“Allthe wines are from either the 2000 or the 2001 vintage, which we believe are drinking perfectly right now,” said Max Chin, chef and co-owner of Millesime. “We have a temperature controlled wine room and a Le Verre de Vin preservation system from Europe and this allows us to offer our customers this unique experience".

All the latest 'Tweets' from the World of Le Verre de Vin

	@LeVerredeVinBermar International Wolfgang Puck's European debut CUT@45ParkLaneUK...WOW! Le Verre de Vin installed yesterday, underpinning a superb wine list!
	@LeVerredeVinBermar International Return of the Quad! – More stunning pics from@TownhouseIpshttp://tinyurl.com/3b3ynmq(offering all their wines ‘by the glass’)
	@LeVerredeVinBermar International Flights of wine continue to soar – this time@caxtongrillhttp://tinyurl.com/3rugjup– great#winebytheglasswith Le Verre de Vin
	@LeVerredeVinBermar International We are delighted to announce 2 new additions to ‘Team Bermar’ – Warm welcome James (Export Sales) & Dylan (production & QC)
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Quad-Pod Bar @TownhouseIps WOW! - 1 fridge for whites, 1 for reds, 1 for rose & 1 for Champagnes... PERFECT #wineb http://twitpic.com/5sewrh
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International   First Class Flights take off with Le Verre de Vin at newly refurbished Halkin Bar, London http://t.co/Dxnc34d ...check in!
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Summer drinking habits: 30% choose white, 22% rose & 25% increase in going to the pub. It's all about On-Trade.. if the wine offer is right.
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Gr8 wine list @chiswelldining the 8th ETM venue to use Le Verre de Vin: 30+ on 'by the glass' incl. 2 English @ChapelDownWines sparklings
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International   Great Le Verre de Vin Quad-Pod Bar installation picture from WWW Shop & Bar, Nairobi - 40+ wines by the glass http://twitpic.com/5j4kd4
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International   "We use Le Verre de Vin as a vehicle to up the ante on #winebytheglass & offer our high end wines by the glass" Nick Barrett, Scutchers
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Find us in the next issue of Host Magazine - who asked us how to make more from wine by the glass http://twitpic.com/5csa7d
	@HawksmoorLondon Will   @LeVerredeVin Thanks for the RT!
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International It's a Pod Bar trio 4 @HawksmoorLondon: Seven Dials, Spitafields & Guildhall (opening Oct) http://twi.to/byiq Gr8 Steak Gr8 #winebytheglass
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Great @SquareMeal review for @jose_pizarro's new tapas & sherry bar: 18 sherrys by the glass! http://tinyurl.com/3p2xat9 excellent!
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International This is a fantastic 'Flights' service at Crú, Dallas using Le Verre de Vin... Cruising the Crú Scene http://t.co/28p6QQN
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International CAFE BUSINESS magazine - March/April - "Looking at Licensing"... Le Verre de VIn is the answer to #winebytheglass http://twitpic.com/4trx91
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Chatting about Carafes: reminded me of some great offers incl @corrigans @arbutushoney & @alimentum1 worth a look http://tinyurl.com/5tu99dj
	@ExCellarWine ExCellar Wine   @LeVerredeVin Thanks - only just saw this. We just love the POD BAR....Free wine on tasting every day!!!
	@Merchant_House MerchantHouseJersey @leverredevin Everything is going great there, very busy all the time and it looks great!
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International #wine by the glass has never looked so good!... http://tinyurl.com/62kg976
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International #LIWF we're going! r u? On show, the very latest in 'wine by the glass' equipment, marketing tips & general wine based chat! more info soon
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Tastings galore at the @HouseofTownend Cellar Door facility in Melton, Hull - with @leverredevin Quad Pod cabinet http://twitpic.com/4fc8uw
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International @mYquem d'Yquem '99 #bytheglass @boisdate belgravia & bishopsgate. LeVerredeVin users since 98 +recent installation at new Canary Wharf site
	@mYquem Château d'Yquem #YquemByTheGlass RT @BobBobRicard : 1996 Yquem is our biggest selling sweet wine this week, ahead of even the house dessert wine!
	@DunellsWines Dunells Premier Wine At the new @Merchant_House. First restaurant/wine bar in Jersey to use the @LeVerredeVin Quad Pods. http://yfrog.com/h8sikiukj
	@BobBobRicard Bob Bob Ricard More 1996 d'Yquem arriving, sold a case by the glass in the first week! http://twitpic.com/40phka
	@BobBobRicard Bob Bob Ricard @LeVerredeVin Just spent the morning pressurising champagne bottles with one of your machines. The most satisfying thing I've done for ages.
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International NEW WEBSITE - NEW PRODUCTS & LOWEST EVER PRICING! Check out the all NEW http://www.bermarcollection.com for all the latest innovations
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International The new ‘Tower’ in London - That’s the all new ‘Le Verre de Vin Tower’ already at The Garrick Club & Bob Bob Ricard http://wp.me/puuys-1x
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Check out the 'Quad-Pod Bar' in the brand new & stunningly sophisticated, Bodega Wine Bar at Le Royal Hotel, Amman http://twitpic.com/3xfw9u
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Do our customers trust Le Verre de Vin to protect their wines on sale by the glass? Lafite 1989 £225 a glass @ The Lanesborough. I think so!
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Two new Le Verre de Vin systems at 'Dinner By Heston Blumenthal' today - 16 years after Le Verre de Vin was first installed at The Fat Duck.
	@LeVerredeVin Bermar International Wine by the glass is endemic in London!.... what recession?http://wp.me/puuys-1s
	Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/leverredevin

Bermar Facebook page up and running!

The World of Wine By The Glass!... customer news and reviews, photos from around the globe, wine by the glass tips and more.

On Facebook? Sign in and take a look >>

In the wake of a varied Christmas trading period for the retail sector, the clouds of recession seem to have well and truly bypassed the London restaurant scene.

Late 2010 and early 2011 saw huge investment in the capital’s hospitality industry, not least of all the £220m refurbishment of the Savoy Hotel which re-opened it’s doors in October. With countless other high profile openings over the last few months London’s message is clear… recession or no recession, the customers are here and they’re ready and willing to spend.

Wine by the glass is higher on the ‘refit agenda’ of hotels and bars than ever before and we are delighted to report that Le Verre de Vin is the preservation system of choice for just about every high profile new opening! In the last 5 months alone Bermar engineers have installed over 40 Le Verre de Vin systems in Greater London including the fantastic:

Roux at Parliament Square

 

Bar Boulud at The Mandarin Oriental,

Hyde Park Daniel Boulud, whose culinary empire spans the globe and includes the renowned 3 Michelin star restaurant ‘Daniel’ in New York, has recently opened his latest venture in the heart of Knightsbridge. As with all his establishments, Le Verre de Vin technology lies at the heart of an excellent ‘by the glass’ list – in this case, stretching to nearly 40 choices.

 

The Savoy Hotel

The Lanesborough Hotel

The IWSC have just released video footage from their Awards Banquet.

Check out the video clip with Anne Jones of Waitrose commenting on winning the Bermar sponsored Wine Retailer of the Year Trophy.

The award was presented by Bermar Sales Director, David Boxall.

Click the thumbnail to view video

The 2010 IWSC Awards Banquet was held on Wednesday (17th Nov) at the Guildhall, London, with the who’s who of the wine industry in attendance.

Waitrose fended off tough competition from the likes of Marks and Spencer and Sainsburys to be crowned the IWSC Wine Retailer of the Year – sponsored by Bermar (International) Ltd.

Judges for the category unanimously agreed that Waitrose performed consistantly well in each of the judging stages. Team Waitrose also retained the European Retail Wine Buyer award which they won at the 2009 IWSC awards.

Bermar Sales Director David Boxall presents the IWSC Retailer of the Year award to Anne Jones of Waitrose

If you’re wondering why Bermar – historically associated with their success developing On-Trade wine service – supported a ‘retailer’ award, then here’s your answer. In-store merchandising, education and innovation were listed in the key IWSC judging criteria for the wine retailer award and what better way to satisfy all three than by offering in-store taste before you buy initiatives? Something that Bermar are keen to champion.

Since Bermar launched ‘Pod Bar’ last year it has not only found a home in the On-Trade, but has also become the vehicle of choice for retailers wishing to cash in on the popular ‘try before you buy’ concept.

Bermar are working alongside Oddbins with their fantastic new ‘taste before you buy’ initiative, allowing customers a complimentary taste before they make a purchase. The ‘Pod’s’ ensure that every taste is served in perfect condition by resealing every opened bottle including the Champagnes and sparklers.

“We’re keen to build on the success we’re already seeing with Pod Bar in the Off-Trade as the cabinet of choice for retailers. Supporting the IWSC ‘Wine Retailer of the Year’ was a prime opportunity for us” explains David Boxall, Bermar Sales Director, shortly after presenting the award to Anne Jones of Waitrose.

For further details please contact:

Adam Button

Marketing Manager

Bermar (International) Ltd

T: +44 (0)1473 612062

F: +44 (0)1473 612043

E: adam.button@bermar.co.uk