David Meade hands out a Smooth boost for new beer

ONE of the toughest business sectors was given a boost recently with the launch of an innovative new product … and some cunning advice from television’s favourite mentalist, academic and internationally acclaimed business motivator, David Meade.

Drinks sector leaders and licensees from the Province’s pubs and clubs gathered to find out about Caledonia Smooth, an imaginative new beer for Northern Ireland.

Caledonia Smooth is being hailed as the ‘next big thing’, but Tennent’s NI, the company behind it, ensured its launch was every bit as innovative as the product itself, recruiting mentalist, psychologist and business expert David Meade to introduce what is already the sector’s ‘talked-about brand’. He gave publicans some insider advice on how to excite consumers and ‘psych’ them into taking that first sip of something different.

Nicola McCleery from Tennent’s NI says, “As a business we’ve always been committed to innovation and that ethos has never been more valuable than in today’s challenging marketplace. The licensed trade has been buffeted by the twin effects of austere times and changing leisure patterns and we believe that, to survive and prosper, we all need to be doing things not only differently, but also better.

“Having the advice of a television mentalist is certainly a fresh approach, but, however entertaining, it wasn’t simply an attention-grabbing novelty. David’s charismatic and entertaining television personality is already well known to national tv audiences and he has earned a serious international reputation as an inspiring, motivational speaker, complementing an academic career as a university lecturer here in Northern Ireland and visiting lecturer in North America. He brought not only business acumen and vision, but also hands-on experience of bar and hotel management gained on major projects in the US. That’s a fabulous blend which sits perfectly with the all-new Caledonia Smooth . . . itself a fabulous blend!

“We were delighted to re-emphasise our ongoing investment and innovation programme with the unveiling of this amazing new product to a professional audience who clearly appreciated both its qualities and its capacity to help us all to do better business, even in times of austerity. While advice from the inside track on how we can best influence and please our customers is always welcome, we all know that nothing is as attractive to the consumer as great quality products backed up with quality, excellent service and an attractive price point.”

The launch initiated licensees in the art of pouring Caledonia Smooth correctly, focusing on the origins and qualities of the product. Taking the trade through the product paces was the creative F & B Partnership, celebrated for quirky workshops specially created for the food and beverage sector.

Nicola McCleery says, “Innovation is at the very core of the Tennent’s NI business and we like to pack a few surprises and a fresh approach into everything we do, but the real surprise of our launch – and the undoubted star – was of course the product itself. Born of heritage, Tennent’s unique brewing skills and our customary market insight, Caledonia Smooth is an entirely new drinking experience and it is one which we feel will bring commercial benefits to our partners in the licensed trade.”