Last week, we were proud to gather eight sustainable drinks brands as a collective to share stories, insights and learnings about how #WeGoBeyond as part of #BCorpMonth. It was a truly stand-out event for press, drinks writers, trade and guests at Good Company, a new tap café in Regent's Place by Toast Ale & Change Please, followed by an after-party at Lucky Saint’s newly opened pub The Lucky Saint in Marylebone.
From the UK’s furthest flung B Corp in the Hebridean Island of Islay, to newly certified B Corp brands changing the way we drink, it was inspiring to learn, connect and feel the buzz around the room.
Highlights included:
• Rosalind Holley, Director of Communications & Marketing at B Corp UK shared the progress of the movement thus far, from 564 B Corps at the end of last year to over 1,200 today. There are now 55,000 people in the UK working for a B Corp.
• Each brand shared their journey to B Corp, including Hattiers founder & CEO Philip Everett-Lyons, who also shared details of how he will cross Scotland in a canoe later this year with Mind to highlight mental health awareness in men.
• Guests sampled spirits, wine, beer and cocktails, as well as B Corp Certified canapes and nibbles from Pow Food and Sharpham Cheese while informally speaking with all eight host brands.
Philip said: “The theme of this year’s B Corp Month was ‘We Go Beyond’ so we devised an idea around a sustainable drinks cabinet. Hattiers took the lead and brought these seven other B Corp drinks brands together, all individual businesses with their own B Corp campaigns. Sapling Vodka, for example is planting more trees - highly fitting given the name of the brand.
The evening was designed to both celebrate B Corp Month and also show what companies like mine do beyond becoming B Corp accredited. For example , at Hattiers we are addressing Mental Awareness Week and I will be crossing Scotland in a canoe in a bid to highlight the fact that men of my age do not talk about mental health enough.
As a collective of B Corp drinks brands, we have the power to drive consumer and trade awareness around sustainability within drinks and following such fantastic feedback from the event I can say with certainty that there will be more to come from The Sustainable Drinks Cabinet as we work together again in the near future, watch this space!"
Here’s to B Corp Month and committing to using business as a force for good.
A HUGE thank you to all the brands involved - Hattiers Rum, Toast Ale, Sipsmith, Lucky Saint, The Uncommon, Bruichladdich, Sapling Spirits, SXOLLIE and Lixir Drinks.
We can't wait for the next one!