Hiver – Independent Retailer of the Year 2019

A unique Bermondsey brewery is enjoying a boom in business since its triumph as Southwark’s ‘Independent Retailer of the Year’ 2019.

Hiver, specialising in honey beer, was announced as the category winner at the Southwark Business Excellence Award’s Gala Dinner last June.

The business has three thriving elements–  selling beer to pubs, bars, restaurants and shops, the taproom, and a beekeeping and beer-tasting experience –alongside proud local roots and a ‘give-back ethos’, marked Hiver out for judges as a worthy winner. The company is continuing on its growth trajectory while remaining firmly anchored in the community.

Marketing Manager, Dean Lavender, said: “Being independent is really important and we’re really proud of that. There’s a lot of independents around here and there are a lot of places to eat and drink in the area. Winning the award gives you more credibility. If you’re going to go to one taproom, you’re going to go to the one that’s certified ‘best local independent business’ by a respected authority such as the SBEA. We have the award behind the bar and it is a point of reassurance for people who come here.”

Hiver beer is sold into bars and pubs such as those owned by Tom Kerridge, as well as restaurants, hotels and supermarkets including M&S and Sainsbury’s. This spring, Hiver is launching two new beer brands which will sit alongside the renowned honey beer.

Customers are thronging to Hiver’s taproom and shop at Arch 56 Stanworth Street which is becoming something of a destination alongside the Maltby Street Market and its popular street food.

Ten per cent of Hiver profits are returned to UK pollinator charities and urban space projects and the company invests in local suppliers, from caterers and beekeepers, to carpenters who are making a new bar from reclaimed wood.

Hiver’s sell-out beekeeping and beer-tasting experience in Kennington Park attracts around 3,000 people over the weekends from April to September each summer. Last summer, a new experience was launched at Albourne Estate, a vineyard in Sussex which is proving to be just as popular.

Dean said: “We’ve had amazing feedback on our experiences and are looking to grow that and put on some more events at the taproom. We have had a lot more private bookings recently and a lot of companies had their Christmas parties here including Ocado Life magazine and Visit Britain.”

Entering the Southwark Business Excellence Awards, was a great opportunity to give the business a health-check as well as being a validation of its achievements.

“It’s definitely, definitely worth it,” Dean said. “The process is robust, it is very fair and the result, especially winning of course, makes you extremely proud. But whether you win or not, it’s going to shine a light on the great things you have done and with a fresh pair of eyes, on what you can achieve.”