SIBA chairman Buster Grant steps down

The Society of Independent Brewers’ Association’s (SIBA) chairman Buster Grant has stepped down from his role with immediate affect.

The chairman stepped down one month after SIBA’s annual trade show, BeerX.

Grant, who was elected to the position back in March 2017, said he was resigning from SIBA in order to “dedicate more time to his business activities”, according to an emailed statement.

Mike Benner, Chief Executive said, “I would like to thank Buster for his hard work, dedication and leadership since his election to the Chair in March 2017 and wish him the very best of luck for the future.

A SIBA spokesperson declined to provide further comment.

The news comes just one month after BeerX, SIBA’s annual trade show, where a motion proposed by Grant was rejected by a slim majority.

The motion suggested that SIBA would make changes to its membership threshold which, if it had succeeded, would have enabled larger brands such as Fuller’s to be included in the organisation’s membership scheme and vote on future policies.

The proposed guidelines meant that any brewer wanting to join SIBA could not have a total production over 1% of total UK beer sales, the equivalent of around 430hl of beer per annum.

The motion was rejected by a majority of just three votes.

Speaking at the time of his election, Grant said that the industry faced both a large “number of threats and opportunities.”

“However, I see mostly opportunities, and I’m delighted to be working…towards a goal of a more professional industry, with a real focus on quality products, sustainable business and fair access to market for all of our members, whatever their size.”

Ian Fozard, SIBA’s vice chair will provide leadership for the organisation until a new new election can take place.