• Bars and restaurants can reopen their terraces this Wednesday as part of the first phase of deconfinement.

  • In Brittany, where the number of bistros is very high, beer producers have made stocks to ensure the reopening.

  • Some fear some supply shortages after more than six months of closure of establishments.

“We've been on the war footing for a month. We anticipated the reopening a bit, so as not to be surprised ”. Marc-Olivier Bernard is a prudent man. Director of the Brasserie de Bretagne, the man gathered his teams to replenish beer stocks in his brand new factory. And in particular to produce barrels, with a view to the reopening of bars and restaurants, whose terraces will finally emerge this Wednesday. "We wanted to send a positive message to our customers, not to miss this meeting", continues the manager.

Driven by the dynamism of sales in cellars and supermarkets, the first Breton brewer had not really slowed down production.

But he had clearly abandoned the barrels and even had to throw out some, brewed last summer.

The Concarneau company (Finistère) which produces Britt, Sant Erwann or Dremmwel was far from imagining that bars would close all winter.

people on the terrace in Brittany on Wednesday pic.twitter.com/ZOY6gRuEvk

- ᪥ elo 🇵🇸 (@eIowner) May 17, 2021

This halt has prompted some brewers to remain more cautious. At Skumenn, in Cesson-Sévigné, the "recovery" will be more smooth. The craft brewery located near Rennes preferred to maintain its production in bottles, while filling a few barrels for its regular customers. “We are a little afraid of the yo-yo because we always have doubts about the sustainability of the opening of bars. We played it safe and we are a bit late, ”recognizes Stéphane Le Boucher, one of the founders.

Plagued by the closure at the end of October, his small company had opted for distribution in bottles.

“Our capacity for the hotel and catering industry has been cut, but we are going to wet the jersey to be ready for the bistros.

It's important, because it's been a while since we've seen each other, ”says Skumenn's boss.

In October, the brewery opened its charming wooden pub ... before closing it a few days later.

An English shortage?

This Wednesday, the wait will undoubtedly be great around the large outdoor spaces. Deprived of their bars for more than six months, the Bretons will undoubtedly return there in numbers. The region is one of those with the most bistros per inhabitant. Should we fear a shortage like what the English experienced when their pubs reopened? “I know the English market well. It has nothing to do. Some had posed a day off. I readily believe in the shot in France but not in a huge rush, ”explains Marc-Olivier Bernard.

Note, however, that some are more fearful.

Owner of Atlantique Boissons, in Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande, Jean-Jacques Barre has placed a good number of orders to replenish his stocks in order to deliver his customers.

“I struggled so hard last year that I didn't want to do it again.

With the suppliers, we kept arguing.

But I have the impression that some are already struggling to provide.

There are some tensions among suppliers ”.

The wholesaler has the feeling that the activity "will restart strongly enough".

Even if the weather will not be good.

Evil tongues will say that the Bretons are used to it.

Bordeaux

Deconfinement in Bordeaux: “Even if it rains heavily, we'll be there!

», Launches a restaurateur

Society

Coronavirus in Brittany: Barely created, already awarded ... Groix's ambitious beer curbed in its thirst for glory

  • Restaurant

  • Apero

  • Bar

  • Deconfinement

  • Covid 19

  • Coronavirus

  • Beer

  • Brewery

  • Reindeer

  • Society