Since his first encounter with Budweiser Budvar in 1990 as Whitbread London free trade director Joe Laventure admits to a long and unflagging passion for the brand in a journey which has taken him via Brakspear and Ridley to Budvar UK itself, first as national accounts director and now, with the retirement of Budvar stalwart Neville Hall this month (January) as sales director.
Laventure also admits that his love for Budvar was often somewhat clandestine. “ I found myself a lager drinker selling cask ales” he said. “Obviously I drank and enjoyed those fine brews, but found myself seeking out a bottle of Budvar whenever the chance presented itself”. Indeed it was thanks to the Laventure’s attachment to Budvar that it was listed highly successfully by both Brakspear and Ridley.
The sales directorship gives Laventure a seat on the Budvar UK board along with CEO Tony Jennings, chairman Renata Pankova , Robert Chrt and Lubomir Lojda. Pankova is responsible for all of the Czech brewery’s subsidiaries and export markets, Chrt is main board director of the brewery responsible for commercial policy and Lojda is financial director.
“Thanks to Neville I am inheriting a well-run and highly motivated team at Budvar UK which with the continued 100% support we receive from our Czech colleagues is easily able to withstand any turbulence” says Laventure. “We’re not sanguine about this however and we recognise the brand still has a long way to go in developing its UK market and it’s now my job to ensure that this happens”.
