DUBLINER Hugh Grainger is on line to brew up a fortune

News of the World 27th August 2000 DUBLINER Hugh Grainger is on line to brew up a fortune after launching Ireland's first pub supply business on the internet.

The drinks-on-demand gu-ru's brilliantly simple website gives pubs and hotels the chance to order food and drink stocks at the click of a button.

Now experts reckon his site PubXchange.com is likely to net millions as more and more leading brands, landlords and hotel managers catch on.

Bosses can order stocks of beer, soft drinks, food and hygiene products direct from suppliers at the new site.

Top brands are among the customers currently trying out the new system - including Irish Distillers, Coca-Cola plus Beamish and Crawford.

Top Dublin pubs and hotels such as the Merrion Hotel, Harry Byrnes of Clontarf, Bar22 in Blackrock and Hugh's own family pub the Sheaf O'Wheat in Coolock have also signed up for the new service.

Launched in June, Hugh's company is the only internet-based supplier for the Irish hospitality industry.

And there are no half-measures -a password protection system keeps all orders safe from prying eyes.

"I'm very excited about the growth of PubXchange.com," Hugh told Money World. "Like most good ideas, PubXchange is a very simple one.

"Fundamental to most businesses is ordering stock and controlling purchases. We make that more efficient.

"The customer keeps his relationship with his suppliers but he just uses a technology solution to do so."

"There are about 12,000 licensed premises here in Ireland, including pubs, hotels, clubs and restaurants - the market is huge."

Hugh, 34, is a third generation mem- ber of a pub-owning Dublin family which runs Graingers in the Malahide Road, the Sheaf O'Wheat in Coolock and the Baldoyle House in Baldoyle.

The dad-of-three says he was practically "reared above a pub". He first became involved in the family business at the age of 12 and has worked in the pub trade ever since leaving school.

When his family bought a pub at Blackrock on Dublin's Southside, Hugh ran it for five years. He then established and ran a successful recruiting firm before setting up PubXchange.com earlier this year.

Hugh tells how the concept was born at a Licensed Vintners' Association din- ner dance. He hatched the idea with brother-in-law Richard Finnegan and the pair decided to pool their talents.

"Richard's background was logistics and operations in the IT sector," said Hugh. "Together we realised the enor- mous opportunity to combine hi-tech expertise with traditional buying methods in the virtually untapped licensed trade sector.

"Our strength comes from many years' management experience com- bined with an in-depth knowledge of the hospitality industry and the energy. awareness and enthusiasm of our staff."

He added: "We're also looking to take the site to the UK which has about 60,000 pubs and a further 60.000 licensed premises."

"The potential is enormous and the next 12 months could possibly be the busiest of my life!"

Back to articles