Food & Beverage Media, part of The Intermedia Group and publisher of Hospitality, Australian Hotelier, and National Liquor News, has launched a new title serving Australia’s huge licensed clubs market. Club Management comprises a website, a weekly newsletter, a quarterly print magazine and three social channels.
Grant Jones, the former food editor of The Daily Telegraph in Sydney, has been appointed editor of the new publication.
Targeting senior professionals within clubs, Club Management features the latest news, profiles of leaders in the industry, insight on upcoming trends, new product launches, and advice on how club operators can grow both their patronage and their revenue.
There’ll be a particular focus on F&B, entertainment and gaming, operations and best business practice, staffing, design and development.
Paul Wootton, Food & Beverage Media’s managing director, explained why the time was right to create a title for the clubs sector.
“Clubs are a $7bn-a-year industry,” he said. “They’re part of the fabric of Australian culture and in many instances are the lifeblood of a community. But the landscape is changing, and the pandemic has accelerated that. Whether it’s staff shortages, increased scrutiny around gaming or the demands of more discerning consumers, the sector faces significant challenges.
“But despite this, and in some cases, because of it, there are big opportunities too, particularly for the large clubs able to diversify and for smaller clubs willing to tailor their offering to demand.
“We’re already seeing clubs expanding their offerings with standalone restaurants and cafes, gyms, child-care facilities, accommodation – the list goes on.”
The response to the launch had been very encouraging, Wootton added. “The appetite from advertisers has been very healthy, there’s been good engagement from readers across digital and social, and our first print issue has exceeded all expectations, with the planned 36-page magazine quickly expanding to 92 pages. The latter suggests, as we’re finding with our other titles, there’s still plenty of life and interest in print media.”
Food & Beverage Media has assembled an experienced team to produce Club Management.
Editor Grant Jones is the former food editor of The Daily Telegraph in Sydney and has spent over 10 years writing about and working with clubs.
Commercial director Simon York is a media sales and marketing specialist who heads up sales and partnerships for Club Management, in addition to his work selling Hospitality magazine.
Shane T Williams, general manager sales of liquor & hospitality, heads up sales for Food & Beverage Media’s liquor titles and will sell liquor advertising into Club Management.
Art director Kea Thorburn is responsible for the design of many of Food & Beverage Media’s titles and will look after Club Management, too.
In July, the team will be further boosted when Vanessa Cavasinni returns to the company as group managing editor of both Australian Hotelier and Club Management.