The Intermedia Group has acquired the oldest and largest group of hospitality-related print and digital titles targeting the restaurant, caf and foodservice sector from Cirrus Media.
Effective 1 September 2015, Intermedia has acquired the foodservice industry’s longest serving trade title – Hospitality Magazine, its twice weekly email newsletter and online masthead, and the leading trade directory for the sector – www.gohospitality.com.au.
The existing editorial and sales team comprising Editor – Danielle Bowling, Journalist – Aoife Boothroyd and Sales Manager – Rhonnie Merry, have been retained and will be based at the Intermedia head office at Glebe in Sydney.
The Hospitality group of titles will be managed by Intermedia Group Publisher – Paul Wootton, who was previously an editor of hospitality trade titles in the UK including Restaurant Magazine from 2007-2010 and prior to this bartending title, Class, from 2001 to 2007. During his 20-year publishing career, Wootton also launched the UK Bar Awards, the National Restaurant Awards and was also instrumental in the establishment of the World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards. In 2010, Restaurant was named the best business magazine in the UK.
“The Hospitality team is excited to be part of The Intermedia Group,” said group editor, Danielle Bowling.
“We feel that Intermedia’s existing presence in the food and beverage sector will both support and enhance our offering and allow us to deliver more engaging content to our audience,” she said.
“We have plans to improve and expand our print and digital offering over the coming months and we feel as though Intermedia is the best partner to help us to take the products to the next level.
“I would like to acknowledge the previous publishers who have helped to establish the product as the industry’s leading business to business title since it was launched in 1967.”
The Intermedia Group managing director, Simon Grover, said the acquisition fits perfectly within the existing portfolio of the company’s food and hospitality-related products.
“This acquisition for Intermedia has grown the Liquor and Hospitality Group to over 20 separate company-owned and managed print, digital and face-to-face products within this vibrant and ever-changing sector.”
Alongside Hospitality Magazine, www.hospitalitymagazine.com.au and www.gohospitality.com.au, Intermedia also publishes Sauce magazine, Australian Hotelier magazine, Hotel Management magazine and www.hotelmanagement.com.au, National Liquor News magazine, Spice magazine and www.spicenews.com.au, A -List Guide, Events Uncovered, The Shout (www.theshout.com.au) and Club Management.
In July 2014, Intermedia launched a New Zealand subsidiary including print and digital products – Hospitality Business and www.hospitalitybusiness.com.au as well as FMCG Business and www.fmcgbusiness.com.au.
The Intermedia Group also runs five key events in the hospitality industry: ALIA – the Australian Liquor Industry Awards (www.liquorawards.com.au), HM Awards (www.hmawards.com.au), AHICE (www.ahice.com.au), Events Uncovered and Top Shelf (www.topshelfshow.com.au).
