Delivering resilient in-store connectivity for Brewers

The Challenge

As Brewers expanded its footprint and embraced an omnichannel retail approach, it became evident that reliable, high-performance connectivity was essential to support both staff and customer needs in-store. The limitations of traditional connectivity models hindered the ability to quickly roll out new digital services, ensure secure transactions, and maintain a unified network experience across all 195 UK locations. Brewers needed a connectivity solution that would support fast, secure service activation and provide centralised management, ensuring every store could deliver a consistent, high-quality experience.

The Solution

Brewers explored options for transforming its network infrastructure, ultimately selecting a fully managed, bespoke mesh architecture built on Cisco Meraki SD-WAN, LAN, and Wi-Fi, delivered by Focus Group. This solution provided secure, resilient in-store connectivity with centralised network management, tailored to the needs of a nationwide retail estate. The partnership enabled Brewers to move away from fragmented connectivity and towards a centrally orchestrated, agile network environment. As James Cawthorne, IT Operations Manager at Brewers, shared: “Focus Group act as a seamless extension of our team, and they've been invaluable in enabling us to make more intelligent decisions, making our future vision a reality.”

The Results

Since deploying the managed SD-WAN and business broadband solution, Brewers has experienced a step-change in network responsiveness and reliability. Instant configuration and seamless update integration have accelerated service activation and reduced administrative overhead. The robust, end-to-end cyber security and consistently high-quality performance across all stores have empowered Brewers to deliver a superior in-store experience, supporting both staff productivity and customer satisfaction, and enabling the business to evolve with confidence.