Bacardi has named Team USA winners of the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup 2012, which took place at the vodka brand's home, New Zealand.

Direct Wines, the world's largest independent wine merchant with a turnover of £350 million, has announced major changes to its buying and merchandising teams.

Stella Artois is gearing up for its World Draught Masters final in Buenos Aires, having anointed a champion from its UK heat.

Diageo has announced the launch of Catalyst, a stand-alone group that will focus exclusively on what it describes as high potential brands.

Beam Global has appointed Debora Boyda to the role of general manager of the Mixables Category Business Team (CBT). 

UK cider producer Aspall is to restructure its business and invest £4m following “40% volume growth” last year.

Rémy Cointreau has announced “important” director-level changes to its Global Travel Retail (GTR) team, in the shape of the appointments of Matthew Hodges and Simon Roffe.

Brown-Forman Duty Free has announced the appointments  of Pierre-Hubert Plessis, Susanna Leslie and Hannah Lyons, effective immediately.

The Bacardi Global Travel Retail Division has announced three director-level appointments in a bid to “create a leadership team with a wealth of experience and global expertise”.

Swedish vodka brand DQ has re-launched to the UK, following the restructuring of parent company Nordic Spirit.

Team Italy has won the 2011 42 Below Cocktail World Cup.

Diageo has struck an agreement to acquire Turkey's "leading" spirits company, Mey Içki.

Carlsberg, the official beer of the England football team, has launched its new TV advert in the build-up to this year’s World Cup.

US: Diageo’s Jose Cuervo has launched CuervoGames, an experiential marketing campaign.