Naked Wines stock decreased by 3% this morning after the online retailer posted an annual pre-tax loss of £10.7 million.

Diageo shareholders were toasting chief executive Ivan Menezes after he said they can expect to receive billions of pounds in share buybacks or special dividends. The Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and Guinness producer announced that organic profit should grow by at least 14% in the year to 30 June.

Korean Soju giant Jinro has topped Drinks International's The Millionaire Club for the 20th year in a row having added 9m 9-litre cases in 2020.

Amber Beverage Group (ABG) has reported that net revenues in 2020 remained at 2019 levels despite an 8.4% drop in volumes due to the global pandemic.

Diageo stock increased by 4% this morning after it announced an improved profit growth forecast for the 2021 fiscal year.

Stock Spirits Group increased volume sales by 2% to 8.3 million 9-litre cases in the six months to March 31.

Organic net sales at Campari Group increased by 17.9% to reach €397.9 million in the first three months of 2021.

A synchronised sigh of relief was heard right across the Armagnac region last year as the news broke of Donald Trump’s defeat in the US election.

Jagermeister Scholarship, a programme that traditionally gives young bartenders the chance of a three-month internship in Berlin’s bars, will be hosted digitally for the second year running.

Lucas Bols has reported an estimated 32% year-on-year decline in revenue for the 2020/21 financial year after widespread on-trade closures and travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Henkell Freixenet has reported that net sales decreased by 7.4% year-on-year in 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic caused bars and restaurants to close for several months.

Oscar Oliveras has won the prestigious Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year award for this image of Semillon grapes being gathered in Saussignac, France.

Carlsberg has reported organic volume sales growth of 11.5% for the first three months of 2021.

Global Bartending Talent Agency is launching an online marketplace that connects cocktail lovers with some of the world’s best bars.

Buffalo Trace has released its annual supply of Kosher whiskey which is set to arrive at retail in May this year.

The Savoy in London has partnered with Bowmore single malt scotch whisky to launch the hotel’s first ever pop up terrace called Solas.

Kirker Greer Spirits has launched in France after securing a deal with wine and spirits importer, Maison Milhade.

Independent whisky bottlers Single Malts of Scotland has added new 11-year-old whiskies as part of its Reserve Casks range.

According to the Champagne Bureau USA, the exports of champagne to the US fell almost 19% in 2020 year-on-year.

While New Zealand has managed the pandemic better than most, a lack of tourism and difficulties with shipping have taken a toll on wine sales. Martin Green reports.

Leading Chilean wine producer Concha y Toro increased net profit by 48.6% to Ch$77,994 million (US$107.4 million) in 2020.

Glenfiddich has bolstered its Grand Series range with the launch of a 26 Year Old Speyside malt called Grande Couronne.

An ambitious start-up aims to turn hard seltzers into a hot summer drinks trend within the UK market.

Fever-Tree has announced full year revenue declines of 3% year-on-year for for the financial year ending 31 December 2020.

Pure Piraña, Heineken’s hard seltzer brand, has announced an expansion into Europe following its exports into Mexico and New Zealand last year.

The UK government has announced a second consecutive duty freeze on spirits, wine, beer and cider.

Trade shows – remember them? Before the world stopped we’d have attended a number of them throughout the year and be able to look down the list of recognisable guest speakers with their seminar titles. They were a source of great education which had been curated by the organisers to provide a spread of credible, engaging information.

Louis Roederer has been crowned The World’s Most Admired Champagne Brand for the second year in a row.

More than 31 million bottles of the I Heart wine brand were sold in 2020 after it enjoyed significant growth in several international markets.

Bowmore has launched a limited-edition 31 Year Old single malt into the travel retail channel as part of its Timeless Series collection.

Campari Group has reported that net adjusted profit decreased 24.4% year-on-year to €202.1 million in 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kendall Jenner has become the latest celebrity to launch a tequila brand with the release of 818 Tequila on Tuesday 16 February.

Elixir Distillers has been granted permission to build a new distillery in Islay with construction set to begin this year.

Heineken has announced plans to cut 8,000 jobs as part of an organisational restructuring effort designed to save €2 billion by 2023.

Premium rosé, ecommerce and innovation in packaging will form the bedrock of Foncalieu’s strategy as it bids to enjoy a strong commercial performance in 2021.

Remy Cointreau has reported 25.1% sales growth for the final three months of 2020.

U.S. online retailer Wine.com has revealed that revenue increased 119% year-on-year to reach $329 million during 2020.

The alcoholic drinks category led the charge as UK supermarkets enjoyed their strongest ever Christmas trading period, according to Nielsen till scan data.

Whyte & Mackay master distiller Richard Paterson was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to the Scotch whisky industry.

Turkey has increased its special consumption tax on alcoholic beverages by 17.1%, according to Istanbul daily Habertürk.

Ecommerce has broken into markets that barely knew it existed pre-pandemic - and forcasts for the alcohholic drinks sector are very positive. Martin Green reports.

China has slapped a 212% tariff on Australian wine as diplomatic tensions between the two nations continue to mount.

Online retailer Master of Malt aims to spread some much-needed festive cheer by relaunching its popular #WhiskySanta promotion.

Leading US online retailer Wine.com has reported a 217% year-on-year revenue increase for the six months to September 30.

Drinks International caught up with Naked Wines’ chief financial officer James Crawford to discuss the firm’s impressive H1 results.

Naked Wines enjoyed 79.6% revenue growth in the six months to September 28 after demand for online wine purchases soared during the lockdown.

The global drinks industry will enjoy a better than expected performance in 2020 as a result of dynamism in ecommerce and retail, according to new IWSR forecasts.

Renowned South African winemaker Bruce Jack speaks to Drinks International about the challenges the industry has faced this year and its future prospects.

Chivas Brothers has released a single malt collection featuring 48 single cask expressions from across its 13 Scotch whisky distilleries.