Freixenet has entered the French sparkling wine category with the launch of two expressions immediately available in the UK.

Independent cognac house Hine has appointed SipWell to drive its travel retail presence across the UK, US and Asia.

Spirits distributor Mangrove Global is bringing a selection of international brands from its independent spirits portfolio to UK customers nationwide, through an extended partnership with supermarket chain Waitrose. 

Diageo reported a net sales decline of 1.4% to $20.3 billion for the year end 30 June 2024 which the company pinned on unfavourable foreign exchange and inflation.

The Drinks Trust charity has added five new members to its board of trustees – Jennie Baernreuther, Ian Bray, Tim Clay, Paul Haslam and Tony Watson.

Rosewood London has announced the appointment of Andy Loudon as its director of bars, returning to the UK after nearly two decades of experience within the international hospitality industry. 

Freixenet Copestick and Spain’s Zamora Company have agreed a strategic distribution partnership for the Zamora portfolio of wines in the UK and Northern Ireland. 

Danish company Carlsberg has agreed a £3.3bn deal to buy the UK business of Britvic as well as the remaining 40% share in its joint brewing venture with Marston’s.

Toku Saké has appointed Stuart Hudson as head of sales and advocacy, effective as of this month.

Martha May Markham of Swift in London has won the UK final of the Unrivalled Classics cocktail competition by No.3 Gin.

WineGB has released its first wine tourism report which shows that visits to UK vineyards and wineries have risen by 55% in two years.

The Labour Party’s plan for UK high streets aims to replace the business rates system, cutting energy bills and giving communities the ‘right to buy’ community assets, like pubs.

The London bar community was rocked in April by the news that Lyaness bartender Alexandra ‘Lexie’ Constantinescu had unexpectedly passed away on an extended trip to Cuba, where she had previously been competing as a UK finalist in Havana Club’s Cocktail Maestros competition.

Treasury Wine Estates and rapper Snoop Dogg have expanded their collaborative wine portfolio with the launch of Cali Blanc.

Budweiser Brewing Group, part of AB InBev, will be the new distributor of Kopparberg products in the UK on-trade, effective from 28 May.

Viña Concha y Toro has recorded sales growth of 26.4% for the first quarter of its financial year as it continues to recover from a challenging 2023.

Lyaness bartender Alexandra ‘Lexie’ Constantinescu has passed away while on holiday in Cuba after competing in a cocktail competition.

Label 5 blended Scotch whisky has launched its first single grain whisky which will initially roll out in the UK market.

‘Brewing for Impact’, an initiative that will see breweries from seven countries produce beer using the West African grain fonio, has launched.

Friarwood wine and spirits merchant has announced it has gained exclusive rights to import Italian gin Seatrus in the UK.

Panther M*lk, an oat milk ready-to-drink cocktail has launched a new bottle design and extended its range of flavours to include Crema, Rosa, Cafe, and Menta.

Satan’s Whiskers took the title of Best Bar in the UK at the CLASS Bar Awards 2024, which took place last night (16 April) at Battersea Arts Centre in London.

Molson Coors Beverage Company has announced its plans to invest more than £100m in its UK brewery and beverage network over the next five years.

CopperBay has launched its third site at Hôtel Lancaster on the Champs-Élysées in Paris, becoming one of the first independent venues to open within a luxury hotel in France.

No.3 London Dry Gin’s education initiative Ph3 Bartending Programme, which aims to empower bartenders, has reached its final ‘Graduation’ phase.

Danish whisky Stauning has launched the ‘Stauning Drinks Kollektive’, a global cocktail competition which aims to shine a light on bartenders from Denmark, Germany, France, the UK, US and Australia.

As part of its celebrations for International Women’s Day 2024 the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has released five single cask whiskies selected by an all-women tasting panel.

The UK government has announced a freeze on alcohol duty in the Spring Budget which was declared on Wednesday 6 March.

Double Dutch, producers of mixers and tonics, has launched its Female Bartending Scholarship Programme for the fourth consecutive year, as part of its commitment to foster upcoming female talent in the hospitality industry.

Having worked for three decades as head distiller of Diageo’s Don Julio, maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa has partnered with The Lost Explorer to create its first tequila line.

Ready-to-serve cocktail brand Whitebox Cocktails has partnered with brand-building agency, Artisan Spirits, to expand its international distribution.

Spirits distributor Speciality Brands is adding Takamaka to its rum portfolio, alongside signing an exclusive partnership with Chichibu Distillery, taking over from Speciality Drinks.

Schweppes has announced the launch of its European-wide brand ambassador programme.

Drinks importer and distributor, Paragon Brands, has announced its new role as the exclusive distributor of Zamora Company spirits and liqueurs in the UK.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka has appointed Spirit Cartel as its new distributor for the UK and signed a sponsorship deal with Equal Measures.

WineGB has declared a record harvest for the British wine industry which is set to produce an estimated 20-22m bottles.

The UK government is set to implement new requirements for the selling and labelling of wine nationwide from 1 January 2024.

Renais Spirits has announced a national distribution agreement in the US for Spring 2024, following its launch in the UK in May this year.

East London Liquor Co has been bought out of administration following “harsh new conditions” on its Time to Pay agreement with HMRC.

Ojo de Dios Mezcal has announced a partnership with Nightcap Brands as its official UK importer and sales agent.

Sazerac Company has announced the renaming of subsidiary spirits distributor Hi-Spirits UK, to Sazerac UK.

UK RTD brand Moth (Mix of Total Happiness) is launching in the US this week.

UK single malt whisky Jura has announced the retirement of distillery manager Graham Logan, following three decades of service.

The House of Rum, a new boutique rum bottler has announced its launch, specialising in exclusive single-vintage, single-cask, cask-strength rums.

Nc’nean Distillery Limited has secured a Virgin Money funding package with the backing of UK Government department, UK Export Finance (UKEF), to help the independent distillery grow in North American markets.

Altamura Distilleries has introduced Lorenzo Di Cola, formerly of the Experimental Cocktail Club group, to its team as international head of brand across all key global markets, including Italy, the US, UK and India.

Malibu has partnered with anti-spiking charity Stamp Out Spiking to train 2,000 on-trade staff and consumers about dealing with a dangerous spiking situation.

Drinks distributor Speciality Brands has signed an agreement with French spirits producer Distillerie de Grandmont to exclusively distribute the brand’s expressions in the UK from this month.

Drinks distributor Speciality Brands has signed an agreement with Chopin Vodka, to exclusively distribute the Polish brand in the UK from this October.

International Beverage has announced its acquisition of New Zealand spirits producer, Cardrona Distillery.