Harpers Wine and Spirit and www.harpers.co.uk have joined Off Licence News and Drinks International at Agile Media.

Economist Sanna Suvanto-Harsaae becomes the new chairman of Altia’s board. Other new members of the board are: Kim Henriksson and Kasper Madsen who bring expertise on the Nordic market.

The organisers of the Bordeaux wine and spirits show, Vinexpo, say the trade exhibition is fully booked and stand reservations for the international wine and spirits exhibition are now closed.

Edrington, the scotch whisky and rum company, has announced that Paul Hyde has appointed to its main board.

The WSTA says new research shows that price increases in the off trade have slowed since the Government scrapped the alcohol duty escalator, cut beer duty and froze duty on spirits in 2014.

The Suffolk brewer and distiller and retailer has reported sales of £66 million and a £3.8m operating profit, in its report and accounts for the 12 months to December 31, 2014.

Gruppo Campari has published its full year results for 2014 which it says is in line with its expectations.

Major Australian wine producer, Australian Vintage has announced half year net profits of AUS$4.4 million, up from $4m, for the half year to December 31, 2014.

AG Barr plc, the soft drinks group, has announced the acquisition of Funkin Limited from its founding shareholders for an initial £16.5 million plus up to a further £4.5 million subject to meeting certain financial performance targets.

Diageo is to partner with Google’s Business View to offer free 360˚ virtual tours of its facilities. 

Maxxium UK’s managing director Huw Pennell is leaving to take up a new job at Edrington, one of Maxxium’s shareholders.

The 2015 Vinexpo is a turning point. It is the second generation, so says the new CEO, Guillaume Deglise.

Buckingham Schenk has announced that Craig Durham is its new managing director.

Direct Wines has announced the appointment of David Thatcher as group chief executive. Simon McMurtrie steps down on January 19.

Pernod Ricard has advanced its transition to focus on global brands in the Mexican market with the sale of RTD Caribe Cooler to Grupo Bepensa.

The Bibendum PLB Group has announced the structure of the buying team of the recently merged company.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association, the lead body for the UK wine and spirits industry, is calling the British government to cut the duty on all alcoholic drinks.

Rossi D’Asiago has announced that its flagship sambuca Antica, the second best selling brand in the category worldwide, will be distributed in Russia by the Synergy Group.

Moët Hennessy Wines and Spirits chairman and CEO, Christophe Navarre, has announced the appointment of Stéphane Voyer, as senior vice president human resources.

Fever-Tree has floated on the London Stock Market today, with the share price currently trading at £1.70 per share, over 25% up on the initial trading price.

Diageo’s global innovation programme – Diageo Technology Ventures – will be hosting a weekend ‘hackathon’ on November 8-9. 

Anheuser-Busch InBev has just reported its results for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2014.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) in the UK is calling on the drinks industry and newly appointed EU Health Commissioner to introduce calorie labelling for alcoholic drinks.

Tesco has confirmed that it has been notified by the Serious Fraud Office that it has commenced an investigation into accounting practices at the company.

Sazerac - the New Orleans-based company – has announced the addition of Bond & Royal Spirits to focus on developing brands within the specialty and craft spirits space. 

Pernod Ricard UK managing director, Denis O’Flynn has been elected as the next chairman of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), succeeding Nick Hyde in January 2015.

William Grant & Sons has announced the acquisition of the Drambuie Liqueur Company. 

Vantguard – formerly Global Premium brands - has announced plans for a US launch of its entire portfolio. 

William Grant & Sons has reported increased turnover of £1.2bn, up 5.2% on the previous year. 

Pernod Ricard CEO Pierre Pringuet remains optimistic about China despite 23% decline in sales in its full year results.

Altia Plc, the major Nordic wine and spirits company, has launched a new strategy to achieve major improvements in profitability by the year 2016.

SABMiller plc announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, SABSA Holdings Limited, has now disposed of its entire shareholding in Tsogo Sun Holdings Limited (Tsogo Sun).

Stock Spirits Group PLC, the Central and Eastern European branded spirits producer, has announced its six monthly results for the period ended June 30, 2014.

The Pernod Ricard group has reported sales of €7.945 million for the financial year 2013/14.

Bacardi Limited has announced the immediate appointment of Kevin F. McNamara as Bacardi Limited senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO), responsible for global financial operations.

Beam Suntory has announced the appointment of Mauricio Restrepo as the company’s chief financial officer.

Distell, Africa's largest producer of wines, spirits, ciders and RTDs, has reported 12.8% growth in revenue and a 3.1% increase in sales volume for the year to June 2014. 

Bacardi has announced Derek Hopkins, SVP national sales director, will be leaving the company after a three-year tenure. 

Bacardi has announced Robert Furniss-Roe will leave his role as regional president of Bacardi North America in September.  

SABMiller plc has announced that Jan du Plessis is to join the SABMiller board as an independent non-executive director from September 1.

Gruppo Campari has reported sales dropped 1.8% for H1 2014 after its second quarter levelled out down-trading in Q1.

The Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) has announced that the first half of 2014 saw the WSET Level 3 award in wines and spirits being run for the first time in Chinese.

Rémy Cointreau has announced the promotion of former LVMH boss Panos Sarantopoulos as CEO of its liqueurs and spirits division.

Diageo has blamed “weakness in emerging market economies” for its 0.4% net sales growth in the 2013/2014 financial year.

Diageo has made further changes to its Executive Committee to enhance “in-market accountability”, which is key to Diageo’s strategy under Ivan Menezes. 

Quintessential Brands has announced the acquisition of Marblehead, an independently owned UK- based brand development and distribution company. 

Edrington has announced group profits before tax was up 3% to £174.0m and turnover up 3% to £607.7m, for the year ended 31 March. 
  

Diageo has announced the appointment of Vickie Sheriff as global communications director. Sheriff will report to Charlotte Lambkin, global corporate relations director, and be responsible for external communications and employee engagement. She starts on September 1.

Beam Suntory has announced that it will begin distribution of the Suntory Japanese and scotch whiskies and Midori liqueur in the US and Germany beginning July 1.

Brintex, organisers of the London Wine Fair, has hailed the reinvented, relocated trade show a success.