Research conducted by Euromonitor International shows that the global alcoholic drinks market declined by 0.2% in 2016, the second year in a row the industry has depreciated.

UK distributor Cellar Trends has announced an investment from the Amber Beverage Group, the largest alcohol manufacturer and distributor in the Baltics.

The TFWA has announced a record number of exhibitors for the 2017 Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in Singapore between 7 -11 May.

Sapporo Breweries in Japan has filed a lawsuit against the Japanese government seeking a tax return for the amount paid on its Goku Zero beer.

Pernod Ricard has announced its new organisation Global Travel Retail which will combine its travel retail activities.

The DFWC have reported ‘significant progress’ on an Economic Impact Study on the importance of the duty free and travel retail industry in the Americas.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association believes that recommendations made by the House of Lords in their report on the Legislation Act 2003 would ‘not be sensible’.

Britvic believes that consumers choosing ‘healthier living and moderate drinking’ is the reason for the increase in sales for 2016.

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust will host the first WSET Week USA from May 1-7, 2017.

A UK politician believes that the British government must support ‘frictionless trade’ with the EU following Brexit to save 270,000 jobs in the UK wine industry.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has announced plans to aquire 100% of its purchased electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

VINEXPO will address the key Brexit issues facing the wine and spirits industry at its 2017 wine show in France on June 20.

The WSTA has warned that Brexit talks must achieve “frictionless borders” to avoid alcohol smugglers at ports.

Lidl UK has announced Tristan Stephenson will consult on its spirits range, working closely with its buying team.

Bacardi has announced that Mahesh Madhavan, a 20-year Bacardi veteran, who is currently a member of the company’s global leadership team and regional president of Asia, Middle East & Africa, will succeed Michael Dolan, who will retire as CEO, effective April 1, 2018.

Vinexpo CEO Guillaume Deglise was in London today (March 1) to extol the virtues of attending the Bordeaux show in June (18-21).

Rob Cullen has joined the expanding Agile Media team as Drinks International’s new commercial director, replacing Roger Betriu.

Gruppo Campari has announced the acquisition of super premium gin, Bulldog for US$58.4 million (€54.1m).

Diageo has said that the weak pound will not see immediate changes in its prices.

Diageo has announced growth across all its regions, with 1.8% overall organic volume growth and 4.4% organic net sales growth in the half year period to December 31.

Fever-Tree has announced that its full year revenue is expected to be circa £102.2 million, which is growth of 73% on 2015.

Antoine Moueix Properties, a subsidiary of the major French wine producer Advini, has announced the purchase of approximately 400 hectares of vineyards on both the right and left banks of Bordeaux.

Beam Suntory has taken over British craft gin and vodka producer, Sipsmith.

Gruppo Campari has announced the sale of Italian wineries Sella & Mosca and Teruzzi & Puthod for €62 million.

William Reed has acquired The World’s 50 Best Bars awards from Drinks International’s publisher Agile Media.

Constellation buys and sells

18 October, 2016

Constellation Brands has announced the sale of its Canadian wine business and is buying Charles Smith Wines, High West Distillery and a minority stake in Bardstown Bourbon Company.

Matteo d’Imporzano has been appointed managing director of Codorníu in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Anheuser-Busch InBev has announced the completion of the deal to buy SABMiller.

William Grant & Sons has reported a record profit after tax of £147.4m*, an increase of 8.9% year-on-year.

Ian Macleod Distillers has announced that it has bought the Spencerfield Spirit Company, including its flagship brand, Edinburgh Gin.

Edrington unveils new HQ

14 September, 2016

Edrington, has announced the location of its new international headquarters: 100 Queen Street, by Glasgow’s Royal Exchange Square.

The Sazerac Company has acquired The Last Drop Distillers for an undisclosed amount. 

Pernod Ricard has outlined a global initiative to reduce ‘portfolio complexity’ by reducing the number of SKUs by up to 30% in some markets.

Pernod Ricard has reported profit from recurring operations, the measuring stick that analysts and the company use, rose 2% during its fiscal year 2015/16 to €2.28 billion.

The Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery has been shortlisted at the Courier Business Awards in the tourism, leisure and hospitality business of the year category.

Bar Convent Berlin organisers have announced that the UK will be this year’s ‘country of honour’.

The EU Commission has set out the initial findings and possible revision of the alcohol excise duty structure.

Edrington announces new CFO

10 August, 2016

Edrington has announced the appointment of Paul Hyde as its new chief financial officer.

WSTA reaches out

10 August, 2016

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has reached out to help establish and offer on-going support to a new alliance of small distillers and other spirit producers.

Stock Spirits Group, a leading central and eastern European branded spirits producer, has announced its results for the six months to June 30 2016.

Gruppo Campari has reported sales of €743.9 million and group net profit €67.2m, down -13.8%.

Conviviality Plc, the UK's leading independent wholesaler and alcohol distributor and franchised retail outlets, has appointed David Robinson to the board as managing director of Conviviality Retail.

Diageo has reported that net sales are down 3% but operating profit grew 1.6% for the year ended June 30, 2016.

Diageo has welcomed the release of the latest Producers’ Commitments report by the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking.

Edrington has announced profits of £72.7m for the year ended March 31, 2016, down £7m on the previous year.

The Food and Drink Federation has called on the new UK Prime Minister Theresa May to safeguard the interests of Britain’s food and drink manufacturers’ in negotiations to leave the European Union.

Diageo has announced a five year partnership with WaterAid, an international NGO providing access to safe water and sanitation in some of the world’s poorest communities.

A House of Lords Committee, set up especially to look at the Licensing Act 2003, and the liberalisation of opening hours in the UK, has launched its investigation.

Diageo has announced that Johnnie Walker is to have new packaging which will display on-pack alcohol content and nutritional information per typical serve.

Diageo has announced that Johnnie Walker is to have new packaging which will display on-pack alcohol content and nutritional information, per typical serve.

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