Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, has reached a non-binding agreement with Anadolu Efes to merge its existing Russia and Ukraine businesses.

David Cox is set to retire as chief executive at The Benevolent, the drinks industry charity at the end of the year.

Funkin has signed a partnership deal with De Kuyper Royal Distillers, which will become its exclusive Netherlands distributor. 

Italian drinks group Gruppo Campari has announced ‘very good results’ for the first half of 2017 with total sales reaching €844.7m, an organic growth of 6.8%.

The chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, Miles Beale has warned that ministers in the UK parliament need to set aside differences and produce a clear plan for Brexit or trade will suffer.

Pernod Ricard USA’s New Brand Ventures division, has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal.

Diageo chief executive Ivan Menezes says the company is ‘restless as hell’ following the release of its annual market report for the year ending 30 June 2017, despite profits growing up to 25%.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has announced Lord Price, minister of state for international trade and Wetherspoon boss, Tim Martin as keynote speakers at this year’s WSTA Annual Conference this September.

Allied Blenders & Distillers, the third largest spirits company in India with volumes of 33.2 million cases, has announced the appointment of Paramjit Singh Gill as its president and CEO.

Liquefied natural gas providers are working on a joint project to bring LNG to Scottish breweries and distilleries which are not on the existing natural-gas grid.

The Specialist Importers Trade Tasting, a series of one-day events for independent wine buyers in all trade markets, will take place on September 18 in Bristol and on September 20 in London.

The International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show (IBWSS) will take place in London on February 26-27, 2018 as an opportunity for winegrowers to grow its private labels and bulk business.

Estonian drinks company, AS Liviko, says it has been hit by endless excise increases and the impact of various economic activities in the region.

Wine and Spirit Trade Association CEO Miles Beale, has called for the government to follow through with its Brexit negotiations.

Drinkaware has appointed Dr Fiona Sim as chief medical advisor to chair its independent medical advisory panel and monitor the charity’s medical evidence.

International spirits group Quintessential Brands has appointed Simon Williams as group operations director, with immediate effect.

The latest HMRC figures have revealed that sales of spirits have brought more money to the Treasury than beer for the first time in history.

Scottish politician Calum Kerr has highlighted the impact that Brexit could have on Scotland’s flourishing food and drinks sector.

Conviviality Plc, the UK’s leading independent wholesaler and distributor of alcohol, has almost doubled its sales to £1.56bn for the financial year ending 30 April 2017.

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