USA: Lion Australia acquires New Belgium Brewing
Lion Australia, the Kirin-owned drinks firm, has announced it has stepped up its presence in craft beer with the acquisition of independent US-based beermaker New Belgium Brewing, via its Lion Little World Beverages division. Established in 1991, New Belgium Brewing is said to have grown to become a leading craft brewer, marketing brands such as […]
Brazil: Heineken announces plans to double capacity
Heineken, the Dutch beer giant, has announced plans to double its manufacturing capacity in Brazil to meet rising demand, according to a New Trade report quoting Valor Economico. The company is said to be investing R$985 million ($247 million) to expand capacity at its Araraquara, Itu and Jacarei sites in Sao Paulo, as well as factories […]
Mexico: Campari takes majority stake in Ancho Reyes and Montelobos brands
Campari, the Italian spirits firm, has announced it has taken a majority stake in the spirits firms Licorera Ancho Reyes and Casa Montelobos, respectively the owners of the “super premium” spicy liqueur Ancho Reyes and mezcal Montelobo, for $35.7 million. Ancho Reyes is described as a natural and authentic liqueur made from ancho and poblano chiles […]
Denmark: Carlsberg unveils cardboard bottle prototypes
Carlsberg, the Danish beer giant, has unveiled two new research prototypes as part of its Green Fibre Bottle initiative, a project to develop a fully biodegradable wood-fibre drinks bottle which it first announced in 2015. The beermaker said it would now also be joined in the project by Coca-Cola, Absolut and L’Oreal in a paper bottle “community” launched […]
Singapore: Fraser and Neave opens Myanmar brewery
Fraser and Neave, the Singapore-based brewing firm, has announced it is returning to Myanmar with the start of commercial operations at its new Emerald Brewery in Hlegu Township, Yangon. The $70 million facility will brew and market Chang Lager beer, as well as building distribution across Myanmar. Annual beer capacity at the site will be 500,000 […]
Australia: Carlton & United Breweries acquires Riot Wine
Carlton & United Breweries, the beermaker and AB InBev subsidiary, has announced the acquisition of Riot Wine, an Australian wine firm using exclusively in kegs and cans, for an undisclosed sum. Riot Wine, which markets a flagship rose among other products, said its approach offers consumers a superior and more sustainable product. Launched in 2016, […]
USA: Mahou Group acquires majority stake in Founders Brewing
Mahou Group, the leading Spanish brewer, has upped its stake in the US-based craft beer maker Founders Brewing, increasing its holding to 90%, according to reports in Food Business African and FoodBev. Mahou Group originally took a 30% stake in the Michigan craft brewery in 2014 with a $96 million investment. Commenting on the deal, […]
South Korea: Diageo to close spirits plant
Diageo, the global spirits giant, has announced it will close its manufacturing facility in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, in South Korea in around nine months’ time, according to a report in The Spirits Business. The firm is previously quoted as saying that the Scotch whisky sector is experiencing a slowdown as consumers switch to lower-alcohol alternatives. […]
China: Pernod Ricard to open whisky distillery
Wine and spirits multinational Pernod Ricard has broken ground on a malt whisky distillery in Emeishan, China, as part of a $150 million investment by the company over the next 10 years, according to a report in Food Business Africa. The distillery, which will also house a visitor centre, will start production in 2021, with […]
USA: Constellation Brands acquires stake in Durham Distillery
US-based alcoholic drinks firm Constellation Brands has announced it has acquired a minority stake in Durham Distillery, a craft gin, vodka, liqueur and ready-to-drink canned cocktail producer located in Durham, NC, USA. The Durham Distillery product line includes Conniption Navy Strength Gin and Conniption American Dry Gin, Damn Fine Liqueurs (Chocolate, Mocha and Coffee), Cold […]