Ian Wright CBE, Director General
Food and Drink Federation
Gama spoke to Ian Wright MBE, Director General, Food and Drink Federation. What key trends do you expect to shape food and drinks innovation in the UK in 2017? Healthy eating will remain a key trend this year and I believe we’ll continue to see popular products reformulated with reduced sugar and calorie content. This, I […]
India: Danone looks to double business by 2020
Multinational dairy and drinks firm Danone is said to be planning to double size of its business in India by 2020 by bringing more global brands to the country, as well as by launching new products. According to a report in the Deccan Chronicle, 10 new products are lined up for 2017, starting with the […]
USA: Pernod Ricard launches Absolut Lime Vodka
Pernod Ricard, the global wine and spirits firm, is to launch a new Lime flavoured vodka under the Absolut brand, joining existing citrus flavours Citron and Mandarin. Like its citrus counterparts, new Absolut Lime features its own distinct flavor profile with a balance of full-bodied citrus flavour with a light finish, the company said. Nick […]
USA: Beach Whiskey acquires American Harvest Vodka
US spirit maker Beach Whiskey has bought American Harvest organic vodka from import firm Sidney Frank, according to a report in FoodBev. Financial details were not disclosed. American Harvest vodka is described as being handcrafted in small batches from American wheat and distilled with certified organic ingredients. It is further described as a smooth spirit […]
UK: Halewood looks to open distillery in Wales
UK based beverage company Halewood has announced plans to open a new whisky distillery in North Wales that would reportedly be the first distillery in the region for over 100 years. According to the proposal, the company is seeking to convert a 6,000 sq ft warehouse near Bangor into a distillery to produce Welsh whiskey, […]
Brazil: Diageo launches Smirnoff X1 vodka drinks
Diageo, the global spirits giant, is set to launch a new line of vodka and fruit juice drinks in Brazil under the name Smirnoff X1. The new drinks range – available in the varieties Strawberry & Lime, Triple Citrus and Brazilian Berry – is described as being the first vodka product in Brazil to be sold […]
UK: Beam Suntory to acquire majority stake in Sipsmith
Spirits giant Beam Suntory has announced that it has acquired a controlling stake in UK spirits firm Sipsmith Gin for an undisclosed amount, with the deal expected to be completed in January 2017. Iin a press release, Beam Suntory said it aimed to pursue export plans for Simpsmith through leveraging Beam Suntory’s global routes to […]
USA: Craft Brew Alliance to acquire minority stake in Wynwood Brewing
US-based Craft Brew Alliance is to purchase 24.5% of Florida’s Wynwood Brewing for an undisclosed amount, with the deal expected to conclude by the first quarter of 2017, according to a report in Brewbound. It is reported that the deal will allow Wynwood Brewing to expand by utilising resources from the larger Craft Brew Alliance, […]
South Africa: PIC to buy AB InBev’s stake in Distell
South African investment fund Public Investment Corporation (PIC) has agreed to purchase world leading brewer AB InBev’s entire indirect stake in alcoholic drinks firm Distell. The stake comprises 58,000,000 shares or 26.4% of the company, which would go to PIC for an undisclosed amount. The sale of the stake was a condition of regulatory approval […]
USA: AB InBev gets approval to acquire Karbach Brewing
Having received federal approval, global beer giant AB InBev has been given the green light to acquire Texas-based craft brewer Karbach Brewing for an undisclosed amount. The deal, being transacted through the firm’s craft and import division The High End, is expected to close early next year, according to a report in Brewbound. Karbach Brewing […]