UK: Diageo and Thinfilm unveil the “Smart Bottle”
UK-based alcoholic beverage firm Diageo and Norway’s Thinfilm, a leading company in the development of printed electronics and smart systems, have announced that they are to unveil a”smart bottle” prototype for Johnnie Walker Blue Label Whiskey during the Mobile World Congress taking place in Barcelona in early March. According to the companies, the new bottle […]
Stefano Caruso, Chairman
Caruso & Minini
Gama spoke to Stefano Caruso, Chairman, Caruso & Minini. What key trends do you expect to shape alcoholic drinks innovation in 2015? Nowadays I think it is important to talk about ‘contemporary’ wine, in other words wines which, through their structure and their character, are in line with the tastes and preferences of everyday consumers. […]
UK: A.G. Barr acquires Funkin cocktail brand
A.G. Barr PLC, the soft drinks group behind brands such as Irn-Bru, has announced that it has acquired Funkin Limited, a UK-based producer of cocktail products. A.G. Barr said that it had purchased Funkin from its founding shareholders for an initial cash consideration of £16.5 million ($25.3 million) plus up to a further £4.5 million […]
UK: AB InBev to expand its Stella Artois cider line-up
The Stella Artois Cidre range is being expanded in the UK with the launch of new Peach and Elderflower flavours. AB InBev describes the new Peach variety as featuring “a delightfully fruity peach taste contrasted with subtle citrus and rose floral tones” while the Elderflower variety “exudes a fresh and lively aroma complemented by crisp […]
Mexico: Pernord Ricard to sell Caribe Cooler brand to Bepensa
Pernord Ricard has announced that it has signed an agreement to sell the Mexican FAB brand Mexican Caribe Cooler to Grupo Bepensa. The company said the sale was in line with the strategy of focusing on its wine and spirits business. The deal will include the bottling line related to the production of Caribe Cooler […]
Japan: Kirin to launch 1% abv beverage to target younger drinkers
Japanese beverage giant Kirin is introducing a new range of RTD alcohol drinks called Butterfly in an effort to target younger drinkers. Due for launch on 10th March 2015, Butterfly contains only 1% abv and is said to be have been created in response to the needs of a younger audience. According to Kirin, a […]
Mexico: Grupo Modelo to invest in Yucatan
Grupo Modelo is to build a new plant in Yucatan, Mexico to expand its beer production, according to an article in El Economista. The 2,200 million peso ($151.7 million) investment is designed to increase Modelo’s production capablitiies. The facility will have an initial capacity of 5 million hectolitres per year, but this is expected to […]
Netherlands: Heineken opens brewery in Ethiopia
Beer maker Heineken has inaugurated a new brewery in Ethiopia – the country’s biggest – located in Kilinto, in the municipality of Addis Ababa. With a total capacity of 1.5 million hectolitres, the factory is producing beer for the Walia, Bedele and Harar beer brands but will also soon also commence production of the flagship […]
Argentina: Beer brand Quilmes opens ‘youth hostel’
The Argentinian brewery Quilmes has opened the doors to the Quilmes Hostel, promoting its beer brand by means of a venture into the hospitality sector. Sited in Mar del Plata, a famous tourist destination on the Atlantic coast, the hostel is primarily geared towards young people looking for somewhere that offers “opportunities for new encounters […]
UK: Purity Brewing Company launches champagne-style limited edition beer
Purity Brewing Company has launched Gnarly, a limited edition strong black beer featuring a champagne style bottle. Promoted as a “deeply indulgent, beautifully balanced beer”, Gnarly is brewed with a variety of Marris Otter, Crystal Rye, Smoked and Black Malts, hopped with Northern Brewer, Cascade, Chinook and conditioned for six months in traditional oak whisky […]