France: E Leclerc launches online wine store
French retailer E. Leclerc has unveiled a new online pilot store specialized in the sale of wines. Named Ma Cave Par E Leclerc (“My Wine Cellar from E Leclerc”), the store focuses on French wines and, according to Rayon Boissons, will initially offer a limited selection of wines focusing on the entry level end of […]
USA: Diageo to build new distillery in Shelby County, Kentucky
Global wine and spirits company Diageo has announced plans to build a distillery and six barrel storage warehouse on 300 acres of land in Shelby County, Kentucky, USA. The estimated investment will be $115 million and Diageo plans to have the distillery operational by 2016. Approval for the new facility, which will distill bourbon and […]
Poland: Warwin profits from cider boom
The cider category is booming in Poland, with one of the country’s major cider players reporting a huge increase in sales in the first few months of 2014. Warwin SA, the owner of the Warka Cider brand, has reported that it sold more cider between the months of January and April 2014 than in the […]
Australia: Treasury Wines rejects takeover bid
Treasury Wine Estates Limited (Treasury Wines), the Australian winemaker, has reportedly rejected a takeover bid of $4.70 cash per share from US company Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR), claiming that the offer did not reflect the true value of the company. According to Australian Food News, Treasury Wines said that KKR had requested […]
UK: Polish Tyskie makes top 10 “world beers” list
According to Puls Biznesu and the Daily Mail, the Polish beer brand Tyskie has increased its presence in the UK and now ranks 10th on the list of most sold “world beers”. Sales in beer in Britain increased in value by 3% last year, up to £3 billion ($5 billion), with “world beer” sales increasing […]
Nigeria: Heineken merges Nigerian Breweries and Consolidated Breweries
Heineken has reported in a statement that it is to combine its two units in Nigeria – Nigerian Breweries Plc and Consolidated Breweries Plc – in an effort to improve efficiencies. The company owns 54.1% of the former, which has brands such as Heineken and Star, and 53.8% of the latter, maker of beers such […]
Innovation Insight: Seth & Riley’s Garage Hard Lemon Drink
This week Gama looks at a recent attempt to bridge the gap between younger and older male alcohol consumers – Seth & Riley’s Garage Hard Lemon Drink. Launched by Carlsberg in a number of global markets, Seth & Riley’s is the latest in a recent swathe of ‘hard’ alcoholic fruit-based drinks that typically target men. Such […]
Brazil: Sagatiba launches limited edition cachaca to celebrate 10th anniversary
Sagatiba, a leading producer of the Brazilian sugar cane spirit cachaca, is marking its 10th anniversary with the launch of a special edition bottle design. Unveiled in 2004, Sagatiba has now completed its first decade in business and is marking the occasion with a new design which is described as promoting the genuine ‘Brazilianness’ of […]
UK: Drinks industry on course to remove 1 billion units of alcohol from the market
According to the latest figures release by the Department of Health, UK drinks manufacturers and retailers are on target to achieve their agreement of removing 1 billion units of alcohol from the UK market by the end of next year. The Department of Health report showed that the reduction in strength of some alcoholic drinks […]
Nigeria: Guinness records drop in sales
Said to be a result of continuing softness in the beer market, Guinness Nigeria Plc has recorded a turnover of N53 billion ($330 million) for the half year period ending 31 December 2013. In a statement to the Nigerian Stock Exchange, parent company Diageo said net income fell to N5 billion ($30.7 million) in the […]