Australia: Brewer Coopers enjoys record sales in 2013
Australian beer company Coopers Brewery has enjoyed record beer sales for the 2013 calendar year, moving beyond the 70 million litre mark for the first time in the company’s history, according to Australian Food News. According to the brewery, total beer sales in 2013 reached 72 million litres, an increase of 4.7 per cent on […]
USA: Kinky Blue Vodka to be launched nationwide
Crosby Lake Spirits has announced that it is set to launch new “super premium” distilled premium vodka Kinky Blue across the USA. Crosby Lake Spirits originally launched Kinky vodka in 2011 in a mango, blood orange and passion fruit flavour, a product it claims has proved a success with consumers. The new Kinky Blue variety, […]
USA: SABMiller reports Q3 lager volumes below analyst forecasts
Beer producer SABMiller, the world’s second largest brewer behind AB InBev, has revealed modest volume growth for the third quarter but the performance was behind many analyst forecasts, Reuters reports. Volumes were up 2% and revenue climbed 4% in the three months to December 31st, and soft drink volumes rose 7%. However lager volumes were […]
Spain: Overall food and beverage sales down but exports up in 2013, industry says
Sales in the food and beverage industry in Spain have declined in 2013 versus 2012, a leading industry body is reporting. The Spanish Federation of Food and Beverage Industries (FIAB), the trade body representing the food and beverage industry in Spain, estimates that sales across the sector totalled around €89,204 million ($121,005 million) in 2013, […]
Japan: Suntory announces $16 billion Beam deal
Suntory Holding Ltd has announced that it is to acquire spirits company Beam Inc. in a multi-billion dollar deal. The acquisition, worth $13.6b billion, will making Suntory Holding the third largest spirit maker in Japan and the fifth largest whisky company by volume, according to International Wine and Spirit Research. With the inclusion of Beam’s […]
USA: Diageo and Sean Combs purchase tequila brand DeLeon
Diageo has announced the formation of a joint venture with Sean Combs to acquire luxury tequila brand DeLeon. The global partnership builds upon a strategic alliance formed by Diageo and Combs in 2007, it is reported. The two came together to purchase the ultra-premium vodka brand Ciroc, growing sales from a 50,000 cases a year […]
China: Chongqing Beer to be acquired by Carlsberg Group
The Carlsberg Group has recently announced that Chongqing Beer (Group) Co. Ltd of China has accepted its offer to acquire 100% of Chongqing Beer Group Assets Management Co. Ltd, which is a holding company headquartered in Chongqing, China. With a total of eight breweries located in three provinces (3 in Jiangsu, 3 in Anhui, and […]
Russia: New standards introduced for vodka packaging
The Russian government has announced new regulations which for the first time will provide a statutory definition for the size of bottled alcoholic beverages. Under the new regulation, it will become illegal to sell alcoholic drinks that do not conform to prescribed measurements. According to the terms of the regulation, manufacturers will no longer be […]
UK: WKD goes exotic with new Brazilian flavour
SHS Drinks is the latest company seeking to exploit World Cup fever as it unveils plans to launch a limited edition Brazilian flavour in 2014. WKD Brazilian is the latest addition to the WKD portfolio of flavoured alcoholic beverages in the UK. Described as being inspired by the exotic carnival atmosphere of Brazil, it is […]
Poland / UK: Heineken relocates operations from Scotland
According to the latest reports, Heineken is planning to expand its operations in Poland, a move which is expected to bring a wave of redundancies at existing locations in Scotland. It is believed that about 100 employees, mainly those in financial departments in Edinburgh and Livingston, will be affected, although it is reported that some […]