Ten intriguing trends set to shake up alcohol in 2025
Savory serves, protein cocktails and ‘brothtails’… what are some of the coolest and craziest trends emerging in beverage alcohol?
Beer & cider
Carlsberg Britvic deal gets go-ahead from UK competition watchdog
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has cleared the anticipated acquisition by Carlsberg UK Holdings Limited of Britvic plc.
The year in beer: Craft beer review for 2024
The Brewers Association highlights the opportunities - and challenges - for the craft beer industry
Asahi sales buoyed by rise in local beer demand and international Super Dry growth
Asahi Group Holdings (Asahi) has seen steady growth in the third quarter of 2024 buoyed by a rise in local Japanese demand for beer as well as international interest in its Super Dry product.
Carlsberg Malaysia banks on festive season to drive final quarter sales
Carlsberg Malaysia believes that the upcoming festive season as well as stronger economic growth will help to drive improved sales for the rest of 2024, despite a negative performance in Singapore in Q3.
Alcohol-free beer is booming. Can alcohol-free cider enjoy the same success?
CHANCE Clean Cider (0.5% ABV) sees the opportunity for low and no ciders to enjoy the same success as alcohol-free beers.
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Former Johnnie Walker boss heads up new Diageo Luxury Group
Diageo has announced the launch of its new global luxury division, a business unit that will oversee its portfolio of premium brands.
UK’s competition watchdog looks into Carlsberg-Britvic deal
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched a merger inquiry into Carlsberg’s acquisition of soft drink company Britvic.
Breaking tradition: YEBISU accelerating expansion of creative range to catalyse new appeal for beer
Sapporo-owned YEBISU has been actively adding new beer flavours to its “creative range” over the past year, in a bid to stimulate new appeal for the alcoholic beverage.
Europe’s drinking preferences: Wine, beer or spirits?
Preferences for wine, beer or spirits vary across Europe. Which countries prefer wine, which are beer drinkers, and where do spirits top preferences?
Diageo makes another big play in non-alc spirits with acquisition of Ritual Zero Proof
Diageo North America has acquired Ritual Zero Proof Non-Alcoholic Spirits: the top non-alcoholic spirit brand in the US.
Rising wellness trends: Zero-proof is ‘the next wave of beverages,’ foods for anxiety relief see ‘varied results’
Zero-proof beverages are gaining market traction as health-conscious consumers moderate their alcohol consumption while many shoppers also seek out functional foods to combat stress and anxiety, market research company Circana shared in a recent webinar...
What is zebra striping?
More than a quarter of drinkers embrace 'zebra striping', according to recent research. How can brands engage with this trend?
Scientists tap into barley ‘time machine’ to help adapt the grain to climate change
Thanks to an experiment that's tracked barley over the last century, researchers have pinpointed the genes that offer ‘remarkable adaptability’ in the grain – a key ingredient in breads, breakfast cereals, beer and whiskey.
Alcohol labeling: Are consumers getting enough information about what they drink in the UK?
Ingredient lists, calorie counts, alcohol strength and more – are UK consumers getting all the information they want from their alcohol labels?
Fake alcohol: Can alcohol brands ever win the battle against counterfeit goods?
How big a problem is counterfeit alcohol - and what can be done to fight the problem?
Europe’s largest food upcycling plant opened for spent grains
A new plant is upcycling spent grains for a whole range of uses.
Know your drink: Pernod Ricard taps ASEAN desire for increased information to launch digital label
Alcohol giant Pernod Ricard has launched a new digital label initiative in Singapore, hoping to tap on South East Asian consumer demands for increased information and shift towards better drinking habits.
New alcohol labelling requirements for Australia and New Zealand move a step closer, industry generally supportive
Moves to introduce new alcoholic labelling standards in Australia and New Zealand, including listing carbohydrate, sugar, and energy values on pack, have moved a step closer.
Staying the course: Carlsberg pledges continued commitment to premiumisation despite sales drop in first half of 2024
Carlsberg Malaysia has committed to continue its focus on premium products despite seeing a significant drop in sales in the first half of the year.
Beverage benefits: New beer, whiskey and non-alcoholic drinks buoy revenue growth for Kirin in first quarter of 2024
Japanese beverage major Kirin Group has seen its launch of a new beer brand as well as investments into functional beverage innovation and overseas whiskey expansion bear fruit in the first quarter of 2024.
Carlsberg Britvic deal gets approval from Britvic shareholders
Britvic shareholders have voted in favor of Carlsberg’s proposed acquisition of the company: bringing the creation of UK beer and soft drink giant Carlsberg Britvic one step closer.
Tilray to acquire four craft beer brands from Molson Coors
Cannabis and consumer packaged goods company Tilray Brands will acquire Hop Valley Brewing Company, Terrapin Beer Co., Revolver Brewing and Atwater Brewery from Molson Coors: continuing its growth in beverage alcohol.
Extracting more value from spent grains: a brewery-backed blueprint
Working with one of the world’s largest breweries, Duynie Group is extracting value from brewer’s spent grains by transforming the protein fraction into concentrate that can be used by the food and feed industries.
Push to profitability: Asahi sees major growth in local non-alcoholic beverages and ASEAN region despite Oceania decline
Japan beverage giant Asahi has seen significant growth in its RTD alcoholic beverages category as well as the South East Asian market as major contributors to profitability over the past six months, despite negative impacts from Oceania sales.
What are the risks of non-alcoholic beer on tap?
Without the antimicrobial properties of ethanol, non-alcoholic beer can be riskier even than soft drinks when sold on tap. How can this be mitigated?
Carlsberg launches fonio brew
Carlsberg has launched a brand new type of beer: using fonio grains and without the use of any barley or bittering hops.
How is 2024 shaping up for the US craft beer industry?
The Brewers Association – the trade organization for small and independent US craft brewers – has released insights from its mid-year survey: tracking the state of the craft beer industry.
Nasty Beast Hard Tea: Monster’s latest launch in the alcohol category
2024 has seen Monster launch another alcoholic beverage. How is its foray into alcohol going?
Is it possible to create effective age restrictions for alcohol marketing online?
The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) has teamed up with Google, Meta, Pinterest, Snap, TikTok and X to strengthen standards for advertising alcohol responsibly online.
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Flavoured beer sees double digit growth
Between 2018-2022, flavour beer launches grew by a CAGR of 28%, according to an assessment of the market by Synergy Flavours.
Why BrewDog is winding down its ‘carbon negative’ claim
BrewDog will wind down the use of its ‘carbon negative’ claim on its products and in its bars in the coming months - here's why.
Seven summer beverage trends for 2024
What's hot this summer? We take a look at the top beverage trends.
Introducing Carlsberg Britvic: A new beer and soft drinks powerhouse
Carlsberg will create a beer and soft drink powerhouse in the UK with the acquisition of Britvic. How will the new company shape up?
Huge tax hikes: Vietnam proposes phased 100% alcohol tax rise, 10% for sugar-sweetened drinks
The Vietnamese government has drafted new regulations proposing a phased increase on excise taxes for alcoholic beverages to 100% by 2030 as well as 10% for sugar-sweetened beverages, in attempts to curb overconsumption as well as boosting national income.
The BBQ Index: Beer, burgers and other Fourth of July staples
As Americans gear up to celebrate Independence Day, Rabobank breaks down the cost of a classic 10-person BBQ. This year's BBQ Index shows that inflation is a huge concern for consumers - but how does this play out in the beer category?
Brewers’ spent grain a promising snack ingredient that can be upcycled to regulate blood sugar levels – new trial
Brewers’ spent grain, particularly those fermented with tempeh mould, is a promising ingredient that not only can be used for snacks, but also reduces food waste.
Kernza: The grain with a future brewing in beer
Breweries are exploring the potential of Kernza: a carbon-sequestering perennial grain.
Lager leap: Carlsberg Malaysia launches new 1664 Brut to capture wider beer audience
Carlsberg Malaysia has expanded its 1664 premium beer portfolio with a new lager offering, hoping to appeal to a wider consumer segment with its ASEAN-first launch into this new category.
Word-of-mouth marketing for a digital age: Can BrewDog founder’s new venture change the game?
Celebrities and influencers have lost their credibility: real people want to hear from real people, says BrewDog co-founder James Watt. His new venture, announced this week, will reward everyday social media users when they post about a brand they love.
ASA gives Hangcure a headache over implied disease claims
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has warned UK supplement brand Hangcure Ltd that it must not claim that its product can prevent, treat or cure disease through product name or advertising.
The world’s most valuable beer brands
With heavyweights such as Budweiser, Corona and Michelob Ultra jostling for the top spot, who is crowned as the world’s most valuable beer brand?
News
Diageo sells majority Guinness Nigeria stake for nearly £54m
Global drinks manufacturer Diageo has sold its majority stake in Guinness Nigeria.
Breaking into beer: Carabao seeks to take on Thailand’s dominant players with varied portfolio
Thai energy drink heavyweight Carabao is looking to move beyond its comfort zone and stake claim on a piece of the local beer market, banking on a bold multi-variant launch strategy to draw in consumers.
Sustainability claims: How careful do brands need to be?
Budweiser has recently clarified its 'brewed with 100% renewable electricity' claim in the UK and Ireland after scrutiny from advertising watchdogs. How careful do brands need to be when making similar claims?
Could AI take the place of winemakers and brewers?
Sommeliers, winemakers and brewers pride themselves on their craft: built up over decades of experience and training. Could AI take their place?
Deschutes Brewery and Patagonia team up on kernza brew
Deschutes Brewery and Patagonia Provisions are exploring the potential of Kernza - an organic, carbon-sequestering perennial grain that acts as a substitute for wheat – with two new brews set to launch later this year.
Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore investing in tech and data analytics to meet ‘unique and experiential’ demands of younger consumers
Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS) says that it is actively addressing the complex needs of the new generation of beer consumers through strategic investments and portfolio diversification.
What is fonio? The grain set to become the superstar of sustainable brewing
A global collaboration of brewers – including Brooklyn Brewery, Carlsberg and Guinness – is showcasing the ancient West African grain fonio. What’s so special about the grain – and how can it transform brewing for the better?
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners sells Feral Brewing Company
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Australia is selling Feral Brewing Company: the craft brewery it acquired in 2018.