French water and dairy firm Danone has signed a deal to get rid of
its troublesome water cooler business in the US, though not without
taking one last hit.
Carlsberg's plan to launch its Tetley's Original ale in UK pubs may
thrive on the country's ale revival, yet the move is risky as
others warn of falling consumer confidence.
Coca-Cola has launched Powerade Aqua+ in the UK, aiming to grab
more of the blossoming healthy drinks market as part of a new push
on non-carbonated drinks in Europe.
Danone has sought to calm customers after two bottles of Volvic
water were found to contain traces of potentially harmful chemical
Napthalene, threatening UK sales.
The world's biggest drinks firm has shunned the chance to buy New
Zealand's Montana wines off Pernod Ricard because it will not
generate enough growth.
Sports drinks, juice and bottled water spearheaded a set of
encouraging third quarter results from Coca-Cola as
health-conscious consumers force a realignment at the major soft
drinks players.
Added value dairy and soft drinks lead Danone to a sales rise in
the third quarter, but the firm is banking on a new pricing and
innovation strategy to re-ignite itself at home in France.
Carlsberg has confirmed it plans to shut around half its European
breweries within a decade to reflect a permanent shift in beer
market growth from west to east, and more specifically, China.
Energy drinks push their way to the front of PepsiCo's portfolio as
the Gatorade brand drives forward third quarter sales alongside
more growth from diet and non-carbonated drinks, leaving fizzy cola
festering on the shelf.
Soft drinks giant PepsiCo is thought to have asked Cadbury
Schweppes for information on the sale of its European soft drinks
arm, according to a report in the UK's Financial Times.
Heineken has come out fighting after announcing losses so far in
2005 with plans to cut back on brands and step up efficiency drives
to beat cost pressures and stagnant Western European beer markets.
Several Dutch brewers, including Inbev and Heineken, could face
tough fines after the European Union charged them with price-fixing
on their home market.
Heineken has ended talks to increase its stake in the Chinese
brewer Kingway, according to a report, after a lack of progress in
discussions with its controlling shareholder GDH.
Consumer health trends and political pressure have pushed America's
soft drinks industry to ban fizzy sodas from elementary schools,
and radically reduce their presence in others, in favour of juice,
water and energy products.
PepsiCo is changing the labeling on two of its fruit-flavored
Tropicana beverages to reflect the fact that they actually contain
little or no fruit juice.
Coca-Cola, hit by a slow-down in fizzy drinks sales, may be looking
to expand into vitamin-enriched milk after the firm's bottling arm
announces talks to buy control of Bravo! Foods.
French food and drink giant, Groupe Danone, has acknowledged US
PepsiCo's denial of takeover plans, as the French government
threatens to do everything in its power to stop such a bid from
ever taking place, writes Claire Johnston.
Another write-down charge hits French firm Danone, taking the gloss
off a rise in dairy and beverage sales, as rumours of a take-over
bid by PepsiCo subside, reports Chris Mercer.
US-based PepsiCo has engaged investment banks Morgan Stanley and
UBS to advise on a possible takeover of Danone, the French bottled
water, yoghurt and biscuits group, according to a report today
inthe Financial Times.
Coca-Cola can no longer negotiate exclusive supply deals for its
fizzy soft drinks in the EU and must open its coolers to rival
brands as the European Commission tries to improve competition,
reports Chris Mercer.
Coca-Cola is introducing its Minute Maid juice brand to the UK
market this week, which is currently experiencing booming juice
sales thanks to increasingly health-conscious consumers, reports
Dominique Patton.
Carlsberg is close to signing a new joint venture deal in China,
says the country's official news agency, as the major brewers take
up position on their East Asian nest eggs, writes Chris
Mercer.
Teamsters unions at seven Coca-Cola bottling anddistribution
facilities in Connecticut and the Los Angeles area in US plan to
continue their strike today over wages and health care benefits,
reports Ahmed ElAmin.
Falling beer markets across Western Europe have claimed Carlsberg
as their latest victim, handing the Danish brewer heavy losses in
its first quarter despite strong performances in Russia and Asia,
reports Chris Mercer.
PespiCo has thrust further into Europe's strongly emerging juice
market through German firm Punica as the scramble to get ahead in
healthy soft drinks sector intensifies, reports Chris
Mercer.
Opportunities are flourishing for flavour suppliers targeting
health-positioned drinks as number one soft drinks firm Coca-Cola
says it will push R&D investment in health positioned products.
Coca-Cola will gain the right to sell Evian in the US after buying
out Danone from their joint venture, while Czech brewer Budejovicky
Budvar scores another victory in the Budweiser trademark war with
Anheuser Busch, reports Chris...
Iconic soft drinks firm Coca-Cola has confirmed it is in talks with
world football association Fifa to secure a new long-term
sponsorship deal as the firm lays the foundations for marketing its
brands more aggressively, reports Chris...
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling has acquired a 100 per cent stake of
Bankia, one of the leading Bulgarian natural mineral water
companies, in a move that further expands the company's presence in
the fast-growing Eastern European...
Iconic soft drinks firm Coca-Cola, hit by slowing sales of its
trademark fizzy cola, is set to buy up a leading fruit juice
producer in Russia, handing the firm key access to an important
emerging market, reports Chris Mercer.
Global beverage giant PepsiCo, aiming to push diet drinks to
appease calorie-conscious consumers, will follow arch-rival
Coca-Cola by re-launching its Pepsi One brand with Tate &
Lyle's Splenda sweetener, reports Chris Mercer.
Coca-Cola, whose sugary soft drinks have left it open to
accusations of contributing to the global obesity epidemic, has
made little secret of its desire to move into product sectors such
as juice and water, viewed as less 'high...
PepsiCo has become the latest company to bow to pressure on the
food industry from the rising tide of obesity, introducing
voluntary restrictions on its advertising to children, according to
an article in today's London-based...
The Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling company, which this week announced
solid sales growth led by emerging markets in Eastern Europe, has
confirmed its interest in Serbia's second largest mineral water
bottler as the company plans...
Diageo, the world's biggest spirit group, has announced a drop in
first half profits, caused by foreign exchange rates, weak demand
in Europe and the continued decline of the ready-to-drink segment,
writes Chris Jones.
Companies seeking to do business across the Atlantic face
significant hurdles if the United States and European Union do not
work to remove non-tariff trade barriers, claimed Coca-Cola chief
executive Neville Isdell.
Danone, the French dairy conglomerate, announced today that net
profits had plummeted 62 per cent, following the costly €600
million write down of its water-cooler business last month, Tom
Armitage reports.
Sales and consumer awareness of sweetener from UK manufacturer Tate
& Lyle look set to rise as number one global soft drinks player
launches a new version of Diet Coke, complete with Splenda
sucralose logo on the packaging, writes...
Coca-Cola is suing rival US beverage manufacturer Florida's Natural
because it believes the company has infringed on the patented
plastic carafe used by its Minute Maid Simply Orange juice brand.
Danone's rapid expansion into the home and office delivery (HOD)
bottled water market has given it a global market share to match
that of rival Nestlé in recent years, but the growth has not come
without a price, writes Chris...
Dutch brewer Heineken is considering expanding its presence in
China with the acquisition of an additional stake in the Kingway
Brewery, while Japan's Suntory has already stepped up its
operations there with the acquisition of...
A deal with Britain's Diageo group to begin licensed production of
the Guinness stout brand in Russia was the highest profile
announcement by Dutch brewer Heineken last week, but with moves to
consolidate its position in China...
PepsiCo is rolling out its Smart Spot symbol in Canada to help
consumers identify brands that can contribute to healthier
lifestyles. It will appear on an estimated 5 billion servings of
foods and beverages this year.