Roku Gin touts cocktail boom and premiumisation as category drivers
Suntory-owned Roku Gin says that the burgeoning popularity of cocktails and the premiumisation trend are key growth drivers of the gin category, particularly in Asia.
Manufacturers
Can Nestlé’s new protein drink rival the soaring demand for weight-loss drugs?
The food and beverage giant is once again addressing the growing popularity of weight-loss drugs with a protein shot designed to curb appetite. But can it hold its own in the booming market for targeted health-focused solutions?
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.
Sake simplified: Versatile time-based concept targeting new generation of Asia drinkers
An innovative time-based categorisation of sake combined with novel food pairings is finding its way to younger adults while preserving its authentic appeal for older consumers.
CCEP readies big NPD launches and capacity investment for 2025
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has exclusively revealed a glut of global NPD will land in 2025, supported by line investment at several sites.
‘Zero trend’: Brewguru reformulates hit RTD highball with less sugar, alcohol content
South Korean firm Brewguru has reformulated its popular ready-to-drink (RTD) highball product and released a new version with lower sugar and alcohol content, capitalising on the flourishing “zero trend” in the country.
Constellation Brands sells Svedka vodka to Sazerac
Constellation Brands is divesting the vodka brand as part of its efforts to focus on higher end wine and spirits.
Coffee with lactoferrin: MAD Foods, TurtleTree to launch new range in mid-2025
MAD Foods, a Singapore-headquartered company specialising in plant-based ready-to-drink beverages, is partnering TurtleTree in developing a new line of functional oat milk coffee containing lactoferrin that will be launched in mid-2025.
Lifeway turns down second Danone bid
The kefir manufacturer feels its strong financial metrics warrant a higher offer if it is to sell up
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.
Apothékary secures additional funding, bridges beverage, beauty categories
Apothékary continues its expansion in the wellness space, securing additional funding for its Series A round from global Japanese beauty brand Shiseido and launching on Ulta.com as the retailer’s first alcohol alternative product.
Nestlé to spin off water brands into a standalone business
Nestlé's water brands will be separated into a standalone business as of January 1, 2025, the company announced this morning.
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.
Lifeway Foods rejects Danone’s ‘opportunistic proposal’, adopts ‘poison pill’ plan
The kefir maker’s board of directors has adopted a shareholder rights plan in a bid to avoid a hostile takeover.
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.
News
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.
Retail’s the right way for alcohol-free: AF drives growth with Sprouts, Target, Walmart listings
New Zealand alcohol-free brand AF has set its sight on tripling sales over the next twelve months, thanks to US listings in Target and Walmart. That visibility in retail is key for growing the category, the brand’s founder tells us.
Molson Coors takes majority stake in ZOA Energy
Molson Coors Beverage Company is taking a majority ownership stake in ZOA, the better-for-you energy brand co-founded by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson.
‘Quality over quantity’: Pernod Ricard prioritises ultra-prestige portfolio to satisfy growing appetite for premium and niche spirits
Alcohol major Pernod Ricard is focusing on increasing awareness and availability of its prestige brands in burgeoning markets and channels, while expanding its premium craft spirits portfolio to meet growing interest for niche products.
CCEP boasts ‘solid year’ in strong €5.4bn Q3 results
Summer revenues for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners were stung by poor weather, though Euro football and the Paris Olympics contributed towards what is shaping up to be a “solid year” for the group.
Millie's disrupts tea, broth category with convenient tea bag broth format
Millie’s tea bag broths, made with herbs, spices and dehydrated vegetables landed in 2,000 Walmart stores last month, marking a major milestone for the brand as it disrupts the tea and broth categories.
News
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney become Wrexham Lager co-owners
Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have become co-owners of Wrexham Lager after purchasing a stake in the Welsh brewer.
Kenetik offers a ketone drink without the ‘nail polish’ taste
Ketone-based drink company Kenetik is capturing a market of athletes and health enthusiasts who want the benefits of ketones—without a bad taste.
Coca-Cola to deliver on full-year guidance with ‘all-weather strategy,’ despite Q3 volume slowdown
Coca-Cola beat Wall Street estimates for its third quarter despite volumes and revenue declines, as the beverage giant pursues an “all-weather strategy" and offsets challenges with innovation in Sprite, Fanta and Topo Chico, company CEO James Quincey...
Keurig Dr Pepper to acquire energy drink business GHOST
Keurig Dr Pepper is making its largest investment to date with the acquisition of GHOST: a sports nutrition business led by GHOST Energy.
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 barriers: The Singleton focuses on flavours, welcomes localisation to capture booming Asian markets
Diageo-owned The Singleton has identified flavours as a key focus area to further drive growth in Asia, where the complexity of Scotch whiskey and its versatility in localisation are increasingly recognised.
Nestlé streamlines operations amid soft demand
The food major downgrades its FY24 growth outlook again as it predicts consumer demand to remain soft.
Apothékary debuts in 400+ Sprouts stores, focuses on tincture business
Wellness brand Apothékary’s retail partnership with Sprouts Farmers Markets highlights its product expansion of herbal powders for beverages to include tinctures that align with the retailers’ growing supplement department in the non-alcoholic space.
PepsiCo lowers full-year guidance on Q3 2024 results, North American business continues volume declines
PepsiCo’s North American snack and beverage businesses continue to slow down in its third quarter of 2024, as the company adjusts its forecast from 4% organic revenue growth for the year to low single digits amid continued pressures but beats Wall Street...
Policymakers call on Coca-Cola, General Mills, PepsiCo to address pricing practices
Letters sent by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Madeleine Dean (D-Penn.) to the CEOs of Coca-Cola, General Mills and PepsiCo express concern over pricing and tax practices that, according to the policy makers, “squeeze profits out...
Recoup launches gut-friendly beverage at Sprouts, raises awareness on benefits of regen ag
Recoup’s prebiotic sparkling beverages hit the shelves at 420 Sprouts Farmers Market stores nationwide, as the company leans into gut health and regenerative agriculture claims to deliver consumer demands for functional and environmental benefits.
Startup Spotlight
Beekeeper Coffee taps into youth culture to build its RTD honey-sweetened coffee
Beekeeper Coffee's co-founders leveraged their extensive brand-building expertise from giants like Nike and Beats by Dre to stand out in the crowded RTD coffee market with a distinct honey-sweetened brew, emphasizing authenticity and sustainability...
LVMH invests in luxury alcohol-free wine, French Bloom
Moët Hennessy – the wines and spirits division of LVMH – has acquired a minority stake in premium alcohol-free sparkling wine brand, French Bloom.
PepsiCo snaps up Siete Foods for $1.2bn
The acquisition of the Texas-based family-owned maker of Mexican-inspired snacks and foods marks a significant step for PepsiCo, aligning with its strategy to expand its health-conscious and multicultural offerings.
Suja Organic makes ‘every sip count’ with rebrand focused on transparency, flavor, function
Suja Life rebranded its line of Suja Organic cold-pressed juices and wellness shots to simplify the product’s functionality and flavors as the company grows into more occasions and dayparts with its acquisition of soda brand Slice.
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.
Coca-Cola & Bacardi to launch RTD cocktail as innovation heats up in the space
With Coca-Cola and Bacardi’s RTD cocktail announced for a 2025 launch, we take a look at some of the other big name partnerships between soft drink giants and beverage alcohol heavyweights in this space.
PepsiCo’s water stewardship includes converting steam from frying potato chips into drinkable water
When PepsiCo recently surpassed its goal of 25% improvement in operational water-use efficiency from a 2015 baseline in regions facing high water risks two years ahead of schedule it was not because the company hit a lucky home run, according to Bryan...
Molson Coors to bring Aussie non-alc RTD cocktail brand, Naked Life, to the US
Molson Coors has announced a strategic partnership with Naked Life, the no.1 non-alcoholic RTD cocktail company in Australia, to bring the canned cocktails to the US.
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.
Startup Spotlight
Functional beverage startup Yesly’s viral social media posts underscore big ad budgets are not necessary for big impact
Big advertising budgets are not a requirement for big sales or an indicator of how successful a marketing campaign will be as illustrated by a viral video on social media by functional beverage newcomer Yesly, which generated more than 16 million views...
Danone explores kefir’s untapped potential with new Activia range
Danone has launched its first kefir range in the UK as the company aims to tackle consumer scepticism and raise awareness of the fermented dairy product’s health benefits.
Protein Rebel launches seawater magnesium for runners
Endurance-sport nutrition brand, Protein Rebel, has launched an on-trend seawater-sourced magnesium citrate powder for runners' recovery.
Are coffee prices set to rise again?
Poor growing conditions in Brazil threaten coffee supplies. So, is another price hike on the horizon for this already-pricey commodity?
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.
Pernod Ricard acquires minority stake in Lewis Hamilton’s non-alcoholic agave spirit
Pernod Ricard has acquired a minority stake in Almave: the non-alcoholic blue agave-based spirit brand co-founded by Formula One star Lewis Hamilton.
‘Biggest future market’: Bottega boss outlines plans to increase supply and marketing focus in Asia
The MD of prosecco specialist firm Bottega has highlighted the company’s plans to increase supply and marketing spend to boost its position in the Asian region, predicting that this is likely to become its biggest market in the near future.
$40bn personalised nutrition market tapped for growth with Xampla and Lehmann tie-up
Plastic replacement technology firm Xampla’s partnership with Lehmann Ingredients will seek to build on global consumers’ growing demand for personalised nutrition.