A Scottish MP has attacked Diageo’s remuneration of outgoing boss Paul Walsh, and says the people she represents in Kilmarnock still feel ‘let down’ by the firm for closing a Johnnie Walker bottling plant in 2012.
BUT ABA OBSERVES THAT ASSOCIATION NOT THE SAME AS CAUSATION
Consumption of sugar-sweetened soda and punch is associated with a higher risk of kidney stone formation, whereas consumption of coffee, tea, beer, wine and orange juice are associated with a lower risk.
SAB Miller's UK subsidiary Miller Brands has grown lager volumes 4% in the year to March 31, with especially strong performance from global brand Pilsner Urquell, which was up 10% during the year.
The Association of German Brewers – whose members include Anheuser-Busch InBev Deutschland – tells BeverageDaily.com it wants a moratorium on natural gas fracking in the country, amidst fears the process could pollute members’ wells.
Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) has attacked ‘free market restrictions’ after a controversial brewery bill was passed in Ohio, but the state’s Craft Brewer’s Association says the law protects craft brewers’ route to market.
BEVERAGEDAILY.COM SPECIAL EDITION: SWEETENER INNOVATION
The number of stevia-sweetened products launched around the world in 2012 'nearly doubled' compared to 2011 – a figure that leading stevia manufacturer, PureCircle, attributes to a recent steady stream of naturally-sweetened beverage launches.
BEVERAGEDAILY.COM SPECIAL EDITION: SWEETENER INNOVATION
Mintel analyst Laura Jones tells BeverageDaily.com that use of monk fruit as an all-natural, zero calorie sweetener has tripled in the past five years, but says she believes it still has taste issues to overcome.
A clutch of crazy and sometimes simply plain daft flavored vodka varieties took the US by storm from the early noughties, but new Mintel data suggests growth might be stalling.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) tells BeverageDaily.com it opposes a successful state bill allowing sales of malt beverages in pouches on recycling grounds, as Diageo eyes frozen alcoholic RTD success in another...
BIG BEER HIT BY TAX HIKES, ADVERTISING & KIOSK SALES BANS
Coca-Cola Hellenic (CCH) insists its brands will continue to take market share in Russia from PepsiCo, as well as brewers hit by taxes and alcohol advertising and kiosk sales bans.
INDUSTRY VOICES: GUEST ARTICLE, HEAD OF AKTIEFOKUS CHINA, JACOB DE LICHTENBERG
Danish multinational brewer Carlsberg, which once held a solid market share in the Southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, is facing tough competition from new entrants and existing competitors desiring a share of the region's booming beer market.
BUT BIG BRANDS HENNESSEY, JOHNNIE WALKER STRONG IN KEY MARKETS
Despite runaway spirits growth in Asia, 20% of global brands do not have a Chinese website, and mobile sites tend to lack investment, but Hennessey and Johnnie Walker are strong in key markets.
Diageo technical director Luca Lupini believes confectionery flavored spirits are an ‘amazing opportunity’ for the firm, and insists the sub-category brings out the best in its R&D team.
Bacardi USA has partnered with the Coca-Cola Company and university researchers to created a robotic bartending system called Makr Shakr, and says it can help ‘bring spirits into the digital age’.
Sweden’s state alcohol monopoly retailer Systembolaget tells BeverageDaily.com that it cannot stock Iron Maiden’s signature beer Trooper without a label change since it is too gory.
Two of flamboyant Indian drinks tycoon Vijay Mallya’s businesses have been issued show-cause-cum-demand notices by the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence for allegedly evading service tax of Rs91 crore (US$16.7m)
Independent UK brewer Robinsons, which created a real ale in partnership with rock band Iron Maiden, says the band’s ‘Trooper’ beer is already proving a ‘big door opener’ in sales terms.
Heineken has signed a JV to produce and sell Heineken beers in Burma (Myanmar), and plans to build a $60m brewery there, following Carlsberg, Coke and Pepsi into the country.
Last year, China was once again led the world in alcohol consumption, having swigged through more than 59bn litres of alcohol, according to market research firm Euromonitor.
Carlsberg CEO Jorgen Buhl Rasmussen says the firm is currently less concerned with building Asian margins than securing growth in a key region, particularly in markets such as China and India.
The boss of Guinness and Johnnie Walker whisky maker Diageo is to step down after 13 years at the helm, in what City analyst Investec described as “a well-flagged transition”.
Beam Inc. revealed yesterday that bourbon brand Maker’s Mark Q1 2013 sales rose 44% due to short-lived plans for an alcohol cut that prompted a sales spike, but is this PR blunder turned marketing masterstroke one brands could intentionally replicate?
AB InBev CEO Carlos de Brito has revealed that the world’s biggest brewer will launch UK cider sales sensation Stella Cidre in the US within the next few weeks.
HOUSTON BREWERY GENERAL MANAGER INVESTIGATING CLAIMS WITH OSHA
An influential US Department of Labor safety body has cited Anheuser-Busch, alleging that the firm failed to protect Houston brewery workers from exposure to carbon dioxide and other workplace hazards.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SIDEL'S VIEWS ON ASEPTIC TECHNOLOGY IN OUR MAY 30 ONLINE EVENT: ASEPTIC TECHNOLOGY 2013
Sidel tells BeverageDaily.com that its new low output aseptic blow-fill-cap machine lends opportunities for beverage producers to test the market with PET on a smaller scale, and naturally suits ‘more niche brands’.
'ELEPHANT COFFEE' ENTREPRENEUR SURPRISED BY JAPAN MICROBREW SALES
The world’s priciest coffee brand, Black Ivory Coffee, made using Thai Arabica beans predigested by elephants, tells BeverageDaily.com it is searching for a reputable microbrewer in Japan to license a beer made using the brew.
While European consumers have for generations been used to standards protecting the wines they buy, that has not been the case in India. However, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries has now revealed plans to introduce national wine standards, with...
Heineken has played down a 4.7% slump in global sales of its eponymous brand versus Q4 2012, blaming bad weather in Europe and retailer destocking in France and the US.
AB InBev has agreed a settlement with the US Department of Justice, which sued to world's largest brewer earlier this year on competition grounds, to halt its proposed $20.1bn acquisition of the remaining stake in Grupo Modelo it does not already...
A limited edition coffee-flavored beer brewed using coffee beans harvested from elephant dung sold out within a day after going on sale in Japan, brewer Sankt Gallen claims.
AB InBev claims that a new bowtie-shaped Budweiser can riffing on its logo, a permanent addition to its US packaging portfolio from May 6, is wholly unique and ‘very appealing to young adults’.
SAB Miller says it feels ‘quite positive’ about the possibility of Mexico opening-up as a beer market, with the nation’s competition authority poised to rule on the legality of exclusivity arrangements that the UK plc claims penalises it vis-a-vis rivals.
Heineken has refused to comment on rumors it has now put its Finnish business Hartwall up for sale seeking around €500m, after starting a strategic review of the unit in February.
CEO ROBERT SANDS EXCITED AT SECURING MODELO 'CROWN JEWEL'
Constellation Brands plans to double of the capacity of its new Piedras Negras brewery in Mexico to 20m hectolitres within three years, and says its ‘transformational’ deal with AB InBev will make it the No.3 US brewer.
FIRMS SEE UNTAPPED POTENTIAL IN CLEAR, FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGES
Virun and Stepan Lipid Nutrition have signed a letter of intent to exploit what both companies agree is untapped potential in the clear, functional beverage space.
Germany spirits giant Jägermeister tells BeverageDaily.com it is yet to decide on whether to roll out its first ever line extensions, RTD premix drinks launched in Australia and New Zealand in August 2012, further afield.
Drinks market analysis firm Canadean says that, while it is surprising that a growing number of beverage packages are ‘one trip throwaways’ given environmental concerns, such packaging does offer brands a better image and greater pack design flexibility.
A UK brand that claims to have produced the world’s first pure milk vodka says that sales are growing, with Black Cow vodka now on sale in numerous retail outlets across the UK, including premium department stores.
Anheuser Busch’s former director of operations support says he repeatedly complained to senior managers about his belief that the firm was intentionally watering-down drinks to provide less alcohol than advertised.
NEW UK DISTILLERY WILL HAVE 'SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER' 3.5M CASE CAPACITY
Bombay Sapphire’s new master distiller Nik Fordham tells BeverageDaily.com it is an ‘exciting time’ for the Bacardi-owned spirit in terms of brand extensions, while the broader gin category is enjoying a renaissance.
Carlsberg has confirmed to BeverageDaily.com that it is under scrutiny as part of a wider, ongoing investigation by the German Federal Cartel Office, which also includes AB InBev.
ABInBev says it will 'vigorously defend' itself against a new consumer class action seeking to prevent its full $20.1bn buyout of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo, but admits the suit could halt the deal.
Officials in Indonesia have warned that several industries in the country, including the beverage industry, could be damaged if the proposed minimum wage increase is not delayed.
The Coca-Cola Company announced yesterday that it plans to shed 750 North American jobs after revealing last month that it plans to reduce its regional distribution footprint.
Unite the Union is fighting plans by Molson Coors to cut staff pay at its Burton on Trent brewery by up to £9,000 per year, and claims workers in similar roles at the firm’s two other UK sites do not face such cuts.
NEW END IS EASIER TO INTEGRATE WITH FILLING PROCESSES: can2close
German startup can2close tells BeverageDaily.com that its award-winning new resealable beverage can end trumps existing rival solutions and is not ‘light years’ away from market readiness.
Heineken acknowledges that its controversial online campaign The Candidate is ‘unusual’ but insists it handled the video’s young participants correctly and did not expose them to undue stress.
Heineken has appointed Chris Barrow to the newly created role of chief strategy officer, where as a member of the firm's executive committee, he will report directly to CEO and chair Jean-Francois van Boxmeer.
