Ag Barr appoints new chief commercial officer
IRN-BRU maker AG Barr has appointed Dino Labbate to the newly created role of chief commercial officer, with immediate effect.
Beverages
Cygnet Gin moves production to Penderyn distillery
Premium gin brand Cygnet has partnered with Penderyn Distillery to move its production to the drinks firm’s Swansea site.
Carlsberg completes Britvic acquisition
The Carlsberg Group has completed its acquisition of Britvic, triggering the creation of a new combined business in the UK called Carlsberg Britvic.
5 ways the drinks industry can slash its environmental impact
With the soft drinks industry at a crossroads and consumer expectations around sustainability higher than ever, Clearly Drinks environmental co-ordinator Rebecca Rushworth analyses the steps the sector can take to reduce its impact on the planet.
The Nutriment Company acquires The Dog’s Butcher.
Pet food manufacturer The Nutriment Company (TNC) has acquired premium raw dog food firm The Dog’s Butcher.
Senior appointments at Daily Dose
Cold-pressed juice firm Daily Dose has announced a duo of appointments to its senior leadership team.
AG Barr commercial director Jonathan Kemp joins Radnor Hills
AG Barr commercial director Jonathan Kemp has joined Radnor Hills’ board of directors.
Double digit tax hike loses Treasury £500k a day
The Treasury has lost out on half a million pounds a day in tax revenue since excise duty on alcoholic spirits was raised in August 2023.
Britvic £1m+ sustainability investment at Rugby site
Britvic has invested more than £1m into sustainability improvements at its Rugby site.
Diageo closes Chase Distillery in Hereford
Drinks giant Diageo has completed the closure of Chase Distillery in the west of England.
Dragons Den winning gin firm falls into liquidation
Manchester-based gin brand and former Dragons Den winner Didsbury Gin has appointed liquidators, owning creditors nearly £200k.
Dry Jan: 10% aim to abstain from booze to start 2025
New YouGov data has revealed that 10% of adults in Britain intend to abstain from alcohol throughout January.
The ‘Green fairy’ takes flight
Absinthe’s global resurgence fuels $40.2bn market - but why was it banned in the first place and what’s driving growth?
Nisa hires PepsiCo sales director
Convenience retailer Nisa has announced the appointment of Paul Webster as its new head of partnerships.
Emma Watson founded gin brand raises £4.95m
Renais, a gin brand co-founded by Harry Potter star Emma Watson, has raised £4.95m to support its growth.
Badger Brewery tastes success following brand relaunch
Independent family brewer Badger Brewery has seen a 50% uplift in sales since relaunching in 2023, outpacing a general decline of the overall premium bottled ales (PBAs) category.
400 Guinness kegs presumed stolen from depot
A truck carrying 400 kegs of Guinness disappeared from a depot in Northamptonshire in the run up to Christmas.
PepsiCo’s largest bottler outside US invests further into fizzy drink company
The Indian-based Varun Beverages has expanded its shares in PepsiCo’s soft drinks volumes.
Societal pressures a barrier towards lo and no alcohol acceptance
Low alcohol drinks are becoming more accepted by consumers, but social barriers are forcing drinkers to choose alcoholic options.
Does coffee and tea lower your risk of head and neck cancers?
A cross-collaborative study in the US has showed a link between coffee and tea consumption and a lower risk of developing head and neck cancers.
Lucozade owner invests £6m in factory sustainability
Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) is to invest £6m into its Coleford factory to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by 2026.
Britvic signs 10-year contract renewal with Wincanton
Soft drinks manufacturer Britvic has extended its contract with logistics provider Wincanton.
Carlsberg gains regulatory approval for £3.3bn Britvic deal
Carlsberg has received regulatory approval to complete its £3.3bn acquisition of fellow drinks manufacturer Britvic.
Trade union gains recognition at Camden Town Brewery
Unite the Union has secured formal recognition for its members employed by Camden Town Brewery at its Enfield facility.
Ex-Campari boss joins Welsh gin brand Cygnet
Former Campari Group chief executive Matteo Fantacchiotti has joined Welsh gin brand Cygnet as its partner and chairman.
Welsh wine producer unveils new winery
White Castle Vineyard has unveiled its new winery in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.
Guinness shortages causing owner to ‘manage’ stocks
Guinness owner Diageo is having to ‘manage’ distribution of the stout to its on-trade customers in Britain amid shortages.
SHS Drinks acquires craft beer company Shandy Shack
Headed up in the North West England, the Brampton-based Shandy Snack has been acquired for an undisclosed sum by SHS Drinks.
Ty Nant expands its UK influence with duo of acquisitions
Premium bottled water brand Ty Nant has acquired Fonthill Water and Decantae Mineral Water from the US-based Primo Water Corporation, expanding its reach in the UK and cementing itself as the country’s fastest growing bottled water company.
Adnams CEO: Sale didn’t make sense strategically
The chief executive of Southwold brewer Adnams, Jenny Hanlon, has shed new light on the firm’s ongoing funding review.
Aspall Cyder brothers target beer market after brewery acquisition
Two brothers from the family that founded Aspall Cyder are entering the beer category after purchasing a brewery.
Atom Beers rescued after pre-pack administration deal
The future of Atom Brewing Co has been secured thanks to a pre-pack administration deal.
Typhoo Tea enters administration with Supreme poised to strike deal
UK-based tea manufacturer Typhoo has entered administration.
Wrexham Lager expands into US
Wrexham Lager Beer Co has launched in the US for the first-time in its history.
Virtue Drinks closes £2m funding round
Clean-label beverage company Virtue Drinks has closed a £2m funding round as it looks to grow the brand in the UK and abroad.
Carlsberg to axe 11 beers following Marston’s acquisition
The Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) is set to delist 11 beers, including eight cask ales and three keg brands.
CCEP investing £42.3m into Wakefield site
Europe’s largest soft drinks plant by volume will see a major investment into automated pick and place system.
News
Lincoln & York invests £1m into high-speed line
The independent coffee producer has marked its 30th birthday with a major investment into its Brigg roastery.
News
Nestlé to spin out Perrier and San Pellegrino under standalone business
Nestlé has announced plans to make its water and premium beverages division a standalone business.
News
Regulator finds wine investment ads were ‘misleading’
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has instructed four UK wine investment businesses to take down online adverts because they were in breach of industry codes.
New
Gravity Drinks secures £4.5m finance package to support export growth
Premium spirits producer Gravity Drinks has secured a £4.5m finance package to support export growth and meet seasonal spikes in international demand.
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.
News
BrewDog names new chief retail officer
The brewery has appointed a new chief retail officer in a global role overseeing the business’s retail offering.
News
Carlsberg unveils rebrand of Somersby cider
The Carlsberg Group has unveiled the new visual identity of cider brand Somersby.
News
CCEP adjusted revenue rises during Q3 despite Europe volume decline
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) saw adjusted revenue increase 2.4% year-on-year during Q3 as the group reaffirmed its full-year profit guidance.
All in a day’s work
A day in the life of a drinks startup founder
The founder and director of Juno Bamboo Water Guillaume Poncet takes us behind the scenes and explains what its like running a startup in the drinks industry.
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.
News
Magners owner sees H1 operating profit rise 29% despite lower volumes during wet summer
C&C Group has reported a 29% increase in underlying group operating profit for the six months to 31 August 2024.
News
€30m investment into Guinness 0.0 production announced
Diageo has announced a €30m investment into the production of Guinness 0.0 at St. James’s Gate in Dublin.
NPD
Halloween food and drink product launches
The boys and ghouls will soon be out trick or treating, but what treats will consumers be raising their spirits with this Halloween? Food Manufacture rounds-up some of the spookiest new product launches this holiday season.