beers, wines & spirits news
Drinkers' Voice to "challenge myths put out around alcohol" Subscription
The new group will speak up for alcohol consumers about the social and supposed health benefits of booze…
Heineken shareholder FEMSA announces €2.5bn share sale Subscription
Mexican Coca-Cola bottler FEMSA has announced it has reduced its shareholding in Heineken by selling stock worth €2.5bn and representing 5.2% of the brewer’s shares.
Aspall launches carry packs into Tesco and Waitrose stores Subscription
The format addressed “growing demand in the convenience sector” for carry packs, said the brand
Berry Bros & Rudd links with Kingsman for limited edition gin Subscription
The retailer has produced 5,000 bottles of the 49% abv spirit featuring the movie’s insignia…
Jim Shearer made Molson Coors marketing & consumer excellence director Subscription
Shearer takes over the role from Martin Coyle, who has been made chief marketing & craft officer for the company’s Canadian business
Innis & Gunn shareholders approve £15m minority sale to PE firm Subscription
Shareholders at Innis & Gunn have waved through the £15m sale of a significant stake in the Scottish craft brewery to private equity house L Catterton.
Spar to revamp wine range with everyday and exclusive lines
Spar said it would maintain its “current mix of Spar brand and branded wines”
Cocktail craze sees vodka overtake whisky as UK's top spirit Subscription
Brits splashed out an extra £24.9m on voddy this year, bringing value sales up 3.3% to £775.8m on volumes up 3.3%
Woodford Reserve whiskey gets new bottles and label overhaul Subscription
The pack has been given a revised shape, and now features a wraparound label and copper foil with matte finish
Budweiser to launch 0.0% abv Prohibition beer in the UK Subscription
The alcoholic-free lager will hit shelves next month in a 330ml can
UK cider sales pass £1bn mark for first time since 2014 Subscription
Sales were up 5.5% for the 12 months ending 15 July, but rose 16% year on year over the eight weeks leading up to that…
Barrafina restaurateurs launch range of wines into Sainsbury's Subscription
Sam and Eddie Hart worked with Spanish winery Cuatro Rayas to produce the wines…
Hiver launches £350k crowdfunding push to finance expansion Subscription
It is offering 8% of its equity via the campaign to finance the expansion of its HQ team and an annual brand push
Isle of Harris Distillers wins funding for whisky development Subscription
The first batch of its ‘The Hearach’ Scotch is expected to be bottled from late 2020…
Camden Town Brewery looks to local spirit for first TV ads Subscription
The push, called ‘Raise Hells’, features four 30-second clips of real Londoners…
Gordon's gin brand gets pink variant
Competitor Pernod Ricard plans to launch a pink variant of its Beefeater gin in the coming months
Pernod Ricard pulls Equal Love TV ad after Clearcast warning
The ad, Equal Love, featured numerous couples of different gender mixes ‘passing on’ a kiss
The Co-op rolls out Pioneer wine designed by members Subscription
It was created to “challenge the traditional approach to ranging”
Fentimans gets set for move into craft beer Subscription
The Fearless Brewing Company is named after Fentimans founder Thomas Fentiman’s pet dog Fearless
Casillero del Diablo readies biggest Halloween campaign yet Subscription
It will roll out a raft of in-store promotional and support materials in anticipation of the day
Pernod Ricard moves gin brands into standalone Gin Hub Subscription
The Gin Hub has taken responsibility for Beefeater, Plymouth Gin and Seagram’s
Innis & Gunn seeks green light to sell £15m stake to US private equity firm Subscription
Innis & Gunn has followed in the footsteps of fellow Scottish craft brewer BrewDog and attracted the interest of a US private equity firm
Waitrose boosts beer lineup ahead of Oktoberfest Subscription
Its offer will include an exclusive brew by Camden Town Brewery
Woodforde’s Brewery rebranding to star Norfolk’s Lord Nelson Subscription
The brand also plans to launch an as-yet-unnamed lager
Rattler Original Cornish cider rolls out in 600 Tesco stores Subscription
The 6% abv Original Cornish Cloudy Cyder will be available from September 7 in 500ml bottles and 8X500ml multipacks.
insight
Aspall Cyder and Molson Coors: a sign of cider's promise? Subscription
What do rumours of a high-profile buyout say about the brands and the increasingly consolidated cider market?…
The new number one: spirits category report 2017 Video Subscription
Sales of voddy have overtaken those of blended Scotch for the first time. Why? And can whisky reclaim its crown?
My food & drink job: Sarah MacLellan, The Cotswolds Distillery
A woman working in whisky production? Unthinkable! When Sarah MacLellan tried to get a job on her home island of Islay, she found herself stonewalled. But she wasn’t going to allow anyone to put her off her dream career
Beeronomics: detailed book looks at how beer aids development Subscription
For a 160-plus page book about beer, Beeronomics (Oxford University Press, 2017) is largely unconcerned with how it tastes
BrewDog's battles: from roadkill to real ale Subscription
Who would have thought, when it was founded in 2007, that 10 years on BrewDog would be a household name?
The Archaeologist: Hog gin for gin hogs
Founded by a Harley-Davidson fanatic, US brand The Archaeologist has just launched three varieties of craft gin
The WSTA is right. The government must sober up on trading realities post-Brexit Subscription
Higher tariffs on EU wines, further price increases, and an uncertain future for many employed in the wine industry … no wonder the chief exec is calling time on the suits
How Clooney worked his magic on Diageo sales too Subscription
Brand growth has largely been achieved by premiumisation focus
Jackie Stewart helps make Heineken's abstinence message cool Video
Heineken has made waves with ads showing people not drinking its beer
Who will win the battle for the plonk pound? Subscription
Wine sales have been sliding at Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons, while the discounters gain ground
‘Beer for her’ is a case study in how to misjudge marketing Subscription
The brainchild of a woman, Martina Šmírová, Aurosa comes in an ’elegant and beautiful bottle’, just what the lady ordered - or is it?
Five of the most talented young people working in dairy right now 
Walkers kicks off Movie Nights streaming promotion
Delicious Alchemy adds gluten and dairy-free cake kit
Is a cut-throat price war coming to UK razors?
Jude’s launches Little range of low-sugar milk lollies
Homeless support coffee brand Change Please wins JS listing
Profiteroles and waffles withdrawn over fipronil egg scare
Piccolo to donate 100,000 baby meals to families in need
Alpro's fully behind PHE's war on sugar
Dairy's got talent: how dairy is tackling the labour crisis
Carling customers kept in dark over savings on abv cut
Eight more products containing eggs withdrawn in fipronil scandal
Barry Callebaut unveils a fourth kind of chocolate: ruby
Growers defend pesticides in wake of school fruit claims
Big food brand to startup: what to expect when taking the leap
Scottish government slammed over bottle return scheme plans
FoodCloud CEO Iseult Ward on how to redistribute a million meals per month
Asda demanded millions from suppliers to avoid delisting, says GCA
The Dairymen digital special: Do Brits think dairy is scary?
John Stapleton joins Grocery Accelerator in investment role
