beers, wines & spirits news
Booze industry bodies: no-deal Brexit 'unacceptable' Subscription
UK and EU trade organisations have called for continued flow of goods post-Brexit
Brighton Gin adds 'stocking filler' 350ml half-bottles Subscription
The half-bottles would provide an “entry level super-premium craft gin for new gin converts”…
BrewDog targets £10m in new 'Equity for Punks' funding drive Subscription
A successful bid would make BrewDog “the biggest crowdfunded business of all time”, it claimed…
Innis & Gunn makeover marks return to barrel aged beers
The brewer is rolling out new 330ml bottles across its core range of beers from the middle of this month…
The Co-op adds swathe of wine SKUs in data-inspired refresh Subscription
Stores will be clustered with an “affluence overlay” to determine what is important to consumers…
19 Crimes rolls out Cabernet Sauvignon into Co-op Subscription
It marks the first single varietal wine from the Australian brand to hit shelves in the UK
Concha y Toro profit hit by weak pound and higher costs Subscription
Results for the year ending 31 December 2016 show operating profits fell £306k to £3.2m
Tesco trials extended booze range in 'new approach' to online Subscription
It recently completed a pilot scheme selling a wider range of premium wines and spirits from its digital platform
Brewer Hiver abandons crowdfunding push Subscription
The brand had offered 8% of its equity to finance the expansion of its HQ
Tesco adds Negroni and Espresso Martini pre-mixed cocktails to Finest range Subscription
The NPD would tap the growing trend for cocktails at home, said Tesco spirits product developer Danielle Jack
Westons targets 40% growth in five years with brand overhaul Subscription
A new logo will roll out from late October across all consumer and trade touchpoints…
Westons Cider doubles bottling capacity with £1.5m funding package Subscription
Westons Cider has invested in new bottling technology to double its production capacity after securing a £1.5m bank funding package.
Diageo to resurrect 'lost' single malt distilleries with £35m cash injection Subscription
The spirits giant is poised to reopen distilleries in Brora, Sutherland, and Port Ellen, Islay…
David Stead joins Majestic Wine as non-executive director Subscription
The former CFO of home furnishings retailer Dunelm and finance director at Boots will take up the role next month
Fourpure gives core beer range an 'eye-catching' makeover Subscription
New 330ml cans featuring a new “more eye-catching” design and “improved” tasting notes will roll out this month…
Price wars in prosecco fuel sparkling wine sales surge
The average price per litre for sparkling wine fell by 23p (3.3%) to £6.76 this year…
Morrisons launches 66cl Krombacher Pils
The 4.8% abv Krombacher Pils made their UK supermarket debut this week across 400 Morrisons stores…
Majestic Wine relaunches 'more interactive' website Subscription
Shoppers will have the chance to rate wines and influence Majestic’s range…
Ex BrewDog MD Gareth Bath joins Chapel Down as beer boss
The appointment is part of the English winemaker’s “ambitious plans” for beer and cider brand Curious
The Lakes Distillery secures major deal with M&S Subscription
The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Vodka will roll out across 26 M&S stores in the north west and north east of England
Waitrose includes half bottles in new own-label wine range Subscription
The mid-tier Blueprint range includes 38 wines, six of which come in a half-bottle size of 37.5cl
Schweppes adds posh mixers and ‘skittle’-shaped bottle Subscription
The new look will be backed by a £6.6m marketing push
Innis & Gunn adds three to its board in wake of private equity sale Subscription
Scottish craft brewer has added three directors to its board following the completion of its minority sale to global private equity house L Catterton last month.
William Grant & Sons revenues and profits soar in 2016 Subscription
Sales and profits have leapt at William Grant & Sons as the Scottish spirits giant thanks to “significant” currency tailwinds in the wake of the weak pound.
insight
Scotch can’t blame declining sales on alcohol duty hikes Subscription
If beleaguered Scotch brands want to get back into growth, they need to start considering how to appeal to rapidly changing tastes …
Supermarkets slash booze deals as overall promos fall Subscription
A cutback on booze deals drove a significant drop in promotional activity across the mults last month
Less is more: alcohol category report 2017 Video Subscription
Brits are boozing less and retailers are stocking fewer drinks. Yet alcohol sales are flying, up a whopping £345m
Has the craft beer craze crested? Subscription
British craft beer is arguably the best it’s ever been. The problem is there’s just so damn much of it, so is the glass half empty?
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
10 packaging innovations of 2017
Arla launches Protein Milk containing 30% more than standard
Bacardi to launch premium Cuatro rum
Innis & Gunn makeover marks return to barrel aged beers
Tetley moves into squash aisle with functional range
Plain packaging: who's next?
Butter price hikes pile pressure on biscuit and fudge makers
Cadbury adds Inclusions eggs with innovative choc shells
Mary Berry’s brand unveils its first condiments
Soft drinks industry warns of 'war on sweeteners'
The Co-op adds swathe of wine SKUs in data-inspired refresh
Warburtons debuts ‘Pride & Breadjudice’ ad starring Peter Kay
Tropicana offers shoppers chance to vote for new juice
Peter Kay packs in the laughs in Warburtons 'period drama'
FSA probe finds widespread addition of undeclared sugar in coconut water
Young's and Saucy Fish Co unveil new additions to frozen ranges
Urgent action is needed to protect coconut water's success
Trolley posters 'deliver 15% sales boost for brands'
