James Beeson
James is The Grocer's food and drink editor, overseeing our coverage of products, manufacturers and suppliers in the food, drink and other fast-moving consumer goods sectors. He was previously our drinks editor, and continues to lead our coverage across alcohol, soft drinks and hot beverages.
Before joining The Grocer in 2023, James was the deputy editor at Just Drinks.
He likes salty snacks and unapologetically strong cocktails.
Contact info
- Tel:
- 01293 610305
- Email:
- james.beeson@thegrocer.co.uk
NewsAdnams explores outsourcing small-pack beer production to cut costs
Adnams CEO Jenny Hanlon is understood to have told staff the brewer needed to find a more cost-effective way to produce and package its small-pack beers
NewsBeatbox RTDs ‘could appeal to under-18s’, Portman Group rules
Beatbox’s boozy 6.1% abv cocktails come packaged in Tetra Pak containers and are sold in Morrisons stores
NewsFruit beer category hits £40m milestone after scorching summer
Growth is being driven by new dedicated fruit bays in Tesco and Morrisons, as well as the standout growth of market leader Jubel
NewsIntune CBD brand lands supermarket debut with Waitrose
The brand’s Pomegranate & Ginger and Elderflower & Hops will launch in selected stores on 19 October as part of the retailer’s BrandsNew programme
NewsPernod Ricard readies India IPO as US and China woes continue
The French spirits group posted a 19% increase in sales in India in the first three months of its financial year
NewsRebel Kitchen lands retail hat-trick as coconut water category tops £100m
Year-on-year sales of coconut water have climbed 44% to £111.2, according to new Circana data
NewsWaitrose debuts gin and vodka made from its own crops
Some 30,000 bottles have landed in over 200 Waitrose stores nationwide
NewsHalewood Artisanal Spirits insists ‘business as usual’ despite sweeping director changes
Halewood has also changed its name of its holding company to Charlie Stewart Spirits
NewsASA bans Nutrition Geeks ‘bottom illustration’ creatine advert
The ad featured a before-and-after style illustration of a bottom that ‘appeared more shapely’ in the ‘after’ image, the ASA said.
NewsFierce Beer deepens spirits focus with 8% abv margarita duo
The new ‘Hard Coolers’ are spirit-based and produced in Aberdeen
NewsServed debuts Vodka+ RTD range with coconut water and Himalayan pink salt
Cans in Blue Raspberry and Black Cherry have rolled out exclusively via Tesco and Booker
NewsMalibu eyes high-abv RTD opportunity with Punch cocktail range
It comes with ready-to-drink cocktails bucking wider declines seen across spirits
NewsRow erupts over new English Whisky Geographical Indication status
The basis of the SWA’s complaint concerns the fact that the English Whisky GI allows single malt English whisky to be mashed and fermented away from the distillery
NewsKopparberg launches ‘world-first’ clear fruit cider
Sleek cans in Peach and Wild Berries have rolled out exclusively in Tesco stores
NewsHatch Mansfield appoints drinks veteran as new CEO
The new CEO joins Hatch Mansfield from Stoli Group, where he was most recently CEO of its fine wine and spirits business Tenute del Mondo.
NewsCarlsberg Britvic announces plan to close Marston’s Brewery
The Marston’s Brewery was acquired as part of Carlsberg UK’s merger with Marston’s Brewing Company in 2020
NewsPG Tips launches another brand refresh as sales slide continues
Lipton Teas & Infusions has so far failed to revive PG Tips since the carve out of Unilever’s tea business in 2022
NewsLavazza unveils ‘capsule-free’ Tablì coffee system
The innovation combines a dedicated coffee machine and single-use tabs made without coating or binders
NewsBottlegreen unveils trio of botanical cordials in partnership with Highgrove
The cordials are inspired by the plants, flowers and flavours of Highgrove Gardens
NewsMoth adds Decaf Espresso Martini ahead of Christmas
The NPD is made using Wood Brothers vodka, coffee liqueur and cold brew espresso