News brief: Coca-Cola, Carlsberg and Kraft

Coke strikes Glaceau distribution deal ​ Coca-Cola has this week tied up a new distribution deal with one of its bottlers for the newly acquired health drink brand Glaceau. The deal will ensure that the brands are available in all packaging sizes and varieties across most US markets, according to the beverage giant's largest bottler, Coca-Cola Enterprises. Coca-Cola acquired Glaceau in June for $4.1bn (€3.05bn) as part of a move increase its share in the market for what it calls "active lifestyle beverages"​. These are products, which target health-conscious consumers - a key area of growth in the drinks market. Carlsberg appoint new CEO ​ Danish brewer Carlsberg has appointed Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen as its new chief operating officer, who will take up the post from 1 October. The appointment has fuelled further speculation that the company could attempt to make a bid for rival Scottish & Newcastle (S&N). Carlsberg already operates a joint venture with S&N through the profitable Baltic Beverages Holding company, which operates in Eastern Europe. A spokesperson for the brewer told BeverageDaily.com that after a recent amendment of the company's statutes, Carlsberg had increased its capabilities for raising investment equity for any future purchases. The spokesperson said that though the group could potentially raise about €10bn for acquisitions, this did not mean that a purchase was inevitable. "The terms of the charter gives us an opportunity for expansion, but not an obligation,"​ he said. Kraft goes to Starbucks ​ Kraft Foods has signed an agreement with coffee retailer Starbucks to sell some of its coffee products through its Tassimo beverage lineup in the US and Canada from December. The move represents the extension of Starbucks brands away from its core food service operations and into the beverage retail market. SABMiller's Peroni turning Japanese ​ Global brewer SABMiller has announced the launch of its Peroni Nastro Azzurro beer brand in Japan, as a sign of its commitment to tapping growth for the product in the emerging markets of the Asia Pacific region. The company said that the launch would mark the debut of the brand in Eastern Asia.