Royal row for Diageo as top Irish lawyer slams Guinness 'PR coup'

The director general (DG) of the Law Society of Ireland has reportedly said that the Irish government should stop foreign dignitaries like Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip from being pictured...

Politcian says constituents still feel 'let down by Diageo'

MP attacks Diageo on outgoing CEO Paul Walsh's 'excessive' pay packet

A Scottish MP has attacked Diageo’s remuneration of outgoing boss Paul Walsh, and says the people she represents in Kilmarnock still feel ‘let down’ by the firm for closing a...

Winds of change affect flavored vodka’s US silly season?

A clutch of crazy and sometimes simply plain daft flavored vodka varieties took the US by storm from the early noughties, but new Mintel data suggests growth might be stalling.

Scotch whisky’s 25% sales slump in France ‘quite surprising’: Analyst

Mintel analyst Chris Wisson tells BeverageDaily.com that a 2012 slump in Scotch whisky exports to France is ‘quite surprising’ but insists the category’s global future remains bright.

Diageo eyes new Connecticut opportunity in malt-based frozen RTDs

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) tells BeverageDaily.com it opposes a successful state bill allowing sales of malt beverages in pouches on recycling grounds, as Diageo eyes...

BUT BIG BRANDS HENNESSEY, JOHNNIE WALKER STRONG IN KEY MARKETS

Spirits brands miss digital marketing opps in new Asian sales 'epicenter'?

Despite runaway spirits growth in Asia, 20% of global brands do not have a Chinese website, and mobile sites tend to lack investment, but Hennessey and Johnnie Walker are strong...

Diageo eyes ‘amazing opportunities’ in confectionery flavored spirits

Diageo technical director Luca Lupini believes confectionery flavored spirits are an ‘amazing opportunity’ for the firm, and insists the sub-category brings out the best in its R&D team.

Diageo boss to step down after 13 years

The boss of Guinness and Johnnie Walker whisky maker Diageo is to step down after 13 years at the helm, in what City analyst Investec described as “a well-flagged transition”.

BUT MAJOR BRANDS CEO INSISTS ON FIRM'S 'OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE'

Diageo sues Missouri distributor Major Brands for ‘unacceptable’ performance

Diageo is suing its principal Missouri wines and spirits distributor Major Brands, alleging ‘unacceptable’ performance, but Major CEO Susan McCollum insists her firm has a long record of 'outstanding performance'...

‘Simply unacceptable’: Unite slams Diageo and peers over UK tax loophole

Unite the Union says the use of a legal loophole that it claims allows large multinationals such as Diageo to reduce tax payments on UK profits 'simply isn’t acceptable'....

Moody’s feels brighter about beverage industry prospects

Bond credit rating business Moody’s has revised its outlook for the global beverage industry upwards, citing rising middle class demand in emerging markets for high-end wines and spirits from the...

Diageo ‘co-operating’ with Turkish authorities on Mey Içki probe

Diageo’s Turkish president insists that the firm is co-operating with a government competition probe into its Mey Içki spirits business, and says he does not expect it had acted inappropriately....

Diageo’s $150m global supply chain shakeup ‘likely’ to cost jobs

Diageo will spend around £100m refocusing its global supply and procurement operations to reflect acquisitions in key emerging markets, but says the streamlining operation will probably mean job losses.

United Spirits: India regulator gives green light for $2bn Diageo deal

The Indian Competition Commission (CCI) has approved Diageo’s purchase of a 53.4% stake in United Spirits (USL), saying that the £1.28bn ($2.04bn) purchase may boost the nation’s premium spirits market...

SPIRITS GIANT PLANS $3.19M M&A SPEND TO BACK UK LAUNCH

Diageo hopes for UK frozen cocktail frenzy with Parrot Bay

Diageo is set to introduce a new sub-category within RTD cocktails in the UK, by launching its Parrot Bay frozen alcoholic drinks in April following ‘explosive’ US growth.

FEBRUARY 2013 COMMENT

Weight in gold or waste of space? Celebrity beverage brand ambassadors

Whether it’s the latest starlet bouncing round in a boob tube, or that bad boy musician who swops his rap records for raki, there’s no doubting that celebrity endorsements are...

Underage US drinkers prefer Bud Light, Smirnoff, Budweiser: Study

Bud Light, Smirnoff malt beverages and Budweiser were the brands most widely consumed by by 1000+ underage US drinkers over a 30-day period, according to the authors of a new...

Diageo spirits ABC is advantage over SAB Miller: Analyst suggests

Diageo is in an arguably stronger market position than multinational peer SAB Miller due to its core exposure to spirits rather than beer, according to one City analyst who covers...

Heineken silent on Finnish sale tattle but confirms JP Morgan strategic review link

Heineken has confirmed to BeverageDaily.com that it is working with JP Morgan as it begins a strategic review of its Finnish business, and PepsiCo licensee, Hartwall but refused to comment...

diageo h1 2013 results

Diageo CEO bowled Cuervo ball, but hints at 'exciting' 2013 tequila entry

Diageo CEO Paul Walsh says he was ‘somewhat disappointed’ by the breakdown of talks to acquire the Jose Cuervo tequila brand, but hints his firm may make an ‘organic entry’...

Diageo faces struggle to make United Spirits pay: Analyst

The potential upsides in Diageo’s potential acquisition of a majority stake in India's United Spirits (USL) are clear but achieving acceptable profitability from the business may be tricky, according to...

News in brief

Diageo raises sorghum beer stakes with $36m investment

Diageo has agreed to a form a 50:50 joint venture with DR Mallya to take over United National Breweries' traditional sorghum beer business in South Africa, with the UK company...

Big boys bulk up: World’s Top 5 brewers turn screw on local players

A recent M&A wave in brewing means that ‘global giants’ AB InBev, SAB Miller, Heineken, Carlsberg and CR Snow are piling the pressure on local players, particularly in markets such...

Pharrell Williams: Diageo’s ‘critical and avoidable mistakes’ killed Q Qream dream

Pharrell Williams claims he created Q Qream liqueur “to celebrate the beautiful, independent and sophisticated women of today”. However, the dream went sour after partner Diageo did not keep to...

BREAKING NEWS

Diageo terminates talks on 'future' of Jose Cuervo tequila brand

Diageo said today it had terminated discussion with Jose Cuervo relating to the future of the tequila brand, and that both parties will now work to ensure the orderly end...