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.

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'...

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 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...

Pernod Ricard will splash cash on global brands after €103m sale

Pernod Ricard has finalized the €103m sale of Danish akvavit brands Aalborg and Brøndums to Norway’s largest spirits producer Arcus-Gruppen following regulatory approval, and reaffirmed its focus on 14 international...

LIVE FROM THE SHOW FLOOR: BRAU BEVIALE 2012

Ardagh Group reveals brewing interest in unique Absolut vodka bottles

Mads Elming from Ardagh Group gives Ben Bouckley the lowdown on the development of the firm's eye-catching collaboration with Pernod Ricard's Absolut brand to create four million uniquely decorated vodka...

Pernod Ricard subsidiary slams Czech spirits ban

Pernod Ricard’s Czech subsidiary Jan Becher (JBKB) says the Czech government’s decision to ban all strong spirit sales in the country, following 20+ methanol-related deaths linked to local bootleg liquor,...

News in brief

'We are family': Pernod Ricard keeps new executive business cards close

Pernod Ricard has revealed plans to appoint Alexandre Ricard as its next chairman and CEO from January 2015, as it reshuffles its executive pack following the surprise death of his...

Soaring French spirits taxes rock Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard admits that the effects of a hefty 2012 French VAT hike on spirits has ‘severely affected’ the fortunes of key brand Ricard and other aniseed spirits with 45%+ ABV.

News in brief

Shock death of chairman shakes Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard chairman Patrick Ricard, son of Paul who founded the French spirits company in 1932, died suddenly on August 17.

Pernod Ricard brand buys will help us get aquavit moving – Arcus-Gruppen

Norway’s largest spirits producer Arcus-Gruppen says it hopes to get its Nordic aquavit business 'moving again' with the acquisition of three aquavit brands from Pernod Ricard for €103m.

Pernod Ricard grabs African growth passport with new regional subsidiaries

Pernod Ricard is expanding its direct African presence by opening four new affiliate companies this year to boost strategic brands and target ‘standard’ spirit sales, potentially at the expense of...

Pernod Ricard will ‘continue to fight’ Bacardi for Havana Club US trademark

Pernod Ricard tells BeverageDaily.com it will ‘continue to fight’ for its alleged US trademark rights to the Havana Club name, but bitter rival Bacardi USA expects its pending federal application...

Chivas Brothers Pernod Ricard spots 'prestige' opportunity in hand-bottled whisky

Pernod Ricard spirits business Chivas Brothers is committing ₤40m per year to increase Scotch distillation capacity and bottling facilities, and notes a growing thirst for premium products in Brazil and...

Pernod Ricard 'expects' to retain consumer confidence despite fake Jacob's Creek seizures

Potentially lethal chemicals have been detected in fake vodka seized in the UK, while Pernod Ricard says it expects consumers to retain confidence in the Jacob's Creek brand, despite a...

Pernod Ricard steadies European ship

French spirits giant Pernod Ricard has successfully grown European sales in 2010/11 after a worrying 5% slump last year, due to a “recovery in consumer spending”.

Analyst praises innovation work at Pernod Ricard

A Nomura analyst has praised the pace of innovation at Pernod Ricard following the redesign of its Ricard bottle in France and the launch of several up-market extensions of existing...