Breaking News on Beverage Technology & Markets

Diageo pours cold water on P.Diddy tequila rumour, but toasts stellar Scotch performance

10-Feb-2012 - Diageo said today that super premium Scotch had been a stellar Chinese performer in the first half of 2011/12, but the firm poured cold water on press reports that US rap star P.Diddy planned to launch his own tequila brand.

GEA food sector acquisitions focus after 2011 results boost

09-Feb-2012 - GEA has vowed to continue its focus on food sector acquisitions after the company’s newly acquired Convenience Food Technologies segment helped drive 2011 sales and revenue.

‘Our business was built for (volatile) times like these’, Coke CEO

08-Feb-2012 - Coca-Cola Company CEO Muhtar Kent says the company fourth quarter (Q4) and full-year 2011 growth – despite economic volatility, volatile commodity markets and natural disasters – testifies to the strength of the business.

Moody’s sees ‘strong strategic rationale’ for Ardagh merger with Saint Gobain subsidiary

07-Feb-2012 - Moody’s Investors Service has told BeverageDaily.com that it sees a “strong strategic rationale” for merging glass giant Ardagh with Saint Gobain subsidiary Verallia.

Alcohol pricing bill could sabotage Scotch whisky, warns academic

26-Jan-2012 - A Scottish-based academic has warned BeverageDaily.com that plans by the country’s legislators to introduce minimum alcohol pricing would be a ‘massive shot in the foot’ for the nation’s top global export Scotch whisky.

Consumers seek Britvic fizz in flat financial times…

26-Jan-2012 - Fragile fiscal confidence amongst consumers in Great Britain (GB) and Ireland means they are turning away from Britvic’s stills to its lower-priced carbonates, according to an analyst who follows the firm.

Cut-throat, cut-price European competition sees SABMiller beer sales stall

19-Jan-2012 - SABMiller said today that ‘intense competition’ within European lager led to a fall in beer volume sales during the last quarter, but the brewer told BeverageDaily.com that it didn’t think there was a fundamental problem with the category in this market or the US.

News in brief

PepsiCo and Ocean Spray announce strategic alliance to crack Latin America

17-Jan-2012 - PepsiCo and Ocean Spray have annonced a strategic alliance in Latin America in a bid to strengthen the former's juice portfolio in the region and increase accessibility of the latter's products in this region.

News in brief

Diageo completes Ethiopian acquisition

12-Jan-2012 - Diageo claims its new acquisition of Meta Abo Brewery in Ethiopia allows it to gain access to a fast-growing market. In beer to complement its existing spirits business.

CCE catches Olympic fever but French soda tax dampens spirits

20-Dec-2011 - Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) says it is focusing on the London 2012 Olympics to spur sales, but admits that any French soda tax could lead to retail price rises there of around 10 per cent.

Coke inks Aujan deal to catch MENA consumption wave

15-Dec-2011 - The Coca-Cola Company says its agreement to acquire around 50 per cent of Middle Eastern beverage firm Aujan Industries will boost the latter’s regional sales and those of soft drink Vimto.

Hollywood A-list vodka brand sparks legal dogfight

13-Dec-2011 - An investor behind a super-premium vodka brand whose website features US celebrities such as Meryl Streep is involved in a bitter legal battle with its creators, who have called him “uneducated and unstable”.

News in brief

Foster's CEO steps down

08-Dec-2011 - Foster's Group CEO John Pollaers has announced that he will step down from his current position on December 16, following SABMiller's successful acquisition of the company.

Provexis keeps Fruitflow powder dry, axes UK R&D facility

06-Dec-2011 - UK plc Provexis plans to shut its UK research and development (R&D) facility, as the company seeks to reposition itself within the sports nutrition market and co-develop a powder version of heart health ingredient Fruitflow with DSM, which it says will be key to striking deals with global brand owners.

News in brief

Foster's chair hails 'historic day' as shareholders rubber-stamp SABMiller takeover

01-Dec-2011 - 87.2 per cent of shareholders present at a scheme meeting voted in favour of accepting SABMiller's offer, and Foster's chairman David Crawford thanked them for...

Britvic eyes ‘fruit shoot’ growth opportunity in US

30-Nov-2011 - UK beverage firm Britvic announced today that it had signed three major distribution deals in the US, as it pursues international growth for its brand portfolio via a ‘three-pronged’ strategy.

News in brief

SABMiller gains final regulatory approval for Foster's takeover

28-Nov-2011 - SABMiller has gained final regulatory approval from the Australian Federal Treasurer for the acquisition of Foster's, following a recommendation from the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB).

MeadWestvaco vows packaging focus after office ops spin off

24-Nov-2011 - MeadWestvaco Corp (MWV) said the sell-off of its office products division will add US$460m into its coffers and allow it to focus on its packaging businesses.

Rexam faces challenge of lower 2012 GDP growth in major markets

17-Nov-2011 - Rexam CEO Graham Chipchase has identified a slowdown in gross domestic product (GDP) growth within ‘several major markets’ as a key challenge for the company heading into 2012.

News in brief

Rexam's chairman of the board announces retirement

17-Nov-2011 - Multinational packaging firm Rexam announced today that chairman Sir Peter Ellwood has retired and will leave the company on February 22 2012.

Hansen prepares for 2012 launch of 16.9oz Uber Monster 'brewed energy drink'

07-Nov-2011 - Monster Energy maker Hansen Natural Corporation will unveil a novel, non-alcoholic “brewed energy drink” next year called Uber Monster, its boss has revealed.

News in brief

Wild closes deal with mint flavour house AM Todd

03-Nov-2011 - Switzerland-based Wild Flavors has finalised the acquisition of US based AM Todd, a producer of natural mint flavors and value-added mint ingredients, and also has specific technologies for organic flavors and ingredients.

Asian-Pacfic markets deliver for Kerry in ingredients and flavours

02-Nov-2011 - Asian-Pacific markets continued to provide solid growth opportunities for Kerry, notes the ingredients and flavours group as it released an interim management statement for the first nine months to 30 September 2011.

Consumers ‘thrilled to death’ with Dr Pepper Ten, CEO insists

31-Oct-2011 - The CEO and president of Dr Pepper claims that all the evidence thus far signals that customers are 'thrilled to death' with the firm’s controversial new ‘men-only’ low-calorie drink Dr Pepper Ten.