AB InBev angered by Ohio beer bill as craft brewers claim victory

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) has attacked ‘free market restrictions’ after a controversial brewery bill was passed in Ohio, but the state’s Craft Brewer’s Association says the law protects craft brewers’...

Management target $45m cost savings to mAKE CASE FOR STANDALONE FUTURE

‘Bitter’ Britvic blow as firm plans to leave historic UK base cutting 230 jobs

Trade union Unite has described the threat to 290 Britvic jobs across three UK sites as a ‘bitter blow’and aims to talk with management next week in a bid to...

BIG BEER HIT BY TAX HIKES, ADVERTISING & KIOSK SALES BANS

Coca-Cola Hellenic expects Coke sales to fizz as beer falls flat in Russia

Coca-Cola Hellenic (CCH) insists its brands will continue to take market share in Russia from PepsiCo, as well as brewers hit by taxes and alcohol advertising and kiosk sales bans.

INDUSTRY VOICES: GUEST ARTICLE, HEAD OF AKTIEFOKUS CHINA, JACOB DE LICHTENBERG

Carlsberg faces Chinese challenge in booming Yunnan beer market

Danish multinational brewer Carlsberg, which once held a solid market share in the Southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan, is facing tough competition from new entrants and existing competitors desiring a...

Yakult ordered to pull Olympics-themed advert in UK over health claims breach

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has slapped a ban on the broadcast of a Yakult TV advert, ruling that the ad implied there was a health advantage to drinking...

Indian issues

Excise issues tax notices to two Mallya empire companies

Two of flamboyant Indian drinks tycoon Vijay Mallya’s businesses have been issued show-cause-cum-demand notices by the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence for allegedly evading service tax of Rs91 crore...

Iron Maiden beer has been ‘big door opener’: UK brewer Robinsons

Independent UK brewer Robinsons, which created a real ale in partnership with rock band Iron Maiden, says the band’s ‘Trooper’ beer is already proving a ‘big door opener’ in sales...

Heineken follows Carlsberg into Burma with $60m brewery build

Heineken has signed a JV to produce and sell Heineken beers in Burma (Myanmar), and plans to build a $60m brewery there, following Carlsberg, Coke and Pepsi into the country.

Coca-Cola to offer low/no-calorie options in every market as it commits to 'being part of the solution' to obesity epidemic

Coca-Cola has pledged to offer low- or no- calorie beverage options in every market following criticism that it is still aggressively promoting full-sugar products in emerging markets while offering healthier options...

CCA boss defends Aussie Coke prices after blistering Coles attack

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) MD Terry Davis has responded to an attack from the CEO of retail giant Coles, who claims that Coca-Cola costs Australian consumers too much at a 60%...

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”.

Asian margins matter less than growth in key markets, Carlsberg CEO

Carlsberg CEO Jorgen Buhl Rasmussen says the firm is currently less concerned with building Asian margins than securing growth in a key region, particularly in markets such as China and...

News in brief

Danone on Sirma bottled water buy: 'Turkey is a strategic region'

Danone has signed an agreement to buy a 50.1% controlling stake in Turkish bottled water player Sirma, and said that Turkey was a 'strategic country' for its waters division.

Coconut water fortifies diet when substituted for non nutritive drinks, research shows

Coconut water can make a positive nutritional contribution to the diet if it is used to replace high calorie, non nutritional beverages, according to new research presented the recent Experimental...

£62m UK brand set for Stateside rollout

Apple of AB InBev’s eye: Stella Cidre set for US launch

AB InBev CEO Carlos de Brito has revealed that the world’s biggest brewer will launch UK cider sales sensation Stella Cidre in the US within the next few weeks.

Britvic: We think there is a real opportunity to create the concentrated fruit drink category in the US

Britvic Worldwide Brands is bringing the novelty of a fruit drink concentrate to the US with the launch of its leading kids drink brand in Alabama.

RC TEN Cola success proves ‘pleasant surprise’ for Dr Pepper Snapple

Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS) CEO Larry Young insists US retailers are working hard with his firm to develop a ‘better-for-you’ carbonates platform, and said Royal Crown Cola Ten’s initial success...

GSK's iconic tonic: Abandon Ribena and Lucozade to Big Beverage

GlaxoSmithKline will sell its “iconic brands” Lucozade and Ribena to a beverage giant – if the price is right – the company announced in its Q1 results yesterday.

Heineken CFO plays down flag brand’s global sales slump

Heineken has played down a 4.7% slump in global sales of its eponymous brand versus Q4 2012, blaming bad weather in Europe and retailer destocking in France and the US.

Coca-Cola Enterprises could cut up to 288 UK distribution jobs

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) has warned that it could make up to 288 UK staff redundant as it exits its direct store delivery (DSD) operation serving the foodservice sector towards the...

Coke’s Himalaya plant plans spark environmentalists' fury

AN agreement between Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages and the Uttarakhand government to set up a Rs600cr (US$110m) manufacturing plant in Dehradun’s Vikas Nagar Tehsil has drawn the rage of local environmental...

PepsiCo: We’ll reinvent the North American cola category

PepsiCo says it is investing heavily in R&D to ‘reinvent’ the flagging cola category in North America.