Markets

22-May-2012 - Growth rates across the global functional food market have contracted but product development remains high and companies are increasingly focused on general health claims, covered under article 13 of the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR), according to Leatherhead analyst.

Russian vodka market faces ‘systemic problem’: analyst

22-May-2012 - The Russian vodka market faces a systemic problem with rapid initial growth amongst brands offset by declines after several years due to lack of brand equity and ‘consumer fickleness’.

US firm brushes off Yerba Mate beverage 'bitterness' claims, hopes for sparkling growth

21-May-2012 - US firm Guayaki has launched a sparkling-based beverage containing natural stimulant Yerba Mate in Rexam sleek cans in an ‘ongoing effort’ to reach a more mainstream audience, and dismissed suggestions that the plant's sometimes bitter taste could deter uptake.

Diageo 'delight' at UK success for Nigerian sorghum-based Guinness

21-May-2012 - Diageo has told BeverageDaily.com it is 'delighted' by the export success of its African sorghum-based beers in markets such as the UK, but said there would be no wholesale push to market such products abroad, although it would assess opportunities on a per market basis.

Emotions hit fever pitch as PepsiCo draws fire for Michael Jordan Gatorade advert

15-May-2012 - PepsiCo says it is ‘reviewing’ the Public Health Advocacy Institute’s letter to the US Federal Trade Commission, attacking the firm for claiming that Gatorade helped basketball star Michael Jordan win a key match whilst ill, and asking whether film had been doctored to show him drinking it.

Some bigger cranberry buyers want a ‘price break’ our auctions don’t provide: Ocean Spray

15-May-2012 - Some rival big brands seeking ‘price breaks’ don’t participate in Ocean Spray’s online auctions for cranberry concentrate, but converts appreciate an ‘efficient, transparent and trustworthy’ process.

Alcoholic beverage brands seek social media connections as Millennials come of age

15-May-2012 - Alcoholic beverage brands increasingly are looking to connect with Millenials via social networks, as younger members of the demographic begin to celebrate their 21st birthdays.

Coke takes ‘natural’ mid-calorie carbonate plunge in Pepsi NEXT wake with stevia-based trials

15-May-2012 - The Coca-Cola Company is poised to test its own mid-calorie sodas in the US using Sprite and Fanta using natural sweeteners including Cargill's stevia brand, hot on the heels of PepsiCo’s mid-calorie cola launch Pepsi NEXT.

Top 10 US beer brands: consumers shun ‘king of beers’ for crafty choices but Heineken scores

14-May-2012 - US beer consumers sprung a crafty surprise in an influential 2012 research poll by Harris Interactive, reporting higher satisfaction levels with smaller craft brands and below average scores for mainstream beers such as Budweiser and Coors.

2011 UK carbonate sales fizz while fruit juice stalls

14-May-2012 - UK volume sales of fruit juices and dilutables fell last year, according to a new report from the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) but carbonates, smoothies and sports drinks all saw growth.

BrewDog slams ‘jealous’ Diageo for trying to fix innkeeping awards

10-May-2012 - Diageo has ‘apologised unreservedly’ after Scottish independent BrewDog accused it of ‘overbearing and blackmailing behaviour’ in leaning on a judging panel to prevent its smaller rival from winning an award.

Red Bull hopes new ‘Total Zero’ variant will give it wings after analysts warn of limited portfolio

09-May-2012 - Red Bull is launching a new variant of its eponymous energy drink with no calories, sugar or carbohydrates, adding to a limited product portfolio that analysts had identified as a weakness.

Pepsi NEXT risks re-hashing failed concept with new flavour: analyst

09-May-2012 - PepsiCo’s new mid-calorie cola brand ‘NEXT’ risks 're-hashing a failed concept behind a new flavour', despite data supporting low-calorie cola growth, according to Euromonitor International.

Export strengths tip EU food and drink industry

30-Apr-2012 - Europe’s food and drink industry has tipped its decade-long downward export balance; a shift defined by strong export figures underpinned by emerging market demands, according to FoodDrinkEurope.

Pepsi NEXT lures new consumers into cola category as sales exceed expectations

27-Apr-2012 - Sales of new mid-calorie cola Pepsi NEXT are ahead of expectations, while early feedback suggests it is attracting new consumers - as well as lapsed cola drinkers - into the cola category, PepsiCo has revealed.

Wine exporters swoon at sight of Canada: Rabobank

25-Apr-2012 - Faced with volume declines in core European export markets, exporters are reassessing the importance of smaller markets with better growth and pricing, and Canada is leading the way.

'Breakthrough innovation' sees PepsiCo launch Tropicana juices with tea

24-Apr-2012 - PepsiCo brand Tropicana has launched two new US Trop50 varieties, including an innovative juice with tea mix and a red orange juice with 50% less sugar and calories.

Rising US beverage stars add excitement ‘throughout the day’: Symphony IRI

24-Apr-2012 - Symphony IRI has identified 'rising stars' among US beverage brands that add excitement ‘throughout the day’, while it said the single-cup coffee trend will continue to boom having set NPD pulses racing in 2011.

WEEKLY COMMENT

Heineken’s dog fight 'distress' shows the perils of viral marketing

23-Apr-2012 - Heineken has condemned images showing its branding displayed at a Mongolian dog-fighting event, but consumer disgust and the resultant media furore shows that viral web ‘branding’ is like a nuclear bomb, undeniably effective but with unpredictable and sometimes grotesque results.

Analyst warns that GSK’s ‘strategic masterstroke’ with Ribena Plus could backfire

19-Apr-2012 - Despite shrewd use of an EU ‘immunity support’ health claim, GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK’s) new Ribena Plus risks consumer confusion and cannibalisation of regular product sales, a beverage industry expert has warned.