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28-Feb-2005
PepsiCo joins companies reducing ads to kids
PepsiCo has become the latest company to bow to pressure on the food industry from the rising tide of obesity, introducing voluntary restrictions on its advertising to children, according to an article in today's London-based Financial Times.
25-Feb-2005
WBD merges beverage businesses to cut costs
Russia's leading dairy and juice producer Wimm-Bill-Dann has announced it will merge its juice and water businesses as part of a restructuring plan devised to stop rising transport and raw materials costs from damaging profits, reports Chris Mercer.
InBev outsources IT infrastructure to achieve savings
InBev is outsourcing its IT infrastructure on a global basis, arguing that this offers the best combination of cost efficiencies, technical performance and flexibility for future growth.
EEB slams new EU packaging standards
The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) has slammed new EU packaging standards, claiming they are likely to encourage increased packaging volumes and do little to facilitate greater recycling.
SA targets US wine market, US focuses on Europe
South African winemakers are keen to capitalise on growing interest in their wines from US consumers - and on the predicted growth in the market there. Their US counterparts, meanwhile, continue to focus on Europe, where sales have grown strongly despite strong competition from Old World producers, writes Chris Jones.
Drinks groups step up investments
Italian spirit maker Campari has today confirmed that it is increasing its stake in US unit Skyy Spirits, while earlier in the week it was the turn of brewer SABMiller to increase its stake in Italy's Peroni group, writes Chris Jones.
24-Feb-2005
Nestlé sees profit growth despite sales downturn
Disposals and currency exchange rates pushed down full-year sales at Nestlé, the world's biggest food producer, but the decline had no impact on profitability, which grew by a healthy 8.1 per cent during 2004. IN order to stay ahead of the pack, increased expenditure on R&D and marketing was needed, however, writes Chris Jones.
23-Feb-2005
Cadbury Schweppes back on track after reshuffle
British confectionery and soft drinks group Cadbury Schweppes is back on the path to growth after the acquisition of confectionery group Adams and a complete overhaul of its US beverage business. Cost reductions, investment in confectionery innovation and a strong performance in the difficult US soft drinks market all contributed to a major bounce back in 2004, writes Chris Jones.
Brandy firm sees profit and potential in PET packaging
The conversion of a 116-year-old brandy brand from glass to PET bottles represents a significant breakthrough for the material.
Brewers to focus on premium brands, cutting costs
Three of Europe's biggest beer makers have reported mixed results this week, with Scottish & Newcastle, Carlsberg and Heineken all underlining the need to cut costs and increase advertising expenditure, especially for premium brands in sluggish western European markets, writes Chris Jones.
22-Feb-2005
CCHBC announces Vlasinka acquisition
Coca-Cola's Greek bottling subsidiary has announced it will buy its way into Serbia's bottled water market as the trend towards healthy living increases the importance of non-carbonated soft drinks, reports Chris Mercer.
Russian firm to roll out oxygenated water production
Oygenated water is becoming increasingly popular in the health-crazy west of Europe, but its presence in the east of the continent has been relatively limited, until now. Russian company SoiuzSnab is to be the first local firm to produce oxygen-enriched water as consumers throughout eastern Europe pick up on the growing trend towards healthy hydration, writes Angela Drujinina.
18-Feb-2005
Russian turnaround lifts BBH
The completion of its nationwide distribution network and increased investment in advertising helped brewer Baltic Beverages Holding to shrug off a difficult first half for its Russian brewing business and end the year with an increase in sales, writes Chris Jones.
Coke bottler confirms interest in Serbian water group
The Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling company, which this week announced solid sales growth led by emerging markets in Eastern Europe, has confirmed its interest in Serbia's second largest mineral water bottler as the company plans to expand its blossoming non-carbonated drinks range, reports Chris Mercer.
Diageo growth curbed by currency impact
Diageo, the world's biggest spirit group, has announced a drop in first half profits, caused by foreign exchange rates, weak demand in Europe and the continued decline of the ready-to-drink segment, writes Chris Jones.
Amcor profits constrained by material and restructuring costs
Restructuring costs at Amcor's PET plastics and flexible packaging divisions have contributed to a decline in first-half net profit, though the Australia-based company expects an improvement in the second half, despite the impact of higher raw material costs and a regulatory investigation. Anthony Fletcher reports.
17-Feb-2005
Coke to launch cholesterol-lowering juice in Europe
Coca-Cola has received approval from UK food authorities to market Europe's first cholesterol-lowering juice.
EC loses fight over Tetra Laval deal
The European Union's highest court ruled this week that the EC had been wrong to prohibit a merger between packaging groups Tetra Laval and Sidel four years ago.
Italian drinks group joins the list of Chinese investors
International drinks groups have been lining up to invest in China in recent years, but almost all of their acquisitions have been in the beer sector where there are literally hundreds of potential takeover targets. But China's wine sector has been largely overlooked, despite its potential - until now.
16-Feb-2005
Back-from-the-brink Merrydown agrees sale to SHS
Merrydown, the British beverage group whose focus on adult soft drinks has helped it overcome the declining fortunes of cider, has agreed to a takeover by SHS, a consumer goods sales and marketing specialist. The group hopes that the greater financial clout of its new owner will help it build on the good work of the last few years, in particular for the Shloer brand, writes Chris Jones.
Study recommends rethink in wine storage duration
The maximum concentrations of compounds transferred to wine from wood is reached after 10 to 12 months of the wine being stored in wooden casks, according to a Spanish scientist.
Wine keeps women's hearts beating healthily
Drinking wine, but not beer or spirits, keeps women's hearts beating healthily, finds new research.
15-Feb-2005
Eastern Europe bolsters CCHBC in 2004
Non-carbonated soft drinks in emerging Eastern European markets, especially Russia, held up sales growth during a challenging period for the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), despite a €49 million one-off charge sending profits tumbling, reports Chris Mercer.
InBev concedes defeat in battle for Slovenian Union
InBev has spread rapidly beyond the borders of its native Belgium in the last few years, with major acquisitions in Asia, Latin America and Europe. But the world's biggest brewer is not always successful in its takeover bids, as the recent David vs. Goliath battle over Slovenia's Pivovarna Union clearly shows. Chris Jones reports.
EBRD invests in Uzbek brewer
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will encourage Uzbekistan to implement economic reforms by pledging nearly €3 million to improve quality and double capacity at a private domestic brewer, reports Chris Mercer.
Krones pushes packaging machinery innovation further
Krones, the world's biggest manufacturer of beverage bottling lines and packaging machinery, is set to launch a series of new packaging products at Interpack 2005.
14-Feb-2005
Rexam repackages drink in resealable aluminium
Jolt, an energy drink originally marketed in 1985, is being re-launched in an innovative new aluminium beverage package from Rexam Beverage Can North America.
Coke urges US and EU to tackle trade barriers
Companies seeking to do business across the Atlantic face significant hurdles if the United States and European Union do not work to remove non-tariff trade barriers, claimed Coca-Cola chief executive Neville Isdell.
Bidders emerge for Jinro
Fourteen foreign and domestic companies, featuring some of the biggest names in the global drinks industry, are expected to slug it out for control of Jinro, South Korea's biggest spirit maker.
International expansion drives growth at APB
A 15-year drive to develop a network of international breweries continues to pay dividends for Singapore's Asia Pacific Breweries, which has reported a 19 per cent increase in profits for the first quarter of 2005.
Solid performance from SMC in 2004
Beer was the main driving force behind a solid if unspectacular performance from San Miguel Corporation (SMC), the Philippines-based food and drink group, in 2004. But with the performance falling short of many analysts' expectations, and the government looking to sell its stake in the company, 2005 looks likely to be an uncertain period for the company.
Southcorp in rude good health as it fends off Foster's
Australian winery Southcorp has reported a 50 per cent increase in net profits for the first half of fiscal 2005, a performance which has allowed the company to reinstate dividend payments for shareholders for the first time in two years and strengthen its case for rejecting a A$3.1 billion takeover bid from Foster's.
11-Feb-2005
Danone weathers water cooler write down as net profits slide
Danone, the French dairy conglomerate, announced today that net profits had plummeted 62 per cent, following the costly €600 million write down of its water-cooler business last month, Tom Armitage reports.
10-Feb-2005
Splenda fights back
Tate & Lyle's Splenda brand in the news again this week as McNeil Nutritionals, the table-top supplier of this increasingly popular sweetener, takes the US sugar industry to court.
09-Feb-2005
UK proposes consultation on packaging waste accreditation
The UK government has proposed a three-week consultation on the accreditation of packaging waste reprocessors and exporters, in order to allay fears that recycling targets will not be met.
08-Feb-2005
Coca-Cola to use Splenda logo on new Diet Coke
Sales and consumer awareness of sweetener from UK manufacturer Tate & Lyle look set to rise as number one global soft drinks player launches a new version of Diet Coke, complete with Splenda sucralose logo on the packaging, writes Lindsey Partos.
PET continues to bite into rivals market share
Non-refillable PET is strengthening its grip on the global beverage packaging market, according to industry analyst Canadean.
04-Feb-2005
Australian wine, French anis take shine off Pernod Ricard sales
A substantial drop in organic sales growth in Asia and continued problems with its eponymous anis brands were the only low points in an otherwise impressive set of financial results for Pernod Ricard in 2004, writes Chris Jones.
03-Feb-2005
Coca-Cola threatens legal action over juice packaging
Coca-Cola is suing rival US beverage manufacturer Florida's Natural because it believes the company has infringed on the patented plastic carafe used by its Minute Maid Simply Orange juice brand.
02-Feb-2005
Cranberry health claim in France extended to juice drinks
Cranberry juice drinks and cordials marketed in France can now make a health claim to promote their benefits to urinary tract health.
Absolut buoyed by US market growth
Sweden's Absolut vodka has consolidated its position as the world's third-largest international spirit brand with a 5 per cent increase in shipments in 2004 - buoyed in particular by an excellent performance in its most important market, the US. Chris Jones reports.
Support for French winemakers fails to tackle overproduction issue
The French authorities have come up with a €70 million rescue package for ailing wine producers, but as Kim Hunter Gordon and Chris Jones report, they have once again failed to tackle the principal problem - massive overproduction of poor quality wines.
Greene King real ale continues to grow
Sales figures from UK brewer and pub group Greene King continue to show that growth in real ale is possible, writes Kim Hunter Gordon.
01-Feb-2005
Red wine, the heart cure?
Trawling through the mounting investigations into the impact of wine-drinking on heart health, Danish researchers confirm ongoing findings that drinkers of wine benefit from its cardio-protective effects, more so than those who drink beer or other spirits, and may also live longer.
Alcoa named one of world's most sustainable corporations
Aluminium packaging giant Alcoa has been named one of the top three most sustainable corporations in the world during a ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
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