Pepsi Perfect for Back to the Future fans; beer boosts Constellation Brands; and more beverage bites

Beer drives Constellation Brands’ Q2​

Constellation Brands has reported an 8% increase in its Q2 net sales, reaching $1.7bn.

CEO Rob Sands said the results had been driven by ‘impressive, sustained momentum’ in the beer business, with net sales growing 14%.

Wine and spirits net sales increased 3% on an organic constant currency basis, thanks to volume growth in the spirits division.

Constellation Brands’ glass plant and Nava brewery expansions are progressing as planned, with five million hectolitres of capacity due to be operational by the end of the year.

Highland Spring Group signs distribution partnership with Lucozade Ribena Suntory​

UK bottled water company, Highland Spring Group, has signed a distribution agreement with Lucozade Ribena Suntory.  

The independent Perthshire-based business’ portfolio includes Highland Spring, Hydr8 and Speyside Glenlivet. It bottles more than 470m litres a year, with a £100m turnover.

Lucozade Ribena Suntory will distribute Highland Spring Group’s brands in the Impulse and Out of Home channels. Highland Spring Group will still sell its brands directly in the retail sector.

Diageo announces new CFO​

Diageo has appointed Kathryn Mikells as its new CFO, effective from November 9.

Mikells has been CFO for Xerox Corporation since May 2013, and has held senior financial positions in consumer facing and B2B businesses, including United Airlines.

Deirdre Mahlan, current CFO, will step down from the Board and role of CFO when Mikells takes on the position.

Want to learn more about Champagne?​

Moët Hennessy USA has created an education portal to help wine lovers understand, appreciate and enjoy Champagne.

ChampagneMasters.com looks at five Champagne houses: Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Dom Pérignon, Krug, and Ruinart.

The mobile-ready portal is divided into three sections: ‘Think Like a Master, Taste Like a Master, and Serve Like a Master.’

Nespresso’s South Sudan coffee​

Nespresso has launched the first coffee to be exported from the new country of South Sudan.

South Sudan’s economy is heavily dependent on oil; but Nespresso says the launch of Suluja ti South Sudan is the “first significant non-oil export in a generation and represents a positive step towards rebuilding the economy.”​

South Sudan has a long coffee history, but the industry was largely destroyed during civil war.

Suluja ti South Sudan is composed of C. Canehora (Robusta) coffee, from the Yei region.

South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011.

Back to the Future​

Pepsi will launch Pepsi Perfect later this month – the soda that Marty McFly orders in the second film of the Back to the Future ​triology.

Pepsi Perfect will be released on October 21, 2015: referencing the date Marty McFly travels to in the 1980s film.  

The limited edition run of 6,500 Pepsi Perfect bottles will be available online, with each outfitted in a collectible case.

Each 16.9oz bottle will sell at $20.15. You can watch Pepsi's video below.