All news articles for January 2020

Sales of zero sugar drinks increased by 22 million litres between 2015 and 2018. Pic:getty/andreypopov

Soft drink sugar drops by 29% in the UK

By Rachel Arthur

An Oxford University study has found the total amount of sugar sold in soft drinks in the UK dropped by 29% between 2015-2018. “Sustained pressure on business, including fiscal measures, has led to a striking reduction,” say the researchers.

Alcohol brands

Alcohol brands are making billion-dollar ecommerce mistakes

By Beth Newhart

US consumers spent $2.6bn buying alcohol online last year, but experts say it could be billions more. Alcohol ecommerce penetration is ‘abysmally low’ which Rabobank believes could have 'profound consequences' on the industry.

© GettyImages/Mailson Pignata

UK microalgae startup secures £1m in funding

By Jane Byrne

Edinburgh-based biotech startup, MiAlgae, has received investment of £1m (US$1.3m) in total to focus on the commercialization of its microalgae product, targeting the aquaculture and pet food sectors.

The Budweiser Solar Farm will produce the equivalent of power for 670,000 homes. Pic:getty/edufoto

AB InBev to brew beer with renewable electricity in Europe

By Rachel Arthur

AB InBev has signed a deal with global renewable energy developer, BayWa r.e., to purchase 100% renewable electricity for its European brewing operations. It is the largest Pan-European corporate solar power deal ever made: covering AB InBev’s 14 breweries...

Image: iStock/lowkick

Energy drink ban ‘makes no sense’

By Oliver Morrison

Plans in the UK to ban the sale of energy drinks to teenagers are “unscientific” and “discriminatory” according to a think-tank.

Stock picture: getty/rusak

Molson Coors to cease production at California brewery

By Rachel Arthur

Molson Coors Beverage Company plans to stop production at its Irwindale, California, brewery by September. It has also entered into an agreement with Pabst Brewing Co, which gives Pabst the option to purchase the facility.

BrewDog opens alcohol-free bar

BrewDog opens alcohol-free bar

By Rachel Arthur

Scottish craft brewer BrewDog has opened an alcohol-free beer bar in London this week: with a view to rolling the concept out across the UK and Europe.

“We’re doing so much more in DC than we were four years ago. We’re speaking up for common sense labeling regulations, lobbying for legislation to lower excise taxes.

Cider association rebrands and highlights dry offerings

By Beth Newhart

The United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM) was officially renamed to the American Cider Association (ACA) on December 31. It called 2019 ‘a year of resilience’ for cider in the face of flavored malt beverage (FMB) popularity.

Coca-Cola takes full ownership of ultra-filtered milk fairlife

Coca-Cola takes full ownership of fairlife

By Rachel Arthur

The Coca-Cola Company has acquired the remaining stake in fairlife LLC from its joint venture partner Select Milk Producers: giving it 100% ownership of the ultra-filtered milk company.

Five premium tea trends to watch in 2020

By Maria Uspenski, The Tea Spot

The five significant trends for tea in 2020 all circulate within the general theme of phytotherapy, and support the general shift toward a more mindful approach in the health and wellness market, writes Maria Uspenski of The Tea Spot.

Pic:getty/ake1150sb

BeverageDaily 2020 features calendar

By Rachel Arthur

Every year BeverageDaily runs a series of special edition newsletters – each putting the spotlight on an innovative industry sector – and here are our subjects for 2020.

Focus on the more emotive 'why' than the technical 'how' to engage consumers with sustainability. pic:getty/ahfotobox

How to effectively communicate winemaker credentials: organic, sustainable, and biodynamic

By Emilie Steckenborn, founder of the Bottled in China podcast & head of education at Treasury Wine Estates (Asia & MEIA)

Organic. Sustainable. Biodynamic. For wine consumers, these terms are often misinterpreted or conflated. In fact, they are all very distinct: both in terms of the processes involved and the objectives producers are seeking to achieve, writes Emilie Steckenborn...

Brewing up a storm in India’s craft beer wilderness

Brewing up a storm in India’s craft wilderness

By Richard Whitehead

Before enjoying a beer in India, savvy drinkers will follow a simple process. This is needed to remove the glycerin that saturates most beers and is used as a preservative in a country with a rudimentary approach to storage.

The Sans Bar x DRY 2020 National Pop Up Tour kicks off on January 10 in Seattle.

Dry Soda and Sans Bar partner for sober bar pop-up tour across the US

By Beth Newhart

A sober bar from Texas will take its alcohol-free drink partners and signature mocktails on tour to 15 cities across the US this year. It’s joined forces with ‘botanical bubbly’ Dry Soda in a shared mission to help people connect without alcohol.