Johnnie Walker distiller Diageo admits that it fell off-track in 2013 against a 2015 target to cut the polluting power of wastewater by 60% but insists it is still on target to meet the goal.
Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes warns that the firm’s beer innovations in North America over the last year have failed and that it needs to ‘crack the code’ for brands such as Guinness that face increasing competition from super premium and craft beers.
Major Brands is claiming victory after a legal judgement allowed Diageo to break a distribution agreement in Missouri but raises the possibility of the spirits giant paying significant damages.
The director general (DG) of the Law Society of Ireland has reportedly said that the Irish government should stop foreign dignitaries like Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip from being pictured with a pint of Guinness, branding it the ‘greatest PR coup...
Politcian says constituents still feel 'let down by Diageo'
A Scottish MP has attacked Diageo’s remuneration of outgoing boss Paul Walsh, and says the people she represents in Kilmarnock still feel ‘let down’ by the firm for closing a Johnnie Walker bottling plant in 2012.
Mintel analyst Chris Wisson tells BeverageDaily.com that a 2012 slump in Scotch whisky exports to France is ‘quite surprising’ but insists the category’s global future remains bright.
A clutch of crazy and sometimes simply plain daft flavored vodka varieties took the US by storm from the early noughties, but new Mintel data suggests growth might be stalling.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) tells BeverageDaily.com it opposes a successful state bill allowing sales of malt beverages in pouches on recycling grounds, as Diageo eyes frozen alcoholic RTD success in another...
BUT BIG BRANDS HENNESSEY, JOHNNIE WALKER STRONG IN KEY MARKETS
Despite runaway spirits growth in Asia, 20% of global brands do not have a Chinese website, and mobile sites tend to lack investment, but Hennessey and Johnnie Walker are strong in key markets.
Diageo technical director Luca Lupini believes confectionery flavored spirits are an ‘amazing opportunity’ for the firm, and insists the sub-category brings out the best in its R&D team.
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”.
BUT MAJOR BRANDS CEO INSISTS ON FIRM'S 'OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE'
Diageo is suing its principal Missouri wines and spirits distributor Major Brands, alleging ‘unacceptable’ performance, but Major CEO Susan McCollum insists her firm has a long record of 'outstanding performance' with the drink's giant's...
Unite the Union says the use of a legal loophole that it claims allows large multinationals such as Diageo to reduce tax payments on UK profits 'simply isn’t acceptable'.
Bond credit rating business Moody’s has revised its outlook for the global beverage industry upwards, citing rising middle class demand in emerging markets for high-end wines and spirits from the likes of Diageo, Heineken and Bacardi.
Diageo’s Turkish president insists that the firm is co-operating with a government competition probe into its Mey Içki spirits business, and says he does not expect it had acted inappropriately.
Diageo will spend around £100m refocusing its global supply and procurement operations to reflect acquisitions in key emerging markets, but says the streamlining operation will probably mean job losses.
The Indian Competition Commission (CCI) has approved Diageo’s purchase of a 53.4% stake in United Spirits (USL), saying that the £1.28bn ($2.04bn) purchase may boost the nation’s premium spirits market and improve consumer choice without jeopardizing...
SPIRITS GIANT PLANS $3.19M M&A SPEND TO BACK UK LAUNCH
Diageo is set to introduce a new sub-category within RTD cocktails in the UK, by launching its Parrot Bay frozen alcoholic drinks in April following ‘explosive’ US growth.
Whether it’s the latest starlet bouncing round in a boob tube, or that bad boy musician who swops his rap records for raki, there’s no doubting that celebrity endorsements are big business for the beverage industry
Bud Light, Smirnoff malt beverages and Budweiser were the brands most widely consumed by by 1000+ underage US drinkers over a 30-day period, according to the authors of a new study who claim to be the first to assess nationwide data.
Diageo is in an arguably stronger market position than multinational peer SAB Miller due to its core exposure to spirits rather than beer, according to one City analyst who covers the firm.
Heineken has confirmed to BeverageDaily.com that it is working with JP Morgan as it begins a strategic review of its Finnish business, and PepsiCo licensee, Hartwall but refused to comment on rumors of a potential $788m sale.
Diageo CEO Paul Walsh says he was ‘somewhat disappointed’ by the breakdown of talks to acquire the Jose Cuervo tequila brand, but hints his firm may make an ‘organic entry’ into the category in 2013.
The potential upsides in Diageo’s potential acquisition of a majority stake in India's United Spirits (USL) are clear but achieving acceptable profitability from the business may be tricky, according to one analyst.
A recent M&A wave in brewing means that ‘global giants’ AB InBev, SAB Miller, Heineken, Carlsberg and CR Snow are piling the pressure on local players, particularly in markets such as China.
Pharrell Williams claims he created Q Qream liqueur “to celebrate the beautiful, independent and sophisticated women of today”. However, the dream went sour after partner Diageo did not keep to its part of the bargain to make the product a success, alleges...
A City analyst tells BeverageDaily.com that he believes recent talk of Diageo mounting a $10bn+ takeover of Beam Inc. is more likely now the UK plc. has ended talks with Mexico’s Jose Cuervo.
Diageo said today it had terminated discussion with Jose Cuervo relating to the future of the tequila brand, and that both parties will now work to ensure the orderly end of the current distribution agreement due to expire in June 2013.
Diageo remains tight-lipped on reports it may make a $10bn+ swoop for Beam Inc. but one analyst tells BeverageDaily.com he believes no imminent deal is likely, given the firm’s preoccupation with United Spirits and Jose Cuervo.
Diageo has filed patents in a range of nations detailing a formulation process for alcoholic cocktails, sold in bottles at ambient temperatures then frozen by consumers to form a ready-to-serve pourable slush.
Diageo has reached a £1.28bn ($2.04bn) deal for a 53.4% controlling stake in Indian-based United Spirits group, a decade after exiting the country’s market.
Diageo has dismissed as 'baseless' legal action taken by Destileria Serralles (DSI) in the US, which alleges contractual breaches linked to the former's move to shift production of Captain Morgan rum from Puerto Rico to the US Virgin Islands...
After 'huge and unsuccessful efforts' to re-enter India after it made the strategic mistake of exiting the market in 2002, Diageo's near deal with United Spirits would win it a reprieve, according to a top alcoholic drinks analyst.
Diageo Americas Supply has been sent an air pollution ‘notice of violation’ letter by city authorities in Louisville, Kentucky, which alleges that excess ethanol emissions from warehousing used to age whiskey led to breathing difficulties for some residents.
Diageo CEO Paul Walsh says his firm’s H1 top line sales growth was driven by “real momentum” in emerging markets such as Turkey, a star performer following his firm’s acquisition of Mey İçki.
Leading brand owners such as Diageo, Remy Cointreau and Bacardi have all made a key strategy change as they increasingly target local spirits brands in emerging markets.
Diageo has warned that a CARICOM (Caribbean Community Secretariat) WTO complaint over alleged US government rum subsidies for multinationals could lead it to ‘re-evaluate’ its Caribbean activities.
Foster’s Group has hit out at complaints leveled at its Victoria Bitter (VB) brand Facebook page and upheld by the Australian Advertising Standards Board (ASB), arguing that brands are accountable for user comments as 'advertisements'.
Diageo has told BeverageDaily.com that the initial European launch focus for its Chinese ‘baijiu’ brand Shui Jing Fang will be UK ‘meal occasions’, although success will see it pursue sales in other channels that retain the drink's premium positioning.
Diageo has announced the successful closure of its public offer to acquire an addition 10.62% state in Hanoi Liquor Joint Stock Company (Halico), as it aims to work with the company in the 'rapidly growing' Vietnamese branded spirits sector.
North British Distillery has come out fighting after being cited by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for alleged failures to adequately control the legionella risk posed by a cooling tower, as the executive investigates a deadly 'legion fever'...
Diageo has announced ‘pivotal’ plans to invest one billion pounds in a new malt distillery and expand existing sites in Scotland to cash in on explosive growth in emerging markets from Europe to Asia.
Diageo says its acquisition of premium ‘cachaça’ (Brazilian rum) brand Ypioca makes it a ‘relevant’ player in Brazilian spirits and will allow it to boost sales of other key brands such as Smirnoff.
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...
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.
Diageo said today that super premium Scotch had been a stellar Chinese performer in the first half of 2011/12, but the firm poured cold water on press reports that US rap star P.Diddy planned to launch his own tequila brand.
Diageo claims its new acquisition of Meta Abo Brewery in Ethiopia allows it to gain access to a fast-growing market. In beer to complement its existing spirits business.
Diageo today announced plans to invest €153m in a brewing centre of excellence at St James’s Gate, Dublin, that it said would form part of a wholesale rejuvenation of the iconic site.
Diageo says that realising its new vision for sustainable premium packaging is a challenge, especially given “the perception among consumers that lighter means less valuable”.