New product development
New beverage launches: Pickle soda, Baileys choc minis and more…
Flavour innovation, format experimentation and premium convenience are driving the latest wave of beverage NPD across soft drinks, spirits and wine-based RTDs
Spirits
BuzzBallz surges into UK Top 100 alcohol brands with record £73m growth amid RTD boom
BuzzBallz, the RTD (ready-to-drink) cocktail, has been described as the “new darling” of the UK alcohol category as it has rocketed into the Top 100
New product development
New beverage launches: Candy milk, Mount Gay rum, ‘functional’ alcohol…
Premiumisation, functionality and nostalgia are driving a fresh wave of innovation across alcohol and soft drinks, as brands look to capture evolving consumer preferences
The changing fortunes of alcohol in a K-shaped economy
Changing drinking habits and inflation are shaking up the economics of alcohol
Behind the bar: the forgotten art in alcohol marketing
Is there more to marketing than social media?
New product development
New beverage launches: Cockburns, Mingle Mood and more…
Functional ingredients, premiumisation and cultural inspiration drive the latest wave of beverage innovation across alcohol, energy and alcohol-free categories
Do baijiu’s powerful brands promise global potential?
The Chinese spirit has a lot to offer, with some powerful brands and consumers’ thirst for exotic tastes
RTD alcohol shines for Brown-Forman in difficult spirits market
The US spirits giant saw RTD alcohol sales grow 11% in FY2026: a highlight as the alcohol industry faces an increasingly challenging environment
New product development
New beverage launches: Bubblegum beer, Cointreau Spicy and more…
Functional hydration and flavour-led alcohol innovations drive new product development trends this week
Alcohol shake-up: Staying in is the new going out
Inflation is pushing more people to drink at home - and opening up unexpected opportunities for alcohol brands
The world’s top alcohol brands
Kantar BrandZ reveals which brands dominate the global beverage alcohol market
What makes the best alcohol brands stand out?
Kantar BrandZ’s rankings shows a 7% decline in value of the world’s top 20 alcohol brands. So what’s the key to building a powerful brand in this new era?
New product development
New beverage launches: Gallo Cabana, Bruichladdich RTDs and more…
Premium spirits, functional soft drinks and reformulated juices lead this week’s new product development roundup
TFWA 2026
Jägermeister eyes Gen Z growth with orange liqueur focus
Jägermeister is in what it calls its ‘orange era’, doubling down on capturing Gen Z consumers all over the world with its latest Jägermeister Orange liqueur
RTD alcohol: Why the exciting, fast-moving, and chaotic category is the one to watch
RTD alcohol remains a bright spot in today’s difficult alcohol market
It’s time to stop painting Gen Z as teetotal
At 15% ABV, BuzzBallz shows Gen Z still has plenty of appetite for alcohol. And it’s not the only brand finding success with this demographic
The most creative beverage packaging innovations
Looking for beverage packaging inspiration? We explore some of the most innovative ideas from across the beverage universe
New product development
New beverage launches: PepsiCo melted ice pop, Aqua Libra, Twinings and more…
From matcha energy, alcohol-free aperitifs and nostalgia, summer flavours are driving drinks brands forward this summer
New beverage launches: Mid-strength spirits, Pink Lady tie-up and more…
Mid-strength spirits, functional hydration and heritage all play a role in this week’s beverage NPD round-up
New product development
New beverage launches: Fibre shots, Capri Sun, Captain Morgan and more…
Non-alcoholic beer and mid-strength wine, fibre shots, hydration pouches and flavour-led spirits are top of the agenda for brands
Shanghai alcohol warning label trials in full swing across online and offline sales
Alcohol warning label trials move into full implementation in China’s most populous city Shanghai, with strict requirements for retailers across online and offline sales channels
Lidl to open its first ever pub, as private label readies to shake up alcohol
Private label is evolving, fast: and the alcohol aisle is the next target
Pernod Ricard sees sales rise: but warns of Iran impact
Pernod Ricard’s results reveal how the conflict could affect companies in unexpected ways
New product development
New beverage launches: Patrón, Nestlé, Starbucks, prebiotic soda and more…
From functional sodas and iced coffee formats to high-proof tequila and design-led whisky, brands are pushing to capture new consumption occasions
Will Sazerac sweep in to create a US spirits giant with Brown-Forman?
Just two weeks ago, news broke of a potential tie-up between Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman. Now Sazerac and Brown-Forman are reportedly discussing a deal
New product development
New beverage launches: English wine, high-ABV beer and more…
From English wine and sparkling innovations to high-ABV beer, RTDs and plant-based protein, producers are pushing into new formats, occasions and consumer needs
Could a new Pernod Ricard, Brown-Forman heavyweight take on Diageo?
The key will be how the spirits giants tackle the US market
Pernod Ricard and Brown-Forman in merger talks
The two companies have confirmed discussions are under way to create a global spirits giant
Top trends in beverage alcohol in 2026
The beverage industry is under a structural reset. Where are the key areas for growth?
New product development
New beverage launches: Grey Goose Prada, Stoli RTD, Faccia and more…
Brands across alcohol, non‑alcohol and functional hydration are rolling out premium innovations, collaborations and reformulations that tap into fashion crossovers, natural ingredients and elevated at‑home drinking trends
How Diageo will push its premium power - without the premium price tag
Forget all the noise about alcohol-free and GLP-1 drugs: the fundamental problem for spirits is people have less money to spend, says Diageo CEO Dave Lewis
New beverage launches: Sanpellegrio, mid-strength wine, Aviation gin and more…
Brands across spirits, wine, soft drinks and energy are pushing seasonal innovation, category expansion and premium cues
Three things ‘Drastic Dave’ will change, right now, at Diageo
Seven weeks into the job, CEO Sir Dave Lewis has identified where he’ll start making changes
Weak US sales drag Diageo results down
Diageo has lowered its sales guidance for the year, with US sales weaker than expected in H1
New product development
New beverage launches: Red Bull cherry, Moth, Athletic Brewing and more…
New launches from MOTH, Nashi, Athletic Brewing, V8, Red Bull, AMC and Cure highlight flavour innovation, better‑for‑you positioning and the continued diversification of functional and premium beverage categories
Five top trends shaping India’s beverage alcohol industry in 2026
India’s alcoholic beverage industry is undergoing a paradigm shift: and is set to grow rapidly over the coming years. What are the key trends to watch?
New product development
New beverage launches: Nestlé, boutique whisky, Oatly and more…
A wave of new beverage launches is landing across functional shots, RTDs, mead and premium sparkling drinks, as brands tap trends in flavour expansion, better‑for‑you formats and elevated alcohol‑free alternatives
Why Sake is on a runway for global growth
The traditional Japanese beverage taps into top consumer demands for premium drinks with authenticity and craftsmanship; as well as offering a versatile lower alcohol option as a base for cocktails and more
Constellation Brands announces next CEO
Bill Newlands will retire in April: and Nicholas Fink will take over as the company’s next president and CEO
Gen Z is drinking again, but alcohol is still in trouble
Alcohol consumption is in decline, and not just because of the allegedly health conscious young
The rise of clean alcohol
Widespread demand for clean label is finally reaching the alcohol category
New product development
New beverage launches: Coca‑Cola Cherry Float, Rockstar and more…
Across alcohol, soft drinks and wellness‑focused hydration, launches this month highlight continued consumer demand for personalisation, nostalgia and sensory escapism.
Clearer and more flexible: India’s 2026 alcohol regulations
India’s new alcohol regulations include mandatory labelling and expanded category definitions, signalling greater consumer transparency and flexibility for producers
New product development
New beverage launches: Absolut ft Tabasco, THC, new energy and more…
Beverage innovation is hotting up with a wave of new launches across categories. From spicy collaborations to energy entrants, it’s all here
5 things we’ve learned about the alcohol-free category this January
January is the month when alcohol-free drinks really have the chance to shine. What have we learned about the direction of the category in 2026?
The most popular alcohol-free brands in the US this month, according to search data
Tracking January’s search data reveals the rising stars in the US alcohol-free category...
Drinking less but drinking better: Understanding the moderation movement
Consumers want to be healthier; so they’re cutting back on alcohol. But is it really that simple?
New product development
New beverage launches: Mountain Dew, mushrooms and Twinings sparkling tea
From functional mushrooms and gut‑health postbiotics to tropical rums, mineral‑rich sparkling waters and design‑led Dry January serves. Here are the new beverage innovations
How BuzzBallz became Gen Z’s global RTD obsession
BuzzBallz has become Gen Z’s go‑to party prop, fusing bold flavours, playful design and recession‑proof pricing to rewrite the rules of ready‑to‑drink cocktails
New product development
New beverage launches: Elton John 0% wine, Molson stout and more…
From bold new stouts and alcohol-free sparkling wines to functional hydration and high-protein dairy, January has seen a wave of innovation across beverage categories