Asia's elite are drinking more wine, champagne and imported beer as
their growing spending power makes them increasingly important for
the luxury goods industry.
Alcohol consumption across the UK has gone down for the first time
in six years, industry figures show, as the government launches a
new campaign to make young people drink responsibly.
Diageo, the maker of Johnnie Walker whiskey and Guinness stout, has
opened a S$13 million (6.54m) logistics hub in Singapore to cut the
time it takes for its alcoholic drinks to reach Asian markets.
British researchers are starting a small trial to investigate if
the antioxidant benefits of apples are passed on to cider drinkers,
and could possibly lead to "functional" ciders.
UK supermarkets are failing to promote responsible drinking by
selling too much cheap alcohol, the brewer Scottish & Newcastle
has told a Competition Commission investigation.
Anheuser Busch managed to stop the rot on the troublesome American
beer market during the first half of 2006, but hopes of a
sector-wide recovery were dashed by a sales slip from rival
SABMiller.
Branded wines and imported beer in the US steered Constellation
Brands to a record first quarter sales growth, revealing how the
firm is sitting at the centre of American drinking trends.
Beer still lacks the romance to compete with other alcoholic drinks
in America, leaving it stuck on the shelf as consumers move on to
new tastes, says a market research specialist.
Soft drink consumption is the principal factor behind the growth in
global drinks, with health playing an increasingly important role
in consumer choice.
Combining alcohol and Red Bull reduces the 'perception' of
impairment, though alcohol's harmful effects on motor coordination
remain intact, according to a new study.
The UK government's budget for 2006 was greeted with a mixture of
praise and stern criticism by the drinks industry, as some felt the
Chancellor had ignored important measures.
A new report has injected a much-needed shot of optimism into the
stagnant US beer market for 2006, yet the bad news just keeps on
coming in Western Europe.
Russia's decision to change procedures on excise stamps and import
licences for alcohol has backfired, with several domestic producers
reportedly having to suspend production.
Leading UK-based wine merchant Majestic Wines enjoyed a 10.4 per
cent sales boost this Christmas, citing consumer demand for premium
products as the key to success.
Raising the price of alcoholic drinks will not necessarily lead to
less consumption, says new research, calling into question the use
of high prices to encourage responsible drinking.
Drinking alcohol in moderation may help people to stave off
obesity, says US study, as researchers from New Zealand cast doubt
on alcohol's heart health benefits.
Russia's new rules for alcoholic beverage imports will increase
costs by as much as 10 times for EU and North American exporters to
the country according to a report on the changes.
Too many French people are still drinking excessive amounts of
alcohol, says new government report, advising more advertising to
cut consumption and even health warnings on alcoholic drinks.
The UK's largest wine warehouse Majestic Wines has announced a
solid pre-tax profit rise of 18 per cent, as continued consumer
demand for fine wine and champagne defies the British retail
slowdown.
Nestlé has filed patents all around the world for a new, foamy
coffee drink that is made and looks like beer but contains no
alcohol, in a sign it is exploring new product avenues.
Alco-pops have lost the plot on the UK alcoholic drinks market and
the sector will carry on sinking until producers come up with
something new for Britain's youth, says a new report.
Arsenic in bottled water and the seizure of fake vodka from an
illegal distillery have put fraud back on the menu in the UK, as
two alcoholic drinks associations pledge to beat the bootlegs.
There are more of them and they have more money than ever before.
Yet the growing importance of consumers in the so-called Midlifer
market is being dangerously ignored by alcoholic drinks makers,
says a new report.
San Miguel, the biggest food and drink company in the Philippines,
reported a 4 per cent drop in first half profits yesterday, after
higher raw material and packaging costs eroded the benefits of
strong sales growth.
Longer opening hours or not, the latest evidence shows success on
the UK beer market requires a slim-line approach from big brewers,
using strong core brands and counting every penny.
Energising ingredients and more spending on research and
development has turned around the fortunes of flavoured alcoholic
beverages in Russia, bringing better opportunities and growth
forecasts, writes Chris Mercer.
Never mind the pressure group fury, Anheuser Busch's caffeine beer
faces UK consumers who are sceptical about flavoured beer and a
tough advert code that will stop the product displaying its 'best'
assets, writes Chris...
Bordeaux - VinExpo, described as the largest gathering of wine and
spirits buyers and sellers in the world, is this year also a
showcase of the industry's response to a rapidly changing consumer
market, reports Ahmed ElAmin in...
Turkey's Anadolu Cam group will get a €26.5m loan to build a new
bottling plant in central Russia, yet the firm's biggest challenge
will be to address declines in glass packaging reports Chris
Mercer.
There will be fewer young adults around for alcoholic drink firms
to target over the next five years but those that are will drink
more and be more demanding, with women the driving force,
reports Chris Mercer.
Bravo Premium, the Russian drinks group, is celebrating the success
of its Milano brand, which it claims is the first pre-mixed
alcoholic drink on the Russian market to be created specifically
for women, reports Angela Drujinina.
Ochakovo, one of Russia's best known brewers, has launched itself
into the wine market in an ambitious move to revive the flagging
fortunes of the country's wine industry, writes Angela
Drujinina.
Looking to boost growth in the sluggish caramel colour market, the
world's largest manufacturer, DD Williamson will extend its reach
in the burgeoning Chinese market with the extension of its liquid
product line for Asia,writes...
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...
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...
Panic reports of the demise of beer in the US and Germany are a
part of the trend for convergence that will see beer sales decline
in traditional beer drinking countries but continue to grow
globally, writes Kim Hunter Gordon.
A study published in the International Journal of Cancer this month
has provided evidence that red wine could reduce the risk of
prostate cancer, and that general alcohol consumtion has no
negative effect.
Russian alcoholic beverage giant Regatta is concentrating on
marketing a number of key vodka brands in a bid to exploit what it
sees as sector of the beverage market that remains underdeveloped,
writes Angela Drujinina.
A dot.ru company has opened an online wine store in Russia in
anticipation of the coming electronic shopping craze, despite what
sceptics might say, writes Angela Drujinina.
UK based drinks giant Diageo could get round increasing duty and
the uncertain future of alcopops in Europe by leading a new market
of mid-proof flavoured alcoholic beverages (FABs), reports Kim
Hunter Gordon.
Ochakovo has became the first Russian brewing company to enter the
Latin American market, exporting a range of products to Ecuador as
the first phase of a continent-wide rollout, writes Angela
Drujinina.