Earlier this year hundreds of global industry figures gathered in Schiedam to bid farewell to De Kuyper Royal Distillers’ Mark de Witte, who retired after nine years as chief executive at the company. 

Viña Concha y Toro has achieved the re-certification as a B Corporation, which recognises those companies that meet high standards of environmental, governance and social performance.

Diageo reported a net sales decline of 1.4% to $20.3 billion for the year end 30 June 2024 which the company pinned on unfavourable foreign exchange and inflation.

Zamora Company has announced record turnover for 2023 with €268 million and a 21.5% increase in sales since 2021.

BrewDog has opened its first bar in Thailand as part of its international expansion drive having already opened venues in Perth, Rotterdam and Denver this year.

Australian spirits company Top Shelf International has launched its Act of Treason agave spirit in the domestic off-trade through Endeavour Group’s Dan Murphy’s.

In what looks like a mirror movement of wine some 50 years ago, agave spirits are finding their feet in unlikely quarters, finds Shay Waterworth.

Danish company Carlsberg has agreed a £3.3bn deal to buy the UK business of Britvic as well as the remaining 40% share in its joint brewing venture with Marston’s.

WineGB has released its first wine tourism report which shows that visits to UK vineyards and wineries have risen by 55% in two years.

BrewDog has announced that James Arrow, currently COO, will succeed James Watt as CEO of the company, as part of a succession plan put in place last year.

Viña Concha y Toro has recorded sales growth of 26.4% for the first quarter of its financial year as it continues to recover from a challenging 2023.

Having worked for three decades as head distiller of Diageo’s Don Julio, maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa has partnered with The Lost Explorer to create its first tequila line.

Whisky producer, The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC), and owner of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), has acquired US-based independent bottling brand, Single Cask Nation.

Nc’nean Distillery Limited has secured a Virgin Money funding package with the backing of UK Government department, UK Export Finance (UKEF), to help the independent distillery grow in North American markets.

Distillers are calling for the permanent removal of EU imposed “debilitating tariffs” on American whiskey, which are scheduled to be reimposed and doubled to 50% on 1 January 2024.

Maison Villevert’s La Quintinye Vermouth Royal and Nouaison Gin, have launched a global fundraising initiative across 20 countries to raise money for non-profit organisation, Wine To Water.

Bar Daskal, the London-based Spanish wine and cocktail bar from the team behind Barrafina, and restaurant booking platform Resy have announced the first Bar Daskal Maestros, a new series bringing guests masterclasses from maestros in the industry.

Austria has established the legal basis for the official classification of single vineyards, which will see plots defined as Erste Lage (premier cru) and Große Lage (grand cru).

The Elevated Spirits Company, producer of the Cierto Tequila portfolio, has announced the appointment of its senior leadership team.

Beam Suntory and Frucor Suntory have joined to form Suntory Oceania, a new AU$3bn partnership across the premium spirits and non-alcohol segments in both Australia and New Zealand.

Bruichladdich Distillery co-founder, Simon Coughlin, will officially retire on 31 July, after more than 23 years with the Hebridean distillery.

Beam Suntory’s president and CEO, Albert Baladi, has announced that he will transition CEO responsibilities effective 1 October this year to Greg Hughes, the company’s current senior vice president chief growth and brands officer. 

The IWSR has recognised Trivento winery as the world’s top-selling Argentine wine brand.

Chief executive officer of Diageo, Sir Ivan Menezes, has died at age 63 after a brief illness.

Brown-Forman has reported a net sales increase of 8% to $4.2bn for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2023, with a fourth quarter performance of +5% to $1bn.

Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge, the global bartending competition which aims to celebrate art-inspired aperitivo cocktails, has announced Fabrizio Candino, from Sartoria Cocktail Bar, Italy, as the global winner.

Belvedere has released its Belvedere 10, crafted from the single harvest of one rye field.

The Boatyard Distillery is introducing a series of initiatives, beginning 17 April, to celebrate Earth Day, held each year on 22 April.

Diageo has announced that its chief executive officer Sir Ivan Menezes will be retiring and is set to depart from the Diageo Board on 30 June this year, following 10 years leading the company.

Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España, CVNE, has acquired Bodegas La Val, located in Rías Baixas Denomination of Origin (DO), Spain.

Ireland’s Waterford Distillery, producer of natural whiskies, has announced the launch of Cuvée: Argot, a permanent addition to its single malt whisky range and accompanying Cuvée Concept.

Irish spirits maker, The Boatyard Distillery, has announced it has earned B-Corporation certification.

The Wines of South Africa 2022 export report has revealed that export value has only seen a 2.4% decline following the pandemic with Rand Per Litre (RPL) income showing marginal growth as producers navigate rising costs, shipping challenges and shortages in the supply of packaging goods.

The Drinks Trust has appointed Guy Lawrence, CEO of Brockman’s Gin, as the new chair of the charity following Troy Christensen’s two-year tenure.

Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes has received a knighthood in King Charles' first New Year’s Honours list, an appointment that allows him to use the title ‘sir’.

Campari Group has released its results for the first nine months of 2022, which saw strong performance and net sales of €2,005.7 million, up +27.3% on a reported basis.

Pernod Ricard has released its FY22 Results, showing that sales grew organically by 17% in 2022, equalling €10.7m, with sales growing by double digits across each of its regions and spirit categories.

Campari Group has acquired an initial 15% interest in Howler Head Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, after the signing and closing of an agreement with Catalyst Spirits.

From September this year The Drinks Trust’s Develop programme will offer a bartending certificate provided by Mixology School and in partnership with United Kingdom Bartenders’ Guild.

BrewDog has been ranked 14th most valuable beer brand in the world by independent brand valuation and consultancy firm Brand Finance, in its Alcoholic Drinks Report 2022, which ranks the world’s top 50 most valuable beer brands.

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF), organizer of drinks industry conference, Tales of the Cocktail, where new ideas, products, and techniques are exchanged, has announced its partnership with Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

For the first time in its history, Penfolds annual Collection release in August will comprise three country of origin portfolios, Australian, Californian and the inaugural French release.

A 1975 cask of Ardbeg Islay malt scotch whisky, Cask No.3, is the brand's oldest whisky ever released and was sold to a private collector in Asia for £16 million.

Lebanese winery IXSIR is continuing to produce quality wines with the August to September harvest season approaching, despite challenges brought on by Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis.

Nyetimber has announced the appointment of Richard Carter as CEO of the company with effect from July this year, as he joins from his role of director of global communications at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.

St. Lucia Distillers has launched its ‘spiritourism project’ the Saint Lucia Rum Experience, a continuation of development for the single rum distillery on the island.

Bollinger Group, in addition to five other estates in France and the US, has acquired the Sancerre historic estate, Hubert Brochard.

Bimmerle KG has taken over the distribution of La Martiniquaise Scotch whisky brand Label 5 Classic Black whisky in Germany.

Elixir Distillers has signed an agreement to buy the Tormore distillery and brand from Pernod Ricard.

Pernod Ricard’s Irish Distilleries, is to invest €50 million in Midleton Distillery over the next four years to deliver a carbon neutral operation by the end of 2026.