UK and European drinks trade organisations have announced they are challenging the Scottish government’s minimum unit pricing (MUP) legislation.

Constellation Brands has completed the acquisition of the Mark West wine brand from Purple Wine Company for approximately US$160 million.

Michael Cox has been installed as the 518th Master of the Worshipful Company of Vintners for the forthcoming year.

The organiser of South Africa’s famous Nederburg Auction, has announced that US economics professor and ‘wine economist’, Mike Veseth, will make a keynote speech on Saturday September 29 at Nederburg in Paarl.

Facundo L. Bacardi, chairman of the board of directors at Bacardi Limited has announced the appointment of two directors to the 16-member board.

David Cox, director – Europe for New Zealand Winegrowers has left the organisation to pursue other interests and projects.

First Drinks has outlined the continued importance of premium drinks brands in driving growth in the UK market.

Pernod Ricard has signed an agreement with Arcus-Gruppen for the sale of the Danish aquavit brands Aalborg and Brøndums, the German brand Malteserkreuz Aquavit and the Danish bitter brand Gammel Dansk.

Bacardi has announced the appointment of Ron Anderson as senior vice president and chief commercial officer.

South African wine estate Kleine Zalze has signalled its intention to target the independent retailing channel in the UK by moving its entire portfolio of wines to Hatch Mansfield.

Adnams, the Suffolk brewer, has announced the launch of a limited edition beer to commemorate the London 2012 Olympics.

Inver House Distillers, the Scotland-based spirits arm of International Beverage Holdings has reported a 28% increase in turnover for the year ending December 2011.

The Sherry Institute of Spain has appointed Beltrán Domecq as its new president.

South Korea scotch whisky producer, Hiscot Ltd has merged fully with Korean brewing company,Hite-Jinro Group Co Ltd.

Drinks International will celebrate its 40^th birthday with the great and the good of the UK drinks industry on Thursday in London.

Rémy Cointreau has entered talks to buy Islay distillery Bruichladdich.

Chinese wine consumers prefer traditional wine labels but are open to some contemporary designs, according to Wine Intelligence.

Three in five (62%) Brits use alcohol to relax and unwind in the evenings according to new research from alcohol education charity Drinkaware. 

Bacardi has announced the appointment of Gianpaolo (Paolo) Perego as regional president of Latin America.

Despite challenging Portuguese economic conditions, Vinho Verde exports are on the increase and will become more competitive in the global market place, according to the Vinho Verde Commission (CVRVV).

The Guala Closures Group has announced that it has begun the process for the acquisition of the Metal Closures division of South Africa’s MCG Industries.

CEDC has appointed Richard Huck to the role of regional director, Europe, Middle East & Africa.

CEO of Sogrape Vinhos, Francisco Ferreira, has ventured that the planting of further international varietals could help to attract more consumers to Portuguese wine.

Ivan Menezes has been appointed to the Diageo board as an executive director with effect from July 2.

Floris van Woerkom, chief control & accounting officer at Heineken has decided to leave the company by the end of the year.

Laithwaite’s Wine has appointed Emma Roberts to the newly created role of group fine wine director.

Budweiser and Stella brewer A-B InBev is to acquire the remaining stake in Corona Extra brewer Grupo Modelo for US$20.1 billion ( MXN 278.6 billion).

EU spirits producers have welcomed the signing of the EU-Colombia/Peru Free Trade Agreement – expected to take place in Brussels at 5pm local time today (June 26).

Anheuser-Busch InBev has released a statement which confirms talk regarding a possible combination between AB InBev and Grupo Modelo have taken place.

Diageo has announced the appointment of Ho KwonPing to its board as a non-executive director, effective October 1. His responsibilities will include membership of the audit, the nomination and the remuneration committees.

Asian interest in the rum category is a question of when not if, according to the Havana Club CEO Jerome Cottin-Bizonne.

US: Sidney Frank has appointed Adam Rosen to the role of executive vice president, marketing/Jägermeister.

Spanish wine company Miguel Torres is about to usher in the fifth generation of its family to the apex of its business, following the announcement that Miguel Torres Maczassek will succeed his father Miguel A Torres as general manager from September. 

Legislation granting permanent normal trade relations status (PNTR) to Russia has been introduced to the US Senate. The Distilled Spirits Council urged speedy passage in order for US distillers to gain many market access benefits of Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Diageo has successfully closed its public offer to acquire an additional 10.62% stake in Hanoi Liquor Joint Stock Company (Halico) in Vietnam. 

Gallo Family Vineyards has partnered with Australian celebrity, Holly Valance, to publicise its newly launched Moscato wine in the UK.

The price of wine and spirits has risen by more than twice the level of inflation, according to the latest WSTA Market Report.

Analysts from data research company Euromonitor International get beyond the numbers of The Millionaires' Club to provide insight on the movers, the losers and general trends in the global spirits industry. 

Żubrówka Biała has gained inclusion into The Millionaires’ Club 2012 after becoming CEDC’s second biggest brand and the world's 83^rd largest selling spirit in 2011.

Bacardi Martini BV has announced the appointment of Rich Andrews as managing director of the UK & Ireland Business Unit and a member of the European Leadership Team under regional president, Europe, Stefan Bomhard.

Pernod Ricard has announced several senior management moves "in line with its policy of internal promotion and international mobility".

Pernod Ricard has signed an agreement to acquire HiteJinro’s 30% stake in Pernod Ricard Korea Imperial for a total price of KRW 70 billion (circ. EUR 48 million), to be paid in cash.

Diageo is to invest over £1billion in scotch whisky production over the next five years to meet growing global demand for its brands.

Global wine producer and distributor Accolade Wines has purchased Californian brand Geyser Peak and stablemates Atlas Peak and XYZin, together with their assets and inventory, from Ascentia Wine Estates. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.

Havana Club owners Cuba Ron and Pernod Ricard are lobbying for the creation of a geographical denomination for Cuban rum.

Californian wine producer E&J Gallo Winery has announced that it has purchased Washington State’s Columbia Winery and Covey Run Wine brands.

The Millionaires’ Club 2012 – the spirits industry’s definitive ranking of million-case selling brands - has launched on Drinksint.com.

Pernod Richard is raising the stakes in scotch whisky after a week in which it hosted a ‘Capital Markets Day’ of presentations up at its flagship Glenlivet distillery on Speyside.

Nolet distillery executive vice president Bob Nolet has said he is not planning to sell the remaining 50% of Ketel One to joint venture partner Diageo.

Morrison Bowmore Distillers has granted Campari America exclusive US distribution rights for its McClelland’s scotch range.