Multinational spirits group Beam Suntory has announced plans to launch Beam Suntory France in January 2024, establishing the Maker’s Mark and Yamazaki owner’s own route-to-market in Europe’s largest whisky market.

Italian drinks company and owner of Disaronno and Tia Maria, Illva Saronno Group, has bought a majority stake in US rye whiskey brand and distillery, Sagamore Spirit.

International Beverage has announced its acquisition of New Zealand spirits producer, Cardrona Distillery.

BrewDog Distilling Co has appointed Oak & Still as the UK distributor for its spirit portfolio of Abstrakt vodka, DUO rum and LoneWolf gin. 

International Beverage has entered into an agreement with Anora Group plc to acquire its Larsen Cognac business.

Stock Spirits Group has announced the finalisation of two acquisitions including Clan Campbell from Pernod Ricard and the purchase of the Société Dugas.

De Monnik Dranken (DMD) has announced its partnership with Global Brands Ltd in the Netherlands.

Pernod Ricard saw organic net sales rise 10% in fiscal 2023, driven by strong growth across all spirits categories, alongside broad-based growth across all regions.

Pernod Ricard’s dedicated Scotch business, Chivas Brothers, has announced an increase in net sales of 17% in the 2023 fiscal year, taking total sales to a ten-year high.

Burnt Faith has partnered with drinks specialists, Proof Drinks, to drive interest in British brandy houses across the UK.

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

Molson Coors Beverage Company has reached an agreement to acquire Blue Run Spirits, producer of bourbon and rye whiskies.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has launched the UK’s first comprehensive alcohol guide for the no and low category.

The new Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners has revealed that in the last 12 months, Britain has lost around one in 18 of its licensed premises, 5,736 pubs, hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes.

Illva Saronno Group, the owner of brands Disaronno and Tia Maria, have announced the appointment of Marco Ferrari as the new chief executive of the group.

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. 

Newly unredacted documents have shed light on US rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs claims of racial discrimination against drinks giant Diageo.

A Scottish court has ruled that a couple, who have claimed that the angel’s share emissions from a whisky bond have devalued their home, can pursue damages action against Diageo.

Pernod Ricard UK has announced that, from 1 July, it will distribute the Sovereign Brands wine and spirits range which includes brands Luc Belaire, Bumbu Rum, McQueen & The Violet Fog and Villon.

Coca-Cola HBC, the bottling partner of The Coca-Cola Company, has announced the agreed acquisition of Finland vodka from Brown-Forman for $220 million, subject to regulatory approvals.

Outcast Brands, the company behind Blood Monkey Gin and Two Shores Rum, has announced their partnership with bbb drinks for the distribution and brand activation of their premium spirits in the UK market. 

From this month until the end of 2023, The Drinks Trust aims to raise £230,000 to support those who need help the most through its new Cost of Living Crisis Appeal.

SommCon, the San Diego, California-based conference for wine, beer and spirits education has announced the launch of its newly expanded trade show for import, distribution and on and off-premise alcohol beverage buyers. 

La Martiniquaise has announced the acquisition of French spirit Generous Gin, to add to the group’s premium offer and its ‘Craft From France’ portfolio.

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.

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits has announced its plans to acquire Miami-based WEBB Banks, a distributor of brands including Tito's Handmade Vodka, in the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as the travel retail and cruise sector. 

A new report by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has revealed that total US spirits exports reached a record $2.06bn in 2022, buoyed by the temporary halt to retaliatory tariffs, with American whiskey exports to the UK remaining lower than pre-tariff levels.

Premium spirits supplier Speciality Drinks has announced the appointment of The Mixing Class founder Hannah Lanfear in a newly-created advocacy manager role.

Diageo, purveyor of Johnnie Walker and Guinness, has announced half year results to 31 December 2022 with reported net sales of £9.4bn, increased 18.4%, reflecting strong organic net sales growth.

Drinks marketing, events and brand activation agency, ItalSpirits, has appointed Roberta Mariani as advocacy director.

Brown-Forman Corporation has announced the appointment of Larry Combs to the newly created role of chief information officer and director of supply chain integration and strategy.

Estonian spirits producer, Liviko, and Conaxess Trade Beverages have signed a distribution agreement for Denmark.

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits has announced that its e-commerce platform, Proof, has passed the $3 billion revenue mark in 2022.

Global Brands Limited has announced it has purchased the Hooch, Hooper’s, and Reef trademarks from Molson Coors Beverage Company.

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’.

The UK government has outlined plans to extend licensing hours in pubs, clubs and bars across England and Wales to mark the royal coronation.

The UK government’s freeze on alcohol duty is to be extended until August 2023 to help UK hospitality venues amid rising costs.

The no- and low-alcohol categories grew by more than 7% in volume across 10 key global markets in 2022 to surpass a market value of $11bn, a new report from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has revealed.

With rail strikes set to bring the UK’s rail network to a standstill, as rail workers walk out over a long-running row over jobs, pay and conditions, hospitality businesses are seeing large-scale cancellations impacting the sector at its most critical trading period of the year. 

WSET (the Wine & Spirit Education Trust) has announced that Kirsten Grant Meikle will join its Board of Trustees, replacing Allen Gibbons as the Worshipful Company of Distillers’ representative.

According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the first half of 2022 (H1) saw value growth of beverage alcohol reaching historic highs, driven by a combination of post-pandemic demand and price increases.

Louisville-based Sazerac will invest US$600 million in new barrel warehouses in London, Laurel County, Kentucky.

Diageo is celebrating the graduation of 14 students, including seven Ukrainian refugees, from its Learning for Life hospitality training programme.

A group of over 100 UK drink industry figures have signed a letter written to The Times urging the chancellor to rethink its decision to reverse the alcohol duty freeze.

Berry Bros. & Rudd has reported a 3.7% sales growth for FY22 following recent investments in the business of fine wine collecting.

Mangrove Global, the premium UK spirits distributor, has announced the addition of East London Liquor Company to its portfolio.

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 sales and results for Q1 FY23, with sales totalling €3,308 million and an organic growth of +11%.

The IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has released results for its 2022 Strategic Study examining and forecasting growth in the ready-to-drink (RTD) category.

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has announced that planned increases in alcohol duty have been ditched in his mini-budget.