Burn Stewart Distillers, producer of brands Bunnahabhain and Scottish Leader, has announced net profits of £3.7 for the financial year ending December 31 2010.

Diageo has announced plans to step-up its multi-million dollar strategic partnership with social media website Facebook.

Drambuie has reported operating profits of £2.81m – up 2% on last year.

UK: Somerset Cider Brandy has been granted geographical protection.

Diageo has announced the launch of Catalyst, a stand-alone group that will focus exclusively on what it describes as high potential brands.

The UK government has urged the drinks industry to back its Responsibility Deal aimed at countering binge drinking and alcoholism.

Scotch whisky exports up 22%

12 September, 2011

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has announced that the value of scotch exports for the first half of 2011 is up 22%

Growers, cooperatives and houses in Champagne have offered ambivalent first appraisals of the 2011 vintage, following what has been described as the appellation’s “earliest ever harvest”.

The Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB) or Bordeaux Wine Council, which represents Bordeaux vine growers and négociants, has announced the appointment of François Jumeau as its new marketing director.

Drinks International is delighted to announce that premier Italian Prosecco producer Follador is to sponsor this year's Travel Retail Awards.

Eleven new masters of wine

06 September, 2011

The Institute of Masters of Wine has announced 11 new masters of wine.

The importance of the so-called emerging markets such as those in China, India, was underlined by the Pernod Ricard management  team in individual briefings in London today (Tuesday September 6), following the announcement of the group’s annual results last week.

Pernod posts 7% sales growth

01 September, 2011

Pernod Ricard has posted annual organic sales growth of 7% to achieve a turnover of €7.6b.

Beam Global has appointed Debora Boyda to the role of general manager of the Mixables Category Business Team (CBT). 

Diageo posts strong results

25 August, 2011

Diageo has cited ‘emerging markets’ as a reason for its positive results – including 16% growth in scotch whisky in emerging markets. 

The Glenmorangie Company has promoted chief operating officer Paul Skipworth to the post of president and managing director.

Diageo has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Turkish spirits firm Mey Içki, after receiving regulatory clearances.

Vietnam: Global drinks giant Diageo has closed a Public Offer to acquire an additional 5.07% stake in Hanoi Liquor Joint Stock Company (“Halico”) for approximately £6.4 million. 

Asahi Group has reached an agreement to acquire Australsian-based drinks operator, Flavoured Beverages Group.

The board of Foster’s Group has rebuffed SABMiller's proposed takeover bid. 

Beam Global Spirits & Wine has appointed Christopher G. Bauder to the role of bourbon category business team (CBT) general manager.

SABMiller has proposed to make a conditional, off-market, cash takeover offer for all of the issued shares in Foster’s Group. 

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has ruled that discriminatory excise tax on spirits in the Philippines is a violation of WTO rules.

Africa: Heineken has purchased two breweries in Ethiopia for a total of US$163 million. 

William Grant & Sons and JF Hillebrand have signed a three-year global logistics contract.

Mexico´s Tequila Regulatory Council (TRC) is working to step up operatives to curb a rising trade of fake and "toxic" blends after consumer watchdog Profeco this week announced 40% of the country’s alcohol is sold in an "adulterated" state.

G&J Greenall, one of the UK’s major distillers has been sold to a management buy out, according to unconfirmed reports.

UK spirits and liqueur agency, Mangrove, has announced plans for expansion into the Middle East and south Asia.

Gruppo Campari has announced the acquisition of Brazilian cachaça brand Sagatiba and half-year sales growth of 14.2%.

Kirin buys Schincariol

02 August, 2011

Japanese brewer Kirin has bought the outstanding shares in Aleadri-Schinni Participações e Representações S.A. (“Aleadri”), a company that holds 50.45% of the outstanding shares of Schincariol Participações e Representações SA (Brazil; CEO: Adriano Schincariol: “Schincariol”).

US: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has found Diageo to have made “hundreds of illicit payments” to foreign government officials in India, Thailand and South Korea.

The emerging South Korean market could boost the fortunes of wine importers, according to research by Wine Intelligence.

Beam lines up directors

28 July, 2011

Fortune Brands has announced the boards of directors for Beam and Fortune Brands Home & Security, the standalone public companies to result from the planned separation of its businesses.

Edwin H Nielsen (pictured), the great-grandson of Bacardi founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó has died in Spain at the age of 93.

Africa: Diageo’s Guinness Nigeria has committed £225million (NGN 55 billion) to expand its brewing operations. The company has said this will create 200 permanent jobs for Nigerians.

Premiumisation is driving UK spirits volume and value growth in the on and off-trade, according to findings by First Drinks.

South Africa: The KWV board has announced that CEO Thys Loubser (pictured) has resigned as company CEO with immediate effect.

Foster's appoints CMO

14 July, 2011

Foster's Group has announced the appointment of Andy Gibson to the role of chief marketing officer. Andy is expected to start in the role on November 1.

Diageo has appointed a head of its Western Europe division. From September 1, John Kennedy is to become chief operating officer, Diageo Western Europe. Kennedy is currently managing director, Diageo Ireland.

Irish Distillers CEO Alexandre Ricard (pictured) is to leave his post to join Pernod’s group general management team in Paris.

The Vinho Verde Wine Commission (CVRVV), in Portugal, has invested €5m on a three-year global promotion.

Korea’s 20% import tariff on spirits come down today (July 1) as a result of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and South Korea.

Pernod Ricard has announced the disposal, by its affiliate Pernod Ricard Europe, of its shares in Georgian Wine and Spirits LLC to JSC Marussia (Georgia).

Gallo buys Diageo winery

29 June, 2011

E & J Gallo Winery has announced an agreement to purchase Edna Valley Vineyard from Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines Company and Paragon Vineyard Company, who held Edna Valley Vineyard as a joint venture.

Ian Macleod Distillers has purchased the Tamdhu distillery in Speyside, from the Edrington Group.

Chinese regulators have approved Diageo’s acquisition of an additional 4% stake in Sichuan Chengdu Quanxing Group (Quanxing) from Chengdu Yingsheng Investment Holding Co (Yingsheng).

Costellation Wines Australia and Europe has officially become Accolade Wines - as of June 27. Accolade brands include Hardy’s and Echo Falls.

Scotland: Diageo is to invest £20 million in its Speyside whisky facilities.

Beynat on Vinexpo 2011

23 June, 2011

Drinks International’s Hamish Smith catches up with Vinexpo CEO Robert Beynat at 2011 show.

Foster's has rejected a takeover bid from SABMiller. Foster's Group said that it received an "unsolicited, incomplete, non-binding and conditional proposal" from SABMiller to acquire all of the shares in Foster's via a scheme of arrangement at a price of $4.90 per share in cash.

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