Foster's rebuffs SABMiller bid
The board of Foster’s Group has rebuffed SABMiller's proposed takeover bid.
Beam appoints bourbon manager
Beam Global Spirits & Wine has appointed Christopher G. Bauder to the role of bourbon category business team (CBT) general manager.
SABMiller to make Foster's takeover offer
SABMiller has proposed to make a conditional, off-market, cash takeover offer for all of the issued shares in Foster’s Group.
Philippines spirits tax violates WTO rules
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has ruled that discriminatory excise tax on spirits in the Philippines is a violation of WTO rules.
Heineken buys two Ethiopian breweries
Africa: Heineken has purchased two breweries in Ethiopia for a total of US$163 million.
Hillebrand signs with William Grant
William Grant & Sons and JF Hillebrand have signed a three-year global logistics contract.
Mexico to curb "toxic" tequila
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.
British gin distiller Greenalls is sold in management buyout
G&J Greenall, one of the UK’s major distillers has been sold to a management buy out, according to unconfirmed reports.
Mangrove branches out into Asia
UK spirits and liqueur agency, Mangrove, has announced plans for expansion into the Middle East and south Asia.
Campari buys Sagatiba and posts 14% growth
Gruppo Campari has announced the acquisition of Brazilian cachaça brand Sagatiba and half-year sales growth of 14.2%.
Kirin buys Schincariol
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”).
Diageo to pay $16m in "illicit payments" case
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.
South Korean boost for wine importers
The emerging South Korean market could boost the fortunes of wine importers, according to research by Wine Intelligence.
Beam lines up directors
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.
Bacardi leader dies, aged 93
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 to invest £225m in brewing ops
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 driving UK spirits, says First Drinks
Premiumisation is driving UK spirits volume and value growth in the on and off-trade, according to findings by First Drinks.
South Africa: KWV CEO resigns
South Africa: The KWV board has announced that CEO Thys Loubser (pictured) has resigned as company CEO with immediate effect.
Foster's appoints CMO
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 appoints new Western Europe chief
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.
Pernod announces jobs shake-up
Irish Distillers CEO Alexandre Ricard (pictured) is to leave his post to join Pernod’s group general management team in Paris.
€5m global Vinho Verde campaign unveiled
The Vinho Verde Wine Commission (CVRVV), in Portugal, has invested €5m on a three-year global promotion.
Korean tariff on spirits comes down
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 sells Georgian company
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
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 buys Speyside distillery
Ian Macleod Distillers has purchased the Tamdhu distillery in Speyside, from the Edrington Group.
Diageo to take controlling stake in Chinese company
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).
Constellation officially becomes Accolade
Costellation Wines Australia and Europe has officially become Accolade Wines - as of June 27. Accolade brands include Hardy’s and Echo Falls.
Scotland: Diageo to invest £20m in Speyside whisky
Scotland: Diageo is to invest £20 million in its Speyside whisky facilities.
Beynat on Vinexpo 2011
Drinks International’s Hamish Smith catches up with Vinexpo CEO Robert Beynat at 2011 show.
Foster's rejects SABMiller takeover bid
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.
Fladgate CEO calls for quality rosé port
The CEO of the Fladgate Partnership has called for the quality standard of rosé port to be raised.
Budweiser to partner The FA Cup
Budweiser has signed a three-year agreement with The Football Association to become the ‘lead partner’ of The FA Cup.
Brown Brothers appoints UK brand manager
Australian winery Brown Brothers has appointed Rachel Herrig as brand manager to “drive the brand’s development in the UK and Ireland”.
170-year old Veuve fetches €30K
A 170-year old bottle of champagne salvaged from a shipwreck in the Baltic Sea has fetched €30,000 at auction.
Morrison Bowmore makes five appointments
Morrison Bowmore Distillers has made five new appointments within its sales and marketing team.
Champagne Jacquart makes winemaker announcement
Champagne Jacquart has announced the appointment of Floriane Eznack as winemaker.
Glenglassaugh splits distillery manager role
The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company has appointed Mhairi McDonald and Graeme Morrison, to together fill the out-going role of distillery manager.
Diageo buys SAB's stake in Kenya Breweries
Diageo subsidiary East African Breweries (EAB) has purchased all of SAB Miller’s 20% shareholding in Kenya Breweries (KB). The transaction is worth US$225 million. The deal is subject to EAB disposing of its 20% shareholding in Tanzania Breweries – by way of public offer through the Dar-es-Salaam Stock Exchange.
Blandy takes control of Madeira Wine Company
Portugal: The Blandy Group has regained control of the Madeira Wine Company (MWC) from Symington Family Estates. Symington will still retain a minority share in the business, but intends to concentrate on its Cockburn port brand, which it purchased last year.
DISCUS updates advertising guidelines
The Distilled Spirits Council in the US (DISCUS) has increased the demographic placement standard in its Code of Responsible Advertising Practices. The change reflects the 2010 Census data, which shows that 71.6% of the US population is 21 years of age and older. The previous demographic was 70%.