British hospitality loses one in 18 sites in last 12 months

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.

Soderbergh directs singani to a win

Steven Soderbergh has dipped into the oceans of spirits and secured his favourite Bolivian drink its own classification.

ItalSpirits appoints advocacy director

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

Scapegrace Distillery releases first single malt

New Zealand spirits brand Scapegrace has announced the launch of a limited-edition range of single malts, the first whisky released by the brand.

Hatch Mansfield appoints new MD after McGrath becomes chairman

Hatch Mansfield managing director Patrick McGrath MW is stepping up to the newly created role of chairman.

Chapel Down appoints new CEO

Andrew Carter is set to take over from Frazer Thompson as CEO of Chapel Down winery from September this year.

Gonzalez Byass UK appoints Melissa Draycott as managing director

Melissa Draycott will take over from Martin Skelton as managing director of Gonzalez Byass UK in September.

Anne Le Naour: Interview with CA Grands Crus Executive Director

Drinks International caught up with Anne Le Naour, executive director at CA Grands Crus, to find out how the business has adapted to the challenging trading conditions of 2020.

Quintessential Brands promotes James Lousada to chief executive

Leading gin producer Quintessential Brands has promoted James Lousada to the role of chief executive.

New senior appointment at St Austell Brewery

Cornish independent brewer and pub company St Austell Brewery has announced the appointment of Andrew Turner, to the newly created role of managing director, beer and brands. 

Patrick Ricard dies aged 67

Patrick Ricard the titular head of the Pernod Ricard family, has died. He was 67. Cause of death has not been disclosed but it is believed to be a heart attack.

Treasury appoints Grant to head up Beringer

Treasury Wine Estates has appointed John Grant as managing director of its Beringer Brand Business Unit.

Cox has left New Zealand Winegrowers

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

Bacardi Martini announces new md for the UK and Ireland

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 turns up the volume

Credit to Pernod. The company has done a fine job this week in extolling the success of scotch whisky around the world and in telling important opinion formers that the company is best placed to capitalise on that thirst and in doing so earn lots of money for the company, its suppliers, customers, not forgetting its investors.

Change at the top of ProWein

Current project director Danila Avdiu will leave Messe Düsseldorf on December 31, 2012.

UK: Pernod appoints new wine director

Pernod Ricard UK has promoted Chris Ellis to the role of commercial director of wines, with effect from July 1, 2012. 

SAB Miller announces staff shake-up

SAB Miller has announced a number of directorate and senior management changes that will become effective from the company’s annual general meeting on July 26, 2012.

Beaujolais primed for new Burgundy AOC

As the third consecutive "great" Beaujolais vintage readies for market and glasses, the talk in the region has turned to another newcomer, the newly formed appellation of Coteaux Bourguignon.

Bacardi GTR appoints new MD

Bacardi Global Travel Retail has appointed Mike Birch to the role of managing director.

No German ice wine this year

There is unlikely to be any ice wine from Germany this year because of the mild winter north west Europe is experiencing.

Direct Wines reshapes its buying and merchandising team

Direct Wines, the world's largest independent wine merchant with a turnover of £350 million, has announced major changes to its buying and merchandising teams.

Nicolas Feuillatte toasts best ever year

Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte achieved its highest volume sales in 2011, says the brand’s Caroline Defaut.

Peroni to gain from craft's rise, says brand director

The rise of craft beer in the US can benefit Peroni Nastro Azzurro, says the lager's global brand director Andrew Walker.

Sogrape acquires Stevens Garnier

International wine producer Sogrape has acquired 100% of UK wine agency Stevens Garnier. The company previously owned 38% of Stevens Garnier and financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Cert Octavian announces new MD

Cert Octavian Plc, the UK’s leading logistics and specialist wine cellarage business, has announced that Vincent O’Brien is managing director with immediate effect.

Pernod announces staff shuffle

Pernod Ricard has announced a number of staff changes.

CIVB appoints marketing director

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.

Glenmorangie Company appoints new president

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

Brown-Forman hires duty free quartet

Brown-Forman Duty Free has made four senior-level appointments, effective immediately.

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.

Rémy Cointreau makes directorial changes

Rémy Cointreau has announced “important” director-level changes to its Global Travel Retail (GTR) team, in the shape of the appointments of Matthew Hodges and Simon Roffe.

Diageo GTME hails success of Johnnie Walker Double Black

Diageo Global Travel and Middle East (GTME), is claiming the launch of Johnnie Walker Double Black as a travel retail exclusive a year ago, is a “game changer”.

Bacardi appoints trio of directors

The Bacardi Global Travel Retail Division has announced three director-level appointments in a bid to “create a leadership team with a wealth of experience and global expertise”.

SAB Miller appoints deputy CFO

SABMiller has announced the appointment of James (Jamie) Wilson as deputy chief financial officer.

Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte hires commercial director

Champagne cooperative Centre Vinicole – Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte has appointed Julie Campos as commercial director.

Diageo appoints new Guinness boss

Diageo has announced a new global brand director for Guinness. Oliver Loomes has been appointed to the role, following Brian Duffy’s promotion to global category director for beer.

Diageo appoints senior execs

Diageo Gobal Travel Middle East (GTME) has announced three ‘key strategic leadership’ appointments to its senior executive management team.

Brown-Forman appoints Asia Pacific boss

Brown-Forman has appointed Michael McShane as managing director for Asia Pacific, effective February 1, 2011.  McShane succeeds Stuart Beck who is to retire from the company in May 2011.  McShane will be based in Hong Kong.

First Drinks appoints marketing boss

UK company First Drinks has appointed Una McCullough as marketing director.

Comolli resigns from Pernod board

Jean-Dominique Comolli has resigned from the board of directors at Pernod Ricard.

Bacardi elects new board members

Bacardi has announced two new board directors, Francisco V Carrera-Justiz and Theodore C Walker, who were elected at the company’s AGM in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Diageo appoints new Johnnie Walker boss

Diageo has appointed Gavin Pike to the role of global brand director for Johnnie Walker. Pike is currently marketing and innovation director, with Diageo’s venture, Brandhouse Beverages, in South Africa.

Diageo restructures global marketing department

Diageo has announced changes to its global marketing department following a review of its structure.

Edrington appoints new travel retail director

The Edrington Group has appointed a new area director for global travel retail.

Diageo's CFO to step down

Diageo’s chief financial officer is to step down. Nick Rose will stand down from the board at the company’s AGM on 14 October 2010.

Niederkirchener Weinmacher appoints new president

Marian Kopp has been appointed managing director/president of Niederkirchener Weinmacher  – a German wine cooperative located in the Pfalz region - effective April 1, 2010.