Carlsberg UK and Marston's merge to create £780m joint venture

Carlsberg UK will merge with Marston’s to form a British brewing giant worth around £780 million.

British pub showcases revamped design to meet distancing guidelines

A British bar owner has created a prototype layout that would allow his pub to reopen this summer at around 75% of its usual capacity.

Jura Red Wine Cask Finish unveiled in time for World Whisky Day

Scotch whisky producer Jura has kicked off a new series of cask editions by releasing a whisky finished in red wine barriques.

BrewDog unveils 10-point plan to keep visitors safe when bars reopen

BrewDog has unveiled details of the measures it will take to protect visitors to its bars once they are permitted to reopen.

AB Inbev reports 32% sales decline in April

AB Inbev has warned that Q2 trading will be “materially worse” than the previous three months due to brewery closures and supply chain disruption.

Campari Group reports slight sales decline for Q1

Campari Group has reported a 5.3% decline in organic sales for the first quarter of 2020 after suffering from the impacts of the coronavirus outbreak.

Marussia Beverages completes Itkulsky Distillery purchase

Dutch group Marussia Beverages has purchased a controlling stake in Siberian vodka producer Itkulsky Distillery.

Zamora Company explains how brand owners can help the on-trade recover

Spanish producer Zamora Company has reported that wine and spirits sales in China have recovered as the country emerges from a sweeping coronavirus lockdown.

Drinks brands impress social media users during coronavirus crisis

Engagement with alcoholic drinks brands on social media has increased by more than 300% during the coronavirus lockdown, according to social analytics agency ListenFirst.

New initiative allows thousands of bars to covert to shops during COVID-19 crisis

A new initiative promises to transform shuttered British bars into click and collect food stores during the coronavirus crisis.

Stockpiling among British shoppers causes beer, wine and spirits sales to spike dramatically

Sales of beer, wine and spirits grew by a remarkable 67% in the UK off-trade during the week to March 21.

US off-trade sales soar while bars begin to reopen across China

The US off-trade has seen soaring sales of wine, spirits and beer as shoppers stocked up ahead of a lengthy coronavirus lockdown, according to Nielsen stats.

London Wine Fair postponed due to coronavirus pandemic

The London Wine Fair is the latest high profile-event to be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic that has swept the world.

Laithwaite's works hard to meet high demand among self-isolating wine lovers

Leading online wine retailer Laithwaite’s has assured customers that it will continue to keep them well stocked after demand shot up amid the coronavirus lockdown.

AB Inbev draws down $9bn loan facility as coronavirus pandemic sweeps the world

AB Inbev has drawn down the entirety of a $9bn loan facility from global banks as it bids to ride out the coronavirus outbreak.

British bar industry pleads for government support to save it from oblivion

The British pub and bar industry will be lost within days if the government does not take swift action to prop it up, leading operators have warned.

William Grant & Sons unveils Hendrick's Lunar

Hendrick’s Lunar Gin is the second limited edition release from master distiller Lesley Gracie’s Cabinet of Curiosities at the Hendrick’s Gin Palace, launching in the UK first. 

Aquavit: A new lease of life

Aquavit, ‘the water of life’ was all but dead in the water thanks to younger drinkers’ aversion to it. but now all that is changing, as Hamish Smith discovers

Havana Club injects Cuban culture into redesigned label

Havana Club has unveiled a new label for its Havana Club Añejo Especial rum that reflects the vibrancy of Cuba and aims to communicate the "quality and authentic" production process of the rum.

The no-low science bit

Low and no-alcohol wines were once horrible parodies of the real thing. not any more, writes Jamie Goode.

India comes in from the cold

Indian whisky producers are becoming increasingly confident as drinkers recognise the spirits for their quality. now, says Dominic Roskrow, they’re set to take the next step up.

UK set to plant 1m vines in 2017

The UK’s wine industry will plant one million vines this year with popularity forcing the industry to launch a new competition in recognition.

Brexit can boost spirits exports says WSTA chief

WSTA chief executive officer Miles Beale believes the UK can use Brexit to boost spirit export numbers after 45 new distilleries emerged in 2016.

Jack Daniel's launches new cider

Jack Daniel’s, from Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands, has launched a cider for the UK on and off-trade markets.

Menezes: UK could have free trade with India before EU

Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes has said the UK “could move ahead of the EU in terms of getting a Free Trade Agreement” post Brexit.

Think Gin 2016

Christmas could be a hard sell this year

So here we are again. At the back end of the year in the make or break season that will decide what sort of year our pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants are going to look back upon.

Chateau Haut Gleon Blanc 2012 released

Les Vignobles Foncalieu’s AOC Corbieres Chateau Haut Gleon Blanc 2012 has launched, targeted at the on-trade in Germany, China and the UK.

Opihr Oriental Spiced unveiled at Imbibe Live

Quintessential Brands unveiled Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin yesterday at UK on-trade show Imbibe Live.

Bibendum's Saunders braces for 2013 storm

Bibendum CEO Michael Saunders has warned the UK wine trade that business conditions will remain “tough” in 2013 and voiced his “violent objections” to minimum unit proposals.

Lower-alcohol Wines: The Lowdown

There is increasing awareness and demand for low and lower-alcohol wines. Christian Davis checks on who’s doing what

Bergersen becomes Pilsner Urquell’s International Master Bartender

Bartender Kim Daniel Bergersen of Norway prevailed from a field of 11 finalists at Pilsner Urquell’s International Master Bartender (IMB) competition.

Pusser's targets tiki bars and younger drinkers

Pusser’s Rum will target younger drinkers in the UK this winter with a new on-trade promotion.

Cape 2012

You have to hand it to Wines of South Africa. They know how to organise an event. To say Cape 2012 is just another trade show, would be a great injustice and understatement.

International Wine Challenge results

The International Wine Challenge held is annual bash at the Hilton on London’s Park Lane last night at which all its trophy winners were announced.

Team America: World Cup winners

Bacardi has named Team USA winners of the 42 Below Cocktail World Cup 2012, which took place at the vodka brand's home, New Zealand.

Pilsner Urquell crowns UK Master Bartender

Pilsner Urquell has awarded Paul Seagraves from Tweedies Bar in Grasmere, Cumbria with the title of UK Master Bartender 2012.

EU delays lifting LAG restrictions

The European Commission has postponed next year’s deadline to lift EU airport security restrictions on air passengers carrying liquids, aerosol and gels (LAGs) in their hand luggage.

Distell reports 15% revenue growth and 9% sales increase

Distell, South Africa’s leading wine and spirits producer, has reported a 15% growth in revenue for the year to June 2012 and a 9.9% increase in sales volumes across its portfolio of wines, spirits and RTDs in both domestic and international markets.

Jacob’s Creek in major UK chat show sponsorship

Jacob’s Creek, the leading Australian wine brand, is to sponsor the UK’s leading chat show.

Angostura opens Global Cocktail Challenge 2013

Angostura is on the lookout for bartenders to take part in the national heats of its Global Cocktail Challenge 2013, a competition which culminates in the selection of its global brand ambassador.

Gin

Gin is trading on the complexities of its flavour profile to cash in on the cocktail boom. Patience Gould finds a booming super-premium sector

New management structure at Accolade

Accolade Wines, which is the fifth largest global wine company, is to split the existing role of European commercial general manager into two, covering mainland Europe and UK & Ireland, to focus better on these two strategically crucial markets.

Chilean wine

Despite a strong peso, consumers are prepared to pay the price for quality Chilean wine. Christian Davis reports

Wild Geese land in UK cities

The Avalon Group has announced distributor Emporia Brands will roll out its Irish Whiskey brand The Wild Geese to the UK market.

UK consumers open to untraditional wine packaging

UK consumers' openness to new forms of wine packaging could mean the traditional glass bottle’s stranglehold on the market is relaxed, says Wine Intelligence.

Accolade Wines revamps Echo Falls

Accolade Wines has unveiled a new look for its Echo Falls Californian wine brand in key European markets, including the UK, Netherlands and Spain.

Treasury and Accolade pack for each other

Treasury Wine Estates and Accolade Wines has announced that TWE will pack wine for Accolade in Australia with Accolade will pack wine for TWE in the UK.

Trade challenges Scottish minimum pricing

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

Cox has left New Zealand Winegrowers

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