Accolade Wines has appointed Paul Schaafsma as its new chief executive officer, succeeding John Ratcliffe who
 will become deputy chairman.

MillerCoors, the US and Puerto Rican joint venture between SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company. has made Gavin Hattersley its chief executive officer.

Analysts at the Japanese bank, Nomura, are speculating on a merger between Diageo and South African-based global brewer, SABMiller.

Accolade Wines has entered into an agreement to sell its 50% shareholding in Matthew Clark, the UK’s largest independent drinks distributor, to Conviviality Retail Plc, one of the UK’s largest franchised off-licence and convenience chains, for £100 million.

SABMiller has appointed Philip Hodges to the newly created role of group director, integrated supply and as a member of the group’s executive committee with effect from December 1, in succession to Tony van Kralingen, whose intended retirement was announced in April 2015.

The Scotch Whisky Association has welcomed the UK government’s Advocate General’s opinion on the minimum unit pricing (MUP) of alcohol.

A senior Pernod Ricard management team were in London this week (Sept 2) to clarify, explain and defend its recent 2014/15 full year results.

Diageo wants China to contribute 5% of sales in the next 10 years, reports Bloomberg News.

Kingsland Drinks, the major UK wine and spirits supplier, has announced that it is to integrate the Bottle Green business, which it bought back in April.

Pernod Ricard reports +2% organic sales growth for the financial year 2014/15 in an environment that remains “challenging”, it says.

Constellation has bought a minority share in Charles Joly’s Crafthouse Cocktails, a pre-mixed drinks company. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.

The South African-based Distell Group reports that it has raised revenue by 10.4% to 19.6 billion rand on a sales volume increase of 5.7% for the 12 months to June 30, 2015.

Berry Bros & Rudd has announced the appointment of Dan Jago, Tesco’s group wine director at Tesco, as its new chief executive.

Altia, the leading Nordic and Baltic wine and spirits company, has made Petra Gräsbeck its new communications director.

The world’s largest premium drinks company has announced a net sales increase of 5% for the year ended June 30.

Diageo has announced the appointment of Emma Walmsley as a non-executive director effective January 1, 2016. 

Diageo has announced that Diageo, Heineken NV and the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) group, the majority shareholder of Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL), have agreed to restructure their South African and Namibian joint ventures.

Suntory Holdings has announced the sale of cognac group Louis Royer to the family group Terroirs Distillers, a privately-held fine spirits company based in France.

Diageo has announced the appointment of James Thompson as chief marketing and innovation Officer for North America, effective August 1.

SABMiller’s board has announced that it intends to appoint Domenic De Lorenzo as an executive director and as chief financial officer with effect from the conclusion of the forthcoming annual general meeting, to be held on July 23.

Diageo has announced the sale of Gleneagles Hotel to a private investment group led by Ennismore for an undisclosed amount.

Deidre Mahlan to be appointed president, Diageo North America. Tom Looney is appointed president, open and control states; Tom Day is becomes president, Diageo-Guinness USA and Jeff Ivey takes on national accounts leadership.

Vinexpo says 48,500 people visited its recent Bordeaux show, claiming that is stable with 2013.

Diageo and its subsidiary in India, United Spirits (USL), has announced phase II of the Young Women Social Entrepreneurship Development Programme in India.

WRAP, the organisation that promotes the use of resources sustainably, has unveiled its plan for the next five years.