News

Brands News

All the latest news from the beer, ale, lager, wine, spirits, RTD and soft drink categories including new launches, promotional activity and sponsorship deals.

Timothy Taylor award winning bitter calls for plant expansion

06-Dec-1999 - Increasing demand for Timothy Taylor's Landlord bitter is behind new plant orders at the brewery in Keighley, West Yorkshire. All the company's fermenting squares have been...

Harp Irish Lager sets sights on top spot

06-Dec-1999 - Advertising chiefs have announced "ambitious" plans to take Harp Irish Lager back to its number one slot in the UK. The Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) agency...

Bacardi rethink could include dramatic branding changes

06-Dec-1999 - Bacardi is engaged in a worldwide strategic rethink which could see dramatic changes to the branding of its core white rum brand. The current bottle does...

London spirits wholesaler to open whisky pub with top brands

06-Dec-1999 - A London spirits wholesaler is to open a whisky pub featuring hundreds of top-class brands. Milroys of Soho is expected to obtain an on licence for...

Name change fear for Budweiser as controversial law is proposed

29-Nov-1999 - US lager Budweiser could be forced to change its name if controversial new proposals become law. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has been asked to rule...

European wine importers slam clampdown on Rioja shipments

29-Nov-1999 - European wine importers have slammed plans to crack down on bulk shipments of rioja wine. Rioja makers say bulk shipping damages product quality. But the European Federation...

Trade fury at soft drink pricing rap

22-Nov-1999 - Trade leaders have reacted angrily to remarks made by the government's consumer affairs minister linking soft drinks prices to drink-driving. Minister Kim Howells called for a...

Bass denies targeting drivers with new low-strength beer

22-Nov-1999 - Bass Brewers has denied that a new lower-strength beer is being aimed at drivers. Carling Blue, a two per cent ABV variant of Bass' flagship lager,...

Wine boom threat to beer

15-Nov-1999 - Beer is being threatened by a boom in wine drinking, both at home and in pubs. A government report suggests that home consumption of beer fell...

Record amounts of Cava bought as alternative to Millennium champagne

15-Nov-1999 - British pubs are buying in record amounts of cava sparkling wine as a cheaper alternative to millennium champagne. The Spanish region's vineyards have reported exports of...

Young's to aim new ale at young drinkers

08-Nov-1999 - London brewer Young's is to launch a new cask ale in an attempt to recruit young drinkers back to the sector. Trials of the new ale...

Wine makers in pesticide attack from Friends of the Earth

25-Oct-1999 - Eco-friendly campaign group Friends of the Earth has accused wine producers of failing to disclose the quantities of pesticide contained in their products. At the launch...

Fresh start for Cinzano with new owner Campari

11-Oct-1999 - Cinzano is set to be given a new lease of life after UDV sold it to Italian liqueur giant Campari. The Italian company currently distributes and...

Proposed takeover of Highland Distillers would create giant drinks company

20-Sep-1999 - Consolidation continues to hit the drinks industry with plans to create a powerful new group out of the proposed takeover of Highland Distillers. The deal, worth...

UDV contracts out rum distribution to concentrate on core brands

06-Sep-1999 - UDV has handed over distribution of its only rum in the UK as part of its focus on core brands. It has awarded the contract for...

Go-ahead for Cadbury Schweppes sell-off to Coca-Cola

09-Aug-1999 - Cadbury Schweppes has sold its soft drinks business in 155 countries, including the UK, to Coca-Cola. Monopoly fears from competition regulators continue to delay the sale...

Investement in pubs and TV ads to see boost for Hardys and Hansons

12-Jul-1999 - Investment in pubs and TV advertising is set to provide a profits boost for Nottingham brewer Hardys & Hansons. It is spending cash on improving existing...

Pernod expands with purchase of Armenian brandy firm

07-Jun-1999 - Drinks giant Pernod Ricard has expanded its global business by taking over a spirit producer in the former Soviet country of Armenia. It has bought the...

Merrydown slashes non-core brands

07-Jun-1999 - Sales of Merrydown cider are preparing for take-off in the on-trade after the company jumped back into the black. It has slashed more than 160 non-core...

First Drinks Brands - Quenching your First

31-May-1999 - First Drinks Brands is proud of the youthfulness and dynamism of its company culture. It distributes some of the most stylish spirits to some of...

Beer fights UK food and drink export slump

17-May-1999 - Beer is bucking the downward slide in the value of exports of food and drink from the UK. Last year overseas sales of beer were up...

Coca-Cola bid to buy Schweppes brands hits problems

10-May-1999 - Coca-Cola has run into new problems over its plan to buy Cadbury-Schweppes' brands, including Seven-Up, Dr Pepper, Canada Dry and Schweppes mixers. The £1.14bn deal has...

Diageo rumoured to be selling-off Cinzano to concentrate on key products

22-Mar-1999 - Diageo is believed to be planning a disposal of its Cinzano spirit brand as part of its move to focus on key products. It is trying...

Miller Brewng introduces one of the US' oldest beer brands to the UK

15-Mar-1999 - One of the Unites States' oldest beer brands is set to arrive in the on-trade this year after it was bought by Miller Brewing. Henry Weinhard...

Irish market fear after £28.5m deal gives Guinness dominance

08-Mar-1999 - Murphy Brewery and other Irish wholesalers fear a £28.5m deal has given its rival Guinness too much control over their sector. Guinness has been given the...