July
The departing head of Rémy Cointreau, Eric Vallat, admitted that the brand owner “may have made mistakes” in the years since the Covid pandemic.
Diageo confirmed the departure of CEO Debra Crew with immediate effect.
The removal from Canadian shelves of US-sourced spirits earlier in the year led to a tumble in sales of over 65%, according to figures released in July.
Pernod Ricard sold off two more of its non-core spirits brands, this time in the Irish whiskey category.
Mainland China fuelled a sharp rebound in Australian wine exports, with overall shipments rising by 13% in value to AUD2.48bn (US$1.6bn) in the 12 months to the end of June this year.
August
The percentage of American adults who claim to drink alcohol has sunk to 54%, the lowest figure since 1939, according to a poll released in August.
A dispute between the founders of Uncle Nearest and a creditor led to the American whiskey business switching to neutral control.
Private equity group InvestBev moved to calm concerns raised around the “near-term repricing” of bourbon barrel assets, describing the situation as a “healthy reset”.
BrewDog confirmed that co-founder Martin Dickie (above, left) would step down from the business – and leave the alcohol industry – for “personal reasons”.
Diageo partnered its Johnnie Walker blended scotch with US singer Sabrina Carpenter.
September
Suntory Holdings announced the resignation of CEO Takeshi Niinami following a police investigation into “supplements” that he was alleged to have purchased.
Gallo purchased Whiny Baby, a US wine brand founded in 2020 by entrepreneur Jess Druey.
AB InBev announced a marketing arrangement with Netflix that the brewer believed was “unprecedented in the global reach and scale of activations” across its portfolio.
Molson Coors Beverage Co brought the five-month search for its next CEO to a conclusion, with chief strategy officer Rahul Goyal (above) lined up to take the reins.
Heineken lined up a consolidatory transaction in Central America based on the acquisition of the beverage and retail operations owned by FIFCO in the region.
