We bring together the 20 biggest news stories in beverage alcohol this year, as reported by Global Drinks Intel.
Campari Group is closing out the year with plans to acquire the Courvoisier cognac brand in what will be the biggest transaction in its history.
Treasury Wine Estates is aiming to return to growth by inorganic means, spending up to US$1bn on Daou Vineyards in California.
Rémy Cointreau is looking to counter the ongoing challenge facing the Cognac category in the US by revising the marketing position for Rémy Martin’s VSOP expression in the country.
June saw Brown-Forman confirm plans to offload its Finlandia vodka brand to Coca-Cola HBC for US$220m.
This year’s global wine production estimates were released in November, with the total figure for this year expected to be at its lowest level since 1961.
The outgoing head of Beam Suntory confirmed to Global Drinks Intel that portfolio consolidation has a part to play in the group’s future strategy.
The US unit of Anheuser-Busch InBev sold Appalachian Mountain Brewery back to the US craft brewer’s owners.
A jury in the US found in favour of Constellation Brands in the long-running ‘definition of beer’ legal row with Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Diageo added the Philippines rum brand Don Papa to its stable, where it now sits between Zacapa and Captain Morgan.
In August, UK-based business valuation consultancy Brand Finance released the latest edition of its annual beverage alcohol report.
Pernod Ricard became the latest spirits brand owner to agree on a co-branded RTD with The Coca-Cola Co, as vodka flagship Absolut prepared to team with Sprite.
US spirits giant Sazerac Co continued the refresh of its distribution arrangements, announcing a major break with partner Republic National Distributing Co.
Ketel One vodka owner The Nolet Group built on its near-30% holding in Dutch spirits counterpart Lucas Bols, securing the full acquisition of the cocktail-focused company.
Stoli vodka brand owner Stoli Group has a new CEO, Global Drinks Intel learned in July, with CFO Chris Caldwell replacing Damian McKinney in the top job.
Carlsberg followed its announcement in March that Cees ‘t Hart is set to retire with the unveiling of Jacob Aarup-Andersen as its next CEO.
The high single-digit growth rates of recent years for spirits in the US are set to return to pre-pandemic levels in the coming months, according to the head of Pernod Ricard.
Heineken was granted regulatory approval for its long-mooted acquisition of Distell.
The head of Diageo, Ivan Menezes, passed away in June at the age of 63.
Scotch whisky exports hit a new high last year, as leading market the US bounced back from its tariff-induced hiccup and India almost doubled its shipments by value.
The new whisky unveiled by Pernod Ricard in early December, described by the company as “China’s first prestige malt whisky”, also features liquid distilled in Scotland, Global Drinks Intel learned.
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