October
Asahi Group Holdings confirmed that a ransomware attack had disrupted its systems in Japan, affecting order placement, product shipments and customer service operations.
The democratically elected head of Ontario in Canada threatened to remove Diageo’s Crown Royal whisky brand from the shelves of the province’s alcohol retail monopoly.
Heineken announced a “reshaping” of its head office in Amsterdam that would impact around 400 employees.
The US craft spirits industry recorded its second consecutive year of declining sales in 2024, as producers faced persistent economic and distribution challenges, according to data released in October.
AB InBev entered discussions with European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, to sponsor its men’s club competitions, including the UEFA Champions League (UCL).
November
A world exclusive from Global Drinks Intel broke the news that the head of William Grant & Sons had left the company, less than two years after assuming the position.
Diageo completed what it described as a “rigorous process” to replace Debra Crew as CEO on a permanent basis, appointing Sir Dave Lewis to take the helm from the start of next year.
Forecasts for global wine production in 2025 were released in November, with output expected to recover slightly from last year’s historic low – although annual volumes remain “well below recent averages”.
Younger legal-drinking-age consumers are accelerating the shift towards earlier, lower-intensity drinking occasions, according to the annual ‘Cocktail Trends Report’ from Bacardi, released in November.
The CEO of Rémy Cointreau outlined a strategic refresh for the group, based on his identification, in the five months since he joined, of “five key levers to regain agility and drive performance”.
December
Recent speculation linking AB InBev with Beatbox Beverages was realised in December, with the group’s US unit agreeing to buy a majority stake in the malt- and wine-based RTD brand.
Pernod Ricard has announced its most recent portfolio consolidation move, lining up the divestment of the Californian assets of the Mumm brand to Trinchero Family Wine & Spirits.
Diageo lined up another consolidatory divestment in Africa, this time in Kenya, resulting in its majority holding in the East African Breweries unit moving across to Asahi Group.
The recently-appointed CEO of Treasury Wine Estates delivered his prognosis of the group’s condition, coinciding with confirmation of “weaker market trends in the US and China”.
Campari Group picked the same week in December as Diageo and Pernod Ricard to announce the divestment of another brace of non-core brands, both of which are heading to compatriot Illva Saronno.
