Beverages

Tea Board of India attacks ‘sensational’ Greenpeace wording in pesticide row

19-Aug-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

The Tea Board of India has attacked Greenpeace for ‘sensational’ wording in a report claiming teas sold by the likes of Unilever and TATA Global Beverages contain illegal pesticide residues.

'NO EVIDENCE OF AN IMMINENT THREAT': CARLSBERG

Carlsberg steps up security at Malaysian brewery on Islamic State attack threat

18-Aug-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Carlsberg tells BeverageDaily.com it is maintaining heightened security at its Malaysian brewery near Kuala Lumpur, after sympathizers of terrorist organization Islamic State told police they had planned to attack the facility.

COKE'S MONSTER MARRIAGE: CRACKING CHINA

‘Monster Energy can crack China with Coke’s help’: CEO Rodney Sacks

15-Aug-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Monster Energy CEO Rodney Sacks insists the brand will be well-placed to crack the Chinese market using the distribution might of new shareholder The Coca-Cola Company.

India

Lavazza departs India coffee chain market with sale of Barista

14-Aug-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Yet another international firm has bid farewell to the Indian food service market after Lavazza sold its Barista Coffee Co., India’s oldest coffee chain, to local company Carnation Hospitality.

Australia

Virtual bottleshops see steady growth as more Aussies buy online

13-Aug-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Amid news that online shopping while under the influence of alcohol is now a recognised phenomenon, a growing number of Australian adults are using the internet to buy alcohol. 

Wolf Blass bidding war? TPG makes rival $3.1bn approach to Treasury Wine Estates

11-Aug-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Penfolds and Wolf Blass brand owner Treasury Wine Estates has received a second $3.1bn takeover approach from a global private equity firm reported to be TPG Capital Management.

China

New dairy culture sees explosive drinking yoghurt growth

11-Aug-2014 By RJ Whitehead

For years a laggard in the dairy stakes, China is now seeing massive growth in its yoghurt drinks market largely because of significant investment and new demand for healthier drinks on the go.

Breast is best: Punjab gov sets new infant formula labelling rules

04-Aug-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Labelling of infant formula sold in the Pakistani department of Punjab must now include the warning “mother’s milk is the best food for your baby and helps in preventing diarrhoea and other illnesses,” according to new prohibition and guidance rules released...

Penfolds maker Treasury Wine Estates welcomes $3.15bn takeover bid

04-Aug-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Penfolds producer Treasury Wine Estates has welcomed a $3.15bn takeover proposal from private equity firms Rhone Capital and KKR and will let them to conduct due diligence on its books.

‘Great to have the brand back!’ ABI seizes back Corona control from Carlsberg in China

01-Aug-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) today took back distribution control of Corona Extra from Carlsberg in China as CEO Carlos Brita insists the brand will extend its ‘super premium’ position in the country.

IVAN MENEZES CONFIDENT DIAGEO CAN REBUILD AN 'ATTRACTIVE BUSINESS'

‘Shui Jing Fang appears to be broken, from the outside’: Analyst tells Diageo boss

01-Aug-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Sales of Diageo’s super premium baijiu brand Shui Jing Fang fell 79% in 2014, but CEO Ivan Menezes insists the firm can rebuild an ‘attractive business’ by slashing prices and improving route to market.

India-Australia

Hindus outraged by beef and alcohol use in Heinz juice manufacturing

31-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

A prominent Hindu leader has demanded an apology from Heinz Australia, which he claims concealed the use of alcohol and beef-derived gelatine in the production of some of its juice drinks.

Analysts fear Chinese frugality and US share loss: Looking ahead to Diageo’s 2014 results

30-Jul-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

With Diageo set to report its full-year 2014 results tomorrow, let’s look at what we might expect – with analysts predicting a share loss in US spirits and continued concerns in Asia-Pacific.

Australia

Nothing bitter about craft beer’s rising popularity

30-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

The remarkable rise in popularity of craft beer in Australia might be driving mainstream brewery executives to the bottle, but for Glenn Cary, chief executive of the independent Balmain Brewing Company, it is only the beginning.

China and Co. driving New Zealand food and beverage exports

29-Jul-2014 By Andrew Schreiber

Consumer demand from East and Southeast Asia for high value foods and beverages is driving export growth and diversification for New Zealand’s food and beverage industry, a new government report has revealed.

China

Premium brands will lead as China’s beer economy leapfrogs that of US

24-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Now double the size of its American counterpart, China's beer market is an exciting place to be for international brewers in spite of protectionist controls put in place by its authorities.

Australia

Study: Energy drinks increase the desire to drink longer and harder

21-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Australian academics have called for greater analysis of the potential harm caused by mixing energy drinks with alcohol after new research found the practice can turn a few quick drinks into a much longer session.

‘What do you want, blood?’ China’s CFDA bans sale of Vampire Drinks

16-Jul-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

China’s Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has banned the sale of a fruit punch in packaging designed to look like a medical blood bag, citing food safety concerns and dubious ethics.

New Zealand

Kiwi scientist finds way to counter mealybug threat

15-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

The New Zealand wine industry is now better equipped to battle a devastating plant pathogen thanks to new research carried out in the country.

Australia

Japan trade agreement could spur beleaguered Australian wine exports

15-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

The recent signing of a trade agreement between Japan and Australia will give wine exports to the Far East a “step-up”, according to the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA). 

Who drinks more wine – the Chinese or the Japanese?

14-Jul-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Isn’t the answer obvious? The Chinese, with their thirst for fine French wines, New World reds and keenness to plant vineyards over the past five years, easily outstrip the economically stressed, beer-loving Japanese.

Insight

Turning tables: NGOs commend multinational for transparency in Myanmar

14-Jul-2014 By Marta Kasztelan

In a rare move, NGOs and rights experts commended Coca-Cola for a report it has submitted with the US State Department regarding its responsible business practices in Myanmar.

'Increasingly adventurous' Japanese welcome different wine styles

07-Jul-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Wine Intelligence reports that 21% of regular wine drinkers in Japan enjoy trying new and different styles of wine on a regular basis compared to 15% two years ago, while the nation's wine fan's also enjoy the drink more often.

Southeast Asia

Indonesia considering new labeling rules for alcoholic beverages

07-Jul-2014 By Andrew Schreiber

The Indonesian government is considering new labeling regulations for manufacturers of alcoholic beverages in a bid to lower the number of consumers of alcohol in the country.

South Korea

Korean women catching up with the world’s biggest boozers — Korean men

03-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

South Korean women are developing a taste for a tipple at a remarkable rate, with the number who regularly consume alcohol having grown by more than 33% in just over a decade.

Australia

Put the Wimbledon champagne on ice: Aussie tennis fans love a tipple

02-Jul-2014 By RJ Whitehead

With champagne corks popping at Wimbledon this week—an expected 28,000 of them over the course of the SW19 fortnight—Australian drinks marketers would be advised to tap into the bubbly market back home, according to new research.

China analysis

Low margins put off leading wine brokers despite boom in imports

30-Jun-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Although China wine market has been booming for some time, the low prices charged by online importers means few leading brokers and retailers have been tempted to enter the business.

Australia

Cider poised to take over from alcopops

30-Jun-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Cider’s dramatic rise in popularity among Australian consumers appears to have come at the expense of pre-mixed spirits, according to new market research figures.

BREAKING NEWS

Coca-Cola India wins ruling overturning Uttar Pradesh plant closure order

20-Jun-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Coca-Cola India's controversial bottling plant in Uttar Pradesh will reopen after a national environmental tribunal today stayed a local pollution control board ruling ordering its closure.

‘Don’t discount Scotch whisky – Innovate!’ Rabobank fires Aussie wine warning

19-Jun-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Rabobank today served up Australian wine as an object lesson for the Scotch whisky industry’s need to innovate in areas such as flavour rather than discount, to guard its prestige in times of oversupply.

Black tea shows cholesterol-busting potential: Meta-analysis

18-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Regular consumption of black tea may reduce LDL cholesterol levels, but has no effect on HDL cholesterol, according to a new meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

A metropolitan detox: Broccoli could be 'frugal, simple and safe' way of reducing risks of air pollution

17-Jun-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Daily consumption of half a cup of a broccoli sprout beverage increased participants' ability to excrete the carcinogen benzene and lung irritant acrolein, according to research in China.

Anti-extravagance and acquisitions in Asia rock global spirits market

04-Jun-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Asia’s role in the global spirits market has surprised analysts over in recent months, with moves to curb extravagance in China, Suntory’s acquisition of Beam in January and Emperador’s winning bid to acquire White & Mackay each causing a stir.

Soapbox

Why didn't Sir Alex Ferguson shift his Bordeaux at big-bottle auction?

04-Jun-2014 By Nick Harty, Platinum Wines

As Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson auctioned part of his fine wine collection through Christie’s in Hong Kong last weekend, the absence of his sizeable Bordeaux stock was especially noticeable.

Nestle enters Nescafe JV with South Korea's Lotte Foods

02-Jun-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Nestle has announced a JV with South Korea's Lotte Foods to make and distribute Nescafe coffees, powdered chocolate and other beverages in Korea.

Australia

High-flyers sending gin into a renaissance

26-May-2014 By RJ Whitehead

In some countries, gin’s popularity might not now be what it once was, but recent data shows it has enjoyed a renaissance in Australia over the last five years. 

Southeast Asia

Crazy flavours and multiple mixes driving hipster coffee culture

22-May-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Café patrons in northern Southeast Asian countries are far more conventional than those to the south if what they order in cafés is any judge.

Drambuie sale: Suntory ‘favourite’ to buy

22-May-2014 By Rod Addy

Suntory would be the “favourite” to buy Scottish liqueur brand Drambuie, one analyst has claimed, as news emerged that owners the MacKinnon family were exploring a possible sale.

Ball expands Coca-Cola Pinya line in Southeast Asia

21-May-2014 By Jenny Eagle

Ball Corporation will build a one-line beverage can manufacturing plant in Myanmar for Coca-Cola Pinya drinks and several other regional and multi-national customers.

Astronomical shipping charges! Japanese sports drink eyes moon landing

20-May-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Most beverage brands are probably content to work on their distribution on plain old planet Earth but a Japanese sports drinks brand is set to become the first commercial delivery to the moon.

Tiny Kiwi distiller takes on might of William Grant over trademark

20-May-2014 By Andrew Schreiber

New Zealand Whisky Collection, a small Kiwi distiller, is engaged in a trademark battle with giant Scottish distiller William Grant & Sons over the use of the same compound term, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. 

Australia

Online shoppers go for grog over groceries

19-May-2014 By RJ Whitehead

More Australians buy alcohol online than groceries, though still less than one in 50 consumers click products into their virtual supermarket trolleys each month, according to the latest data by Roy Morgan.

Analysis

Australian wine exporters really need to up their game in Asia-Pacific

19-May-2014 By RJ Whitehead

The recent trade spat between Indonesia and Australia, which comes on the back of the southeast Asian nation’s objection towards its southern neighbour’s move to implement plain packaging of cigarettes, might have been blown out of all proportion, but...

Australia selling less wine abroad, though sales are growing in value

15-May-2014 By RJ Whitehead

While Australian wine exports might be rising in value terms, this supposed good news comes on the back of significantly reduced volumes, according to the industry’s government promoter.

Anger over Western Australia's ban on energy drinks during World Cup

14-May-2014 By Richard Whitehead

The drinks industry has slammed as “absurd” Western Australia’s decision to ban energy drinks as mixers during late-night screenings of World Cup matches.

Australia

Bracing for a tough year, new Coca-Cola Amatil MD begins restructure

13-May-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Acknowledging that growth will be tougher to achieve than it has in the past, Australasian bottler Coca-Cola Amatil’s new managing director has announced a shake up of the company under the guise of a strategic review.

India

Booming bottled water market still has space for local players

08-May-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Rising awareness of safety and hygiene following incidents of waterborne diseases in major cities across India has seen the consumption of packaged bottled water in India grow fivefold since the late ‘Nineties. 

Mahou San Miguel establishes Indian beer subsidiary

30-Apr-2014 By Andrew Schreiber

Spanish brewer Mahou San Miguel announced yesterday that it has established its first international subsidiary in India through the acquisition of 100% of Arian Breweries & Distilleries.

Australia’s craft beer secrets slowly being exposed

30-Apr-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Australian jobs are at risk, as is the credibility of the segment, if craft breweries continue to licence their beer to mainstream operators, according the previous head of Byron Bay Brewing Company, which has found itself at the centre of a consumer...

CUB takes rap for misleading consumers with city-brewed country beer

29-Apr-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Carlton & United Breweries will relabel stocks of beer that it acknowledges might have “misled” consumers into believing the product had been brewed hundreds of kilometres away from its real source.