Beverages

Dohler expands MENA might with Delta Aromatic acquisition

25-Feb-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Already a mainstay in the Middle East ingredients market, Dohler has now announced further expansion in the region following its acquisition of the fruit processing and flavour unit of Delta Aromatic in Egypt.

Australian advertisers

Doctors hit out at alcohol’s ability to self-regulate

21-Feb-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Accusing Australia’s alcohol industry of being incapable of self-regulation, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has called on the government to launch an inquiry into alcohol marketing amid what it calls an unprecedented push by the industry to...

Testing the law

NT container deposit scheme moves to court

20-Feb-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Following an ongoing furious stand-off between drinks manufacturers, environmental groups and the local government, the Northern Territory’s opinion-splitting container deposit scheme has now reached the point of litigation.

Coca-Cola recalls Schweppes due to glass defect

18-Feb-2013

Coca-Cola Amatil is recalling five Schweppes mixers because of possible glass contamination.

dutch brewer will not 'change course' in china

Heineken hints at appetite for non-core European disposals in FY 2012 results call

13-Feb-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Heineken said today it is reviewing its non-core European businesses that don’t focus fully on beer, and asking whether its ownership of such assets makes strategic sense.

Straight talk

Inquest into NZ Coke addict deserves more than sensational headlines

13-Feb-2013 By RJ Whitehead

The story of the death of a New Zealand woman who would drink between six and 10 litres of Coca-Cola a day needs to be treated with caution as it does the rounds of the world’s news media.

Coke unfazed by recent Chinese sales slump, stretches sparkling lead over PepsiCo

12-Feb-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

The Coca-Cola Company insists it remains confident in the long-term resilience of its Chinese business, despite a 4% slump in volume sales during the last quarter of 2012.

Diageo spirits ABC is advantage over SAB Miller: Analyst suggests

11-Feb-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Diageo is in an arguably stronger market position than multinational peer SAB Miller due to its core exposure to spirits rather than beer, according to one City analyst who covers the firm.

Booze woes

Two drinking tales give reasons for India's dampened spirits

11-Feb-2013 By RJ Whitehead

The latest financial results by two of India’s spirits giants makes for fascinating reading and gives a real insight to casual observers as to the state of the drinks industry in the country.

The world (of Coke and Pepsi) is not enough in emerging markets...

05-Feb-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Clinching global culture club membership by swigging Pepsi or Coke is not enough for soft drinks consumers in emerging markets, who are increasingly swayed by regional tastes, according to Euromonitor International.

Carlsberg re-enters Burma clutching plans for new 1m hectoliter brewery

01-Feb-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Carlsberg today formed a JV with a Burmese brewer to produce and market its brand portfolio, and told BeverageDaily.com the nation offered 'huge growth potential' in an under-penetrated beer category.

Australia's labelling free-for-all

Researchers call for tooth-decay warnings on soft drinks

31-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

The latest call for advisories on Australian food labels comes from researchers at the University of Adelaide, who say that any health warnings for soft drinks should include the risk of tooth decay. This follows a new study that looks at the consumption...

Diageo faces struggle to make United Spirits pay: Analyst

30-Jan-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

The potential upsides in Diageo’s potential acquisition of a majority stake in India's United Spirits (USL) are clear but achieving acceptable profitability from the business may be tricky, according to one analyst.

Coke and Pepsi shifting bottling assets to build brands in 2013: Rabobank analyst

29-Jan-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo are looking to shift bottling assets onto strong franchise partners in order to refocus in house efforts on brand building and marketing.

State of the industry

New Zealand winemakers talking tactics for China push

28-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Recognising the newfound importance of the Chinese wine market, New Zealand’s vintners are pulling out the stops to make sure their exports have a place in Far East cellars.

Better, stronger VB arrests decade-long decline

24-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Victoria Bitter’s heartfelt apology last year is likely behind the beer’s turnaround in the Australian market, after the SABMiller brand showed its first quarter of growth in over 10 years of steady 10% declines.

‘Cold, wet winter’ subdues SAB Miller Chinese volumes

22-Jan-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

SAB Miller is blaming ‘exceptionally cold and wet winter weather’ for a third quarter volume decline in China, which meant lager volumes declined in its Asia Pacific business by 1% overall.

Industry hits back at Australia’s ‘flawed’ soft-drink campaign

21-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

Just days after a massive public health campaign to tackle the overconsumption of soft drinks was launched, the initiative has already drawn its critics, with one group suggesting the campaign’s demands are “short-sighted” and “lazy”.

NESTLE POISED FOR CONTINUED CHINESE COFFEE DOMINANCE: ANALYST

China wakes up, smells Nestlé’s ‘unique’ coffee flavor

14-Jan-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Nestlé’s ‘smart investment’ in Chinese whole bean coffee is likely to consolidate its market-leading position within the category there, as it stands poised to release a local product, according to a top beverage analyst.

Wine Intelligence warns exporters of wine dollar delusion in China

11-Jan-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Wine Intelligence has warned wine exporters to China against 'seeing only dollar signs' in the world's fifth-largest wine market, and said it was important to understand Chinese consumers, not just parachute in western brands.

Manjushree Technopack sets out growth plans

11-Jan-2013 By Rod Addy

Packaging firm Manjushree Technopack aims to double sales by 2015, driven by the growth of the middle class in India, and is poised to start construction on a fourth factory.

Coca-Cola China files police claim against ‘false’ fungicide rumors

10-Jan-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

The Coca-Cola Company has confirmed that it has filed a police report in China targeting recent internet hoax rumors that its orange juice contains an illegal fungicide, and will pursue legal redress.

INDUSTRY VOICES: HEAD OF AKTIEFOKUS CHINA, JACOB DE LICHTENBERG

Tsingtao tightens grip on central Shaanxi as AB InBev lurks

08-Jan-2013 By Jacob de Lichtenberg

Chinese beer giant Tsingtao Brewery is set to further consolidate its leading market position in Shaanxi by significantly expanding capacity with two new breweries, while AB InBev is also rumoured to be keen on penetrating the central Chinese province.

Heineken strongly denies whispers of APB unrest and ‘stifled creativity’

04-Jan-2013 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Heineken strongly denies to BeverageDaily.com that the resignation of several high-profile managers from its recent $6.53bn acquisition Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) attests to unrest at the Singapore-based firm.

State of the industry

Bottled water amounting to big bucks in Indonesia

18-Dec-2012 By RJ Whitehead

Indonesia's bottled water market may be one of the most high valued markets in the world, but there are still plenty of opportunities for growth, new research from UK-based research firm Mintel said.

Coca-Cola FEMSA buys Coke’s Philippines bottling operation for $688.5m

14-Dec-2012 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Coca-Cola FEMSA has sealed a deal to acquire a majority stake in the Coca-Cola Company’s Philippines bottling operation in Mexico City, and hailed an import milestone in its history.

ANALYST INSIGHT

Suntory UK focus after $6bn IPO could see it snaffle Barr Britvic: Analyst

13-Dec-2012 By Ben BOUCKLEY

With rumors swirling that Japanese giant Suntory is considering a $6bn IPO next year, one analyst reasons that any desire to enter the UK market could see it target Barr Britvic Soft Drinks.

Suntory plans share sale to fund M&A drive?

12-Dec-2012 By Ben Bouckley

Multinational Suntory Holdings plans to sell shares in its non-alcoholic drinks business to fund a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) drive, according to unnamed sources cited by Bloomberg.

Coca-Cola Amatil brews cider first as Swedish hit Rekorderlig joins 2014 portfolio

12-Dec-2012 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has signed a deal to distribute Swedish cider Rekorderlig in Australia from January 2014, and said its sales and distribution strength would help consolidate the brand’s market-leading position.

INDUSTRY VOICES: HEAD OF AKTIEFOKUS CHINA, JACOB DE LICHTENBERG

Carlsberg signals Chinese strategy shift and 'Top 3' ambition

10-Dec-2012 By Jacob de Lichtenberg

For Chinese beer market followers, one of the most interesting developments over the last fortnight was Danish brewer Carlsberg’s announced strategy shift and expressed desire to acquire one of the nation's top three domestic brewers.

TETRA PAK VIDEO EXCLUSIVE

Tetra Pak researches processing methods to tap ‘explosive’ coconut water trend

07-Dec-2012 By Ben Bouckley

Kit Lai, director of Tetra Pak’s Soya- and Coconut Knowledge Centers, discusses the global growth of coconut water and soya milks as categories, and the firm's latest formulation and processing innovations.

Fake fears and shrinking bottles: Top 5 Chinese wine trends for 2013

06-Dec-2012 By Ben Bouckley

Wine Intelligence analysts provide the lowdown on the five key developments the research group expects to see within the world’s fastest growing wine market China in 2013.

FSSAI to regulate tea trade in India

04-Dec-2012 By Ankush Chibber

India’s top commercial crop, its tea trade, will now come under the authority of the country’s top food safety watchdog.

Aussies and Kiwis prefer price and brand name over origin

03-Dec-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Consumers in Australia and New Zealand may espouse locally made food and beverage products, but the reality of the situation is somewhat different, a top marketing and branding guru has said.

PepsiCo needs emerging market focus to repair margins: US investment firm

28-Nov-2012 By Ben Bouckley

A US-based investment firm insists that PepsiCo needs to focus on its most profitable brands and emerging markets such as China to bolster margins and regain ground on Coke.

INDUSTRY VOICES: HEAD OF AKTIEFOKUS CHINA, JACOB DE LICHTENBERG

Tsingtao scales up beer operations in China’s bustling Henan province

27-Nov-2012 By Jacob de Lichtenberg

In this guest article, Jacob de Lichtenberg, head of Aktiefokus China, gives BeverageDaily.com readers the lowdown on Tsingtao Brewery’s plans to build a brewery in Henan province, where beer production is booming.

Social storm pushes Woolworths to remove infant drink

27-Nov-2012 By RJ Whitehead

A social media storm and petition have prompted Australian supermarket Woolworths to withdraw all juice supplies of infant drink brand Bebi from its shelves, although its infant suitable water line will remain.

Foster’s Group was ‘undermanaged’ for number of years – SAB Miller CFO

26-Nov-2012 By Ben Bouckley

SAB Miller CFO Jamie Wilson admits that the firm has suffered volume declines with Foster’s Group in Australia and is not regaining share, but claims that the takeover was never a ‘short-term journey’.

Drinks

Kiwis drinking more cider, but less beer

23-Nov-2012 By Ankush Chibber

Cider is the rising star of New Zealand’s alcoholic beverages market even as consumption of beer in the country is showing a steady decline, said a top official from Lion, the Australasian food and beverage major.

BEVERAGEDAILY.COM EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Chr. Hansen sees red in Asia as vibrant natural colors ‘step off the shelf’

21-Nov-2012 By Ben Bouckley

Chr. Hansen says it has high hopes in Asia and elsewhere for its new natural coloring ingredient for beverages, Ultra Stable Red, and claims investing in natural colors strips out costs elsewhere in the supply chain.

State of the industry

FoodNavigator-Asia

Resources