drinks
Bottled water market tapped
A new report into the drinks sector has revealed that 60% of UK adults view bottled water as a waste of money, with almost three quarters of respondents (71%) agreeing that tap water is as clean as bottled water. The results of the YouGov SixthSense poll echo the findings of a survey carried out by […]
Carbonates market set to regain its fizz
The global carbonated soft drinks market is predicted to bounce back next year after its growth rate halved in 2008. In its recently published Global Carbonates report, beverage industry information specialist Canadean says that growth in the sector slowed significantly in 2008, with the rate dropping to 1.4 per cent from three per cent in […]
Marks & Spencer breaks 85-year habit
Following a successful trial in 54 stores in the north-east and south-east of England, Marks & Spencer is to stock branded products – bringing an end to its 85-year own brand rule. Items from brands including Heinz, Fairy, Persil, Coca-Cola and Kellogg’s will now sit alongside M&S’s own products on its shelves. No M&S products […]
UK food and drinks market weathering economic storm
The UK has one of the largest retail food markets in both Europe and the world, with value sales having risen by around 3% per annum since 2004, according to a new report from Leatherhead Food Research. And with a value share of around 31%, the alcoholic beverages sector is the market’s largest, ahead of […]
Global energy drink sales almost double
Global energy drink volumes increased by two per cent in 2008 to 3.9 billion litres – almost double the two billion litres sold in 2003, according to the latest report from food and drink consultancy Zenith International. Average growth over the past five years has been 14 per cent a year. “Energy drinks remain a […]
Sweet drinks in childhood linked to obesity in later life
Five-year-olds’ consumption of sweetened beverages could give an indication of their weight status for the subsequent ten years, according to a new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Authors of this latest study examined intake of various beverages in a sample of 166 girls in central Pennsylvania, every two years, across a ten-year […]
Job threat Diageo workers lobby shareholders
Workers from global drinks giant Diageo have lobbied shareholders ahead of the company’s AGM in a bid to avert 900 job losses in Scotland. The workers pressed Diageo shareholders to ask questions about the restructuring plans, and demanded to see the union’s alternative plan that will keep open Johnnie Walker’s Kilmarnock site, as well as […]
Beer sales fall flat
Cash-strapped consumers shunning bars, pubs and restaurants has led to beer sales across West Europe falling by more than four per cent in the first half of 2009 – the equivalent of 580 million litres, or more than a billion less UK pints of beer – according to leading beverage research agency Canadean’s Quarterly Beverage […]
Record fine for Red Bull
Red Bull UK has been ordered to pay a record £271,800 for failing to recycle packaging waste over a period of eight years. The energy drinks company was in court in London this week after admitting 16 charges related to packaging waste offences for each of the years from 1999 to 2006. These included failing […]
Super-strength beer slammed
Health campaigners have reacted furiously to the launch of a new beer containing 18.2 per cent alcohol. Tokyo, launched by Scottish brewery BrewDog, has been declared Britain’s strongest beer, with a single pint containing 12 units. The brewery defended its latest offering, saying that it is ‘priced in a way that encourages responsible consumption and […]
Business news, Food safety, Ingredients, New products, Packaging
First Minister in bid to save Diageo jobs
First Minister Alex Salmond met with staff of the Johnnie Walker plant, union representatives, local businesses and politicians in Kilmarnock recently as part of the Scottish Government’s campaign to save Diageo jobs in Scotland. Last month the drinks giant announced plans to close its Kilmarnock facility, with net job losses of up to 500 across […]
Drinks group announces £120 million restructure
The world’s biggest drinks group, Diageo, has initiated a £120 million restructuring that will see the closure of a packaging plant and distillery, resulting in the loss of around 900 jobs in Scotland. The overhaul, which will reportedly save an estimated £40 million by 2012, will involve the closure of the company’s grain spirit distillery […]
Coca Cola brews new ingredient
Green tea-flavoured Coca-Cola hit Japanese stores earlier this month. The drink, which contains catechins, leaves a slight green tea aftertaste and is aimed at health-conscious women in their 20s and 30s, according to the company. Coca Cola is the leader in Japan’s cola market but faces strong competition from non-carbonated bottled drinks such as tea, […]
Drinks giant sells wines and spirits arm
Irish drinks giant C&C Group has sold its Northern Ireland wines and spirits business with the loss of three jobs. The news comes just weeks after C&C axed 121 jobs – a fifth of its workforce – across its Irish operations, including seven in Belfast. The company has also introduced a pay freeze for 12 […]