Seedlip offerings portfolio includes Spice 94, Garden 108 and Grove 42. Credit: © Diageo.
Nestlé launches three plant-based coffees in Nestlé UK & Ireland. Credit: Nestlé UK & Ireland.
 Glasgow Distillery
Glasgow Distillery launches 1770 Glasgow Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Peated Release No.1. Credit: The Glasgow Distillery Company Ltd.
Castle Brands develops and markets alcoholic beverages. Credit: © Castle Brands Inc.

Diageo acquires significant stake in non-alcoholic spirit brand Seedlip

British multinational alcoholic beverages company Diageo acquired a significant stake in the distilled non-alcoholic spirits brand Seedlip.

Financial details of the acquisition were not divulged by either company.

Molson Coors CEO to step down

Molson Coors president and CEO Mark Hunter will retire on 27 September and will be replaced by Gavin Hattersley.

Hattersley will take charge as the new president and CEO of the company on 28 September.

Molson Coors board chairman Andrew Molson said: “After a 36-year career, with the last 30 years in the beer business, Mark Hunter indicated his desire to retire from his position as Molson Coors President and CEO to spend more time with his wife Fiona and two children.

Natur acquires stake in Temple Turmeric Beverages

Natural and organic plant-based foods and beverages producer Natur International acquired a controlling stake in Temple Turmeric Beverages from Dunn’s River Brands.

The companies have not divulged the financial details of the deal.

Established in New York in 2009, Temple Turmeric produces turmeric-based ready-to-drink beverages.

Nestlé debuts plant-based latte coffees in UK and Ireland

Swiss food and drink company Nestlé expanded its products offering in the UK and Irish markets with the launch of three plant-based coffees under its Nescafé Gold brand.

The three new latte variants including almond, oat and coconut, are certified by the Vegan Society. Therefore, the products can be used by consumers following a vegan diet.

Nescafé UK and Ireland business head Neil Stephens said: “Our new premium Nescafé Gold frothy coffees bring the plant-based, non-dairy trend out of the coffee shop and into the home.

Danone to invest in Nutricia spray drying plant in New Zealand

Danone is set to invest NZD40m ($26m) in its Nutricia spray drying plant in Balclutha, New Zealand.

The investment is aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2021.

As part of the initiative, the company will install NZD30m ($19.6m) biomass boiler that will be capable of reducing the plant’s carbon emissions by 20,000t annually.

Constellation Brands to divest Black Velvet Canadian Whisky for $266m

Alcoholic beverages producer Constellation Brands signed an agreement to sell its Black Velvet Canadian Whisky brand and related production facility in Lethbridge, Alberta to Heaven Hill Brands for approximately $266m.

The deal also included a subset of Canadian whisky brands produced at Lethbridge facility.

Constellation Brands president and CEO Bill Newlands said: “We are relentlessly focused on the consumer and building a portfolio of brands consumers love today, while pushing beyond to meet their evolving needs well into the future.

Glasgow Distillery adds Peated expression to single malt portfolio

Scotland-based Glasgow Distillery expanded its portfolio with the addition of a 1770 Glasgow Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Peated Release No 1.

The new expression has been produced using the finest barley with aromatic heather-rich peat from the Scottish Highlands.

Using water of Loch Katrine, the 1770 Peated expression has been hand-crafted in the distillery’s two unique copper pot stills, Tara and Mhairi, named after the relatives of the distillery founders.

Coca-Cola mulling to invest $200m in Bangladesh

Global beverage company Coca-Cola is reportedly planning to invest $200m in Bangladesh over the next five years.

The plan was announced by the company’s president and (COO) Brian John Smith.

The company is also seeking a reduction in supplementary duties and value-added tax (VAT), which is levied on its beverage products in the country.

AB InBev acquires US brewer Platform Beer Co

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) acquired US-based brewer Platform Beer Co to expand its presence in the US craft beer sector.

Financial terms of the deal are yet to be divulged by both the companies.

The newly acquired business will be part of Brewers Collective, which is a business unit of AB InBev in the US.

Pernod Ricard agrees to buy Castle Brands for $223m

French beverage firm Pernod Ricard agreed to purchase alcohol manufacturer and marketer Castle Brands for approximately $223m.

Under the terms of the agreement, Pernod Ricard will buy the entire outstanding common stock of Castle Brands by paying $1.27 per share in cash, or around $223m, plus assumed debt, via a cash tender offer followed by a merger.

The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.