Angkor premium beer. Credit: Carlsberg Breweries A / S.
 Arran Distillers
Arran Distillery is a whisky distillery in Lochranza, Scotland. Credit: paul birrell / Lochranza Distillery, Isle of Arran / CC BY-SA 2.0.
Irish government ban alcohol advertisements near schools and local authority playgrounds. Credit: Adam Jaime on Unsplash.
 Diageo
‘What’s Your Whisky’ helps people to find their perfect whisky, based on their preferences for certain flavours. Credit: © Diageo.

Carlsberg to become sole owner of Cambodian brewery Cambrew

Denmark-based brewer Carlsberg Group reached an agreement to acquire the remaining 25% stake in its Cambodian joint venture Cambrew.

Financial details of the acquisition are yet to be divulged by either company.

Carlsberg CEO Cees’t Hart said: “The agreement is in line with our strategic priority of growing our business in Asia and in a beer market that offers appealing long-term growth opportunities.”

 

EU-China trade deal secures GI status for Irish whiskey in China

The European Union (EU) signed a bilateral agreement with China to protect European Geographical Indications (GI) in China, as well as 100 Chinese GI in the EU.

The deal enables Irish whiskey producers to take legal action against fake products on sale in China.

The Irish Whiskey Association said: “We welcome the historic EU-China agreement on protection of geographical indications.  This secures protection for Irish Whiskey in China for the first time. Sales in China grew 50% last year.”

 

Marston’s agrees sale of 137 pubs to Admiral Taverns

UK-based independent brewer and pub operator Marston’s signed an agreement to divest 137 pubs to the community pub group Admiral Taverns for consideration of £44.9m ($57.8m).

The divestiture is in line with Marston’s plan to sell some of its non-core assets to reduce its debt.

Marston’s CEO Ralph Findlay said: “We are making good progress with our plans to reduce our net debt by £200m by 2023 in part through the disposal of non-core assets. We are encouraged by the level of market interest that this portfolio of pubs has attracted.

 

Isle of Arran Distillers gets funding from Barclays

Scottish whisky producer Isle of Arran Distillers secured £25m funding from British multinational investment bank Barclays.

The funding will be used by the company to develop its recently opened distillery in Lagg village, Isle of Arran.

With the opening of the Lagg distillery, Isle of Arran Distillers was able to double production capacity to more than two million litres a year.

 

Anheuser-Busch reaches deal to purchase CBA

US-based brewing company Anheuser-Busch (AB) signed an agreement to acquire the remaining stake it does not presently own in Craft Brew Alliance (CBA).

AB currently owns a 31.2% stake in CBA and will pay $16.50 for each of the company’s shares.

The agreement builds upon a successful 25-year relationship between the two companies.

 

Pernod Ricard North America CEO to step down

French beverage firm Pernod Ricard announced that Pernod Ricard North America chairman and CEO Paul Duffy will step down from his position in December.

He will be replaced by Ann Mukherjee, who is currently serving as the chief commercial officer of S C Johnson & Son.

Duffy informed the company about his intention to leave the group to return to Ireland.

 

Ireland to impose ban on alcohol advertisements near schools

The Irish government announced a set of regulations imposing a ban on alcohol advertisements near schools or local authority playgrounds.

Under the rules, which become effective from 12 November, drinks companies will be hit with hefty fines if they attempt to attract young people into alcohol addiction by advertising their products near schools.

Furthermore, manufacturers of alcoholic beverages are not allowed to advertise their products on public transport.

 

BevCanna signs LOI to acquire cold-pressed juice company Little West

Canada’s infused cannabis beverages maker BevCanna signed a non-binding letter of intent (LoI) to acquire Little West Holdings, a cold-pressed juice company in the US.

Based in California, Little West produces a wide range of juices including hemp-derived CBD cold-pressed juices.

West Holdings produces its hemp-derived CBD cold-pressed juices using nano-emulsified CBD, containing 0% Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

 

Nestlé, Carrefour to leverage blockchain technology to track infant milk

Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate Nestlé partnered with French supermarket chain Carrefour to apply blockchain technology to their GUIGOZ Bio 2 and 3 infant milk range.

By applying the blockchain technology to infant nutrition range, the companies aim to increase transparency on infant products, which parents expect for infant nutrition.

The blockchain initiative within the organic and infant products segment will lead to the establishment of a three-way partnership between Carrefour, Nestlé and Laboratoires Guigoz, makers of the infant milk products GUIGOZ Bio 2 and 3.

 

Diageo’s AI tool analyses flavour preferences of consumers

Scotch alcoholic beverage producer Diageo introduced artificial intelligence (AI) tool to help consumers to identify whisky based on their flavour preferences and matches.

What’s Your Whisky tool makes use of AI and machine learning technologies to analyse consumers preferences such as sweet, fruity, spicy and smoky flavours found in single malt whiskies, creating a personal Flavour Print.

It also recommends a Single Malt whose flavour profile closely matches the taste of the individual.