Drinks Sector News

High hopes for no- and lo-alcohol drinks in 2023

<strong>High hopes for no- and lo-alcohol drinks in 2023</strong>
More than four in five bars plan to increase their ranges of no- and low-alcohol drinks next year in a bid to capitalise on consumers’ interest in healthier drinking. The ‘Leading the way in no/low spirits’ report, produced by CGA by NielsenIQ and non-alcoholic spirits brand Crossip, showed 67% of bar professionals have increased their no- and low-alcohol offering in…
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Wine harvests under pressure from climate change – again

Wine harvests under pressure from climate change – again
Last year, wine production in countries like France plunged – a sobering reminder of the impact of climate change. This year, productionwill remain “roughly stable” compared to 2021 but fall short of reaching the five-year average (2017-2021), according to Copa-Cogeca, which represents European farmers. However, some countries will see harvests impacted more than others due to the droughts…
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Carlsberg scientists claim crop breeding breakthrough

Carlsberg scientists claim crop breeding breakthrough
Brewing giant Carlsberg has unveiled a new crop breeding technology which it says can offer better protection against heat and drought than current varieties and therefore help meet future food requirements. Scientists at Carlsberg Research Laboratory have invented the non-GMO breeding method FIND-IT (Fast Identification of Nucleotide variants by droplet DigITal PCR) which promises to…
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The Shortlist is announced for the 2022 Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards

The Shortlist is announced for the 2022 Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards
The judging has concluded and the shortlist is announced for the 2022 Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards, revealing the sustainability initiatives of the on-trade drinks sector’s leading responsible businesses. The Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards is the barometer for sustainability and responsible business practice for the drinks industry and represents the annual celebration of businesses and individuals making a difference…
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Carlsberg’s new climate commitments

Carlsberg’s new climate commitments
Carlsberg has committed to achieve net-zero by 2040, increase the share of its low- and no-alcohol drinks to 35% by 2030 and deliver ‘zero packaging waste’ by the end of the decade. The targets are among a range of new commitments set out in the brewer’s new environmental, social and governance strategy called ‘Together towards…
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Dams protect drams in Scotch whisky project

Dams protect drams in Scotch whisky project
A Scotch whisky producer is tackling the growing issue of water scarcity by creating dams that capture water and prevent the closure of its distillery during dry periods. Researchers from the University of Aberdeen and James Hutton Institute have worked with The Glenlivet distillery to introduce a number of nature-based measures to protect against the…
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Ban plastic pints, say MPs

Ban plastic pints, say MPs
A group of 21 cross-party MPs have joined calls to ban plastic pint cups. Some 500 billion of the cups are used every year, according to A Plastic Planet, the group behind the early day motion. The pint beakers are the sixth-most commonly found plastic item in Britain’s rivers, and the eighth on the nation’s beaches,…
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Profitability plummets in pubs

Profitability plummets in pubs
Rising prices for energy, goods and labour has resulted in profitability of hospitality business plummeting. Just 37% of businesses surveyed by the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping and UKHospitality are currently turning a profit, with energy in particular eating into margins.  The price of goods and labour are also factors.…
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Taste, health and ESG commitments drive no- and low-alcohol drinks

Taste, health and ESG commitments drive no- and low-alcohol drinks
Sales of no- and low-alcohol beer, cider, wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink (RTD) products grew by more than 6% in volume in 10 key markets in 2021, and now have a 3.5% volume share of the industry, according to a new study published by research group IWSR. The market value of no- and low-alcohol drinks in…
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