Drinks Sector News

Heineken’s zero alcohol beer boost

Heineken’s new brand extension, Heineken 0.0, has been “very well received” and is now available in 38 markets worldwide, according to the company’s latest annual report. “The growth of the low- and no-alcohol segment is expected to continue  and our ambition is to be the leader in this space,” the brewer noted. “We aim to…

Carlsberg finds cheer in alcohol-free sales

Carlsberg has committed to put “a lot of money” into its alcohol-free beers following impressive growth in the category, particularly in Western Europe. “The alcohol-free brews category offers excellent margin opportunities and is growing across Western Europe and also in Eastern Europe,” the brewer noted in its annual report, published this month. “We believe it…

World Cup gives beer sales a record boost

England’s successful World Cup run in 2018 coupled with the summer heatwave and a duty freeze contributed to the best year for beer sales in a generation. Total beer sales increased by 2.6% across the on and off trades in 2018, representing the biggest year-on-year growth for 45 years. Retailers, in particular, benefited from the…

January presents publicans with a challenge as consumers embark on a detox regime following the indulgent festive season. Indeed, this year a reported 4.2 million people tried to abstain from alcohol in January; what’s more there is a sugar levy on soft drinks. However, the increasing popularity of “Dry January” has boosted alcohol-free trends, with…

Microbreweries are booming as EU beer production grows despite a drop in overall alcohol consumption, a new report finds. By David Burrows. What has been published? The Brewers of Europe’s latest statistics. Basically, it’s a state-of-the-sector review, highlighting how much beer was made and drunk in the EU in 2017. It showed that there’s been…

Kellogg’s has partnered with a local Salford brewery to turn wasted corn flakes into premium beer. The new ‘Throw Away IPA’ is brewed using flakes that are too big, small or overcooked and would normally be used as animal feed. The IPA is being produced by Salford brewery, Seven Bro7hers, which occupies a site next…

The pint-sized drinks business setting the bar high

Ahead of the launch of Footprint’s new drinks section in January, chief executive Stephen Glancey explains why C&C Group remains an industry outsider despite this year’s acquisition spree. By Nick Hughes. One can only assume Stephen Glancey is being modest when he describes C&C Group as a "small, local" business. With net revenue totalling over…

A majority of the British public is in favour of new labels on alcoholic drinks that warn of the risk to health of overconsumption. The findings come from a report published this week that shows widespread public support for the UK Government to do more to address the harms caused by alcohol to society, such…

Doctors welcome Scotland booze crackdown

Plans for new restrictions on alcohol advertising in Scotland have been welcomed by the medical profession. Last week, the Scottish Government published its updated Alcohol Framework which included a range of measures to reduce consumption and foster more positive attitudes towards drinking. Among the options are for mandatory restrictions on alcohol marketing, as recommended by…

Soft drinks manufacturers and traders have paid an extra £153.8 million in tax since April, due to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL). The tax was introduced in April 2018 and applies to the packaging and importation of soft drinks containing added sugar. It was introduced as part of the government’s initiative to tackle childhood…