The past week has brought a whirlwind of results from some of the world's largest drinks companies, and we're getting ready for more to follow in the coming days.

Shaky trading at Foster's Group, Treasury Wine Estates and Heineken has been offset by Diageo, which pleased investors with solid rises in full-year sales and profits. The drinks giant also took the unusually bold step of outlining sales and profits growth guidance for the next three years.

While global brewers appear to be under increasing pressure in 2011, spirits companies are, relatively speaking, having themselves a ball.

just-drinks deputy editor Chris Mercer caught up with a clearly confident Paul Walsh (Diageo's CEO) prior to the group's results press conference. Walsh is keen to push the emerging markets message, with more of the company's resources heading “east, west and south” out of Europe. He hinted, however, that an immediate move on standalone Beam Inc is unlikely. The acquisition of Turkey's Mey Icki, meanwhile, has the potential to boost Diageo's performance in the less developed markets in Europe.

This week, market analysts and observers will be looking to both Beam and Pernod Ricard to continue the confident mood instilled by Diageo.

In other news last week, we considered how Foster's' results might play out in its takeover tussle with SABMiller. In wine, Wines of South Africa endured a tough few days after the industry's labour practices came under the spotlight.

In soft drinks, Coca-Cola FEMSA announced a new business structure, which some analysts think could aid the group in its search for acquisitions. We also began a weekly soft drinks round-up with our soft drinks correspondent, Michelle Russell.

Until next time...

Olly Wehring
Managing Editor
Web: http://www.just-drinks.com
Email: editor@just-drinks.com
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