We are hosting our next webinar later this month. On 21 March, I and a panel of industry experts will look at the results of just-drinks’ confidence survey, looking at what the year ahead holds for our industry. Full details and registration for the free-to-attend webinar can be found here. I hope you can join us.

Meanwhile, on just-drinks last week

• Anheuser-Busch InBev was the latest brewer to releases its results for 2012. The numbers, while impressive, were over-shadowed by the timing of a lawsuit against the company that claims it has an alleged policy to “water down” some of its beers - a charge A-B InBev rejected out of hand.
• We met with the general manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Gallo, Bill Roberts, and he gave us an insight into the company’s plans for Africa. The continent is considered by many across our industry to be the next wild frontier. Is your company set to make an entrance?
• In soft drinks, Monster Beverage Corp posted healthy - albeit slowing - growth for last year. The company continues to dominate our headlines and, according to one analyst, should maintain its position at the forefront of the energy drinks category for a few more years to come.
• Finally, Diageo cleared a regulatory hurdle in its bid to buy a major stake in India’s United Spirits. Although it’s almost four months since the drinks giant announced its intentions, they’re still not out of the woods yet.

Until next time...

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