just the Round-Up - The week in drinks

The top ten stories published on just-drinks last week:

• UK: Diageo, Suntory mull move for Beam Inc - report

A report in a UK newspaper today (9 December) has claimed that Diageo and Suntory held talks earlier this year with a view to making a move for Beam Inc.

• US: Beam Inc silent on Diageo, Suntory takeover talk

Beam Inc has declined to comment on reports linking Diageo and Suntory to a takeover bid for the US spirits firm.

• MEXICO/UK: Diageo to quit Jose Cuervo deal

Talks between Diageo and the Beckmann family have collapsed, leaving the latter without a global distributor for its Jose Cuervo Tequila brand and the former with a clear gap in its spirits portfolio.

• JAPAN: Suntory Holdings calms unit listing talk

Suntory Holdings has spoken out after reports claim that it plans to raise up to US$6bn by selling shares in its soft drinks and food business.

• AUS: Coca-Cola Amatil expects FY profits rise, but domestic volumes hit

Coca-Cola Amatil's (CCA) second-half domestic volumes have been hit by “price-driven competitor activity” but it still expects to report a 4-5% rise in group net profits for the full year. 

• US/BRAZIL: Monster signs Brazil distribution deal with AmBev

Monster has signed a distribution deal with AmBev to distribute its energy drinks in Brazil. 

• UK/JAPAN: Barr Britvic could be takeover target for Suntory - analyst

Barr Britvic could be on Suntory Holdings' shopping list in the UK when the Japanese group looks at international acquisitions, according to an analyst.

• just On Call - Southern Comfort seeing "dramatic" recovery - Brown-Forman

Southern Comfort is bouncing back for Brown-Forman with a “dramatic improvement” in US sales, the company has said. 

• US: Wessanen puts American Beverage Corp unit sale on ice

Wessanen, a Dutch food group, has postponed the sale of its American Beverage Corp (ABC) unit “until a later date” due to the lack of a confirmed buyer.

• US: Craft brewers urge "transparency" from global beer firms

The Brewers Association has accused global beer companies of trying to “blur the lines” between their products and "genuine" craft beers.