just the round-up - The week in drinks

The top ten most visited stories on just-drinks this week:

Fortune eyes acquisition

US: Fortune eyes spirit acquisitions

Fortune Brands said it is interested in making acquisitions that would bolster its spirits and home-products businesses, the company's chief executive said in an interview yesterday (14 May).

Anheuser cools speculation

US: Analyst cools Anheuser deal speculation

Stifel Nicolaus has cut its rating on shares of Anheuser-Busch to "Hold" from "Buy", saying it had made the decision on valuation. "Valuation was the basis of our upgrade in March, and recent strength makes the shares less compelling, in our estimation, than they were then," its analyst Mark Swartzberg said in a research note.

Thai to acquire Oishi share

SINGAPORE: Thai Beverage to acquire share of Oishi Group

Singapore-listed Thai_Beverage announced today (15 May) it has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire a 43.9% stake in Oishi Group for US93.8m.

Baltika acquires brewery

RUSSIA: Baltika acquires Baku-Castel brewery

Baltika Breweries today (15 May) signed a contract with Brasseries Internationales Holdings (Eastern), for the purchase of Baku-Castel brewery.

SABMiller strong year

UK: SABMiller delivers strong full year

Strong demand in its developing markets has helped SABMiller deliver a robust set of full year results, despite rising costs pressures and increased competition.

Peroni fastest growing beer

UK: Peroni becomes fastest growing beer brand
 
SABMiller said today (15 May) that its premium imported Italian beer, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, has become the UK's fastest growing premium beer brand, growing at a rate of over 39% last year.

Fortune takes V&S legal action

US: Fortune takes legal action to stop Beam stake transfer

Sweden's V&S Group, the maker of Absolut Vodka, has confirmed it has received an injunction seeking to prevent the transfer of its 10% stake in Beam_Global to the Swedish Government.

New Chivas bottle

UK: Chivas launches new Regal 18yr old bottle

Chivas_Brothers has launched a new 175ml bottle for its Chivas_Regal 18 Year Old brand, the company announced today (13 May). The new "robust" bottle, in keeping with the brand's positioning as a "modern and opulent presentation of an iconic brand," will offer a premium gifting solution for whisky lovers, the company said in a statement.

Spirits brands league table

GLOBAL: Bacardi slips, Smirnoff holds firm in latest Top 100 brands league

Diageo's Smirnoff vodka brand has held the top spot in this year's Intangible Business 'Power 100' chart for the third year running.

Robert Sands interview

The just-drinks interview - Constellation Brands

Having blazed a trail in the world drinks market for some years, Constellation Brands suffered something of a reversal in its last fiscal year, recording a net loss of US$610. In this month's two-part just-drinks interview, CEO Rob Sands tells Olly Wehring why the group is untroubled by last year's result and, in spite of some worrying economic and market trends, remains upbeat about the future.