just the round-up - The week in drinks

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

IRELAND: More Diageo jobs to go in Ireland

Diageo is set to cut almost a third of the workforce at its St James's Gate brewery in Dublin.

GERMANY: Bacardi, Brown-Forman split

Bacardi and Brown-Forman have agreed to end their distribution partnership in Germany.

US: Pepsi Bottling Group profits beat guidance

Pepsi Bottling Group, the soft drinks bottler, has reported full-year profits ahead of guidance, despite a slip in sales.

US: Spirits sector chief predicts recovery

Spirits sales in the US kept their head above water with a 1% volume rise in 2009 and are set to grow more strongly in 2010, according to the head of the US Distilled Spirits Council.

UK: InterContinental Brands retains Vodkat name

InterContinental Brands has been given clearance to continue using the name Vodkat, despite losing a legal battle against Diageo over the brand name.

US: Coca-Cola Co hits back at CSPI rip-off claim

The Coca-Cola Co has strongly rejected a claim by the The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) that the soft drinks maker is “fleecing” American consumers.

UK: Edrington Group acquires Cutty Sark, divests Glenrothes to Berry Bros

Berry Bros & Rudd (BB&R) is set to sell the Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky brand to The Edrington Group, with The Glenrothes single malt brand heading in the opposite direction.

FRANCE: Jeanjean, Laroche complete wine merger

French wine firms Jeanjean and Laroche have completed a merger deal that will see their combined business become France's third largest wine producer.

FRANCE: Champagne, Cognac dampen LVMH in '09

Lower demand for Champagne weighed heavily on French luxury goods group Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) in 2009, despite signs of a recovery in the fourth quarter.

JAPAN: Suntory, Kirin edge closer to merger - report

Kirin Holdings and Suntory have moved closer to securing a deal to merge after solving a dispute over ownership of the new business, according to a report.