Latest the off-trade news and analysis articles 
What's going on the shelf
UK: Jack Daniel's Honey set to hit UK
9 May 2012
Bacardi Brown-Forman is launching Brown Forman's honey version of its Jack Daniel's whiskey brand in the UK this month – the first major product innovation for the brand in 14 years.
IRELAND: Drinks export market tops EUR1bn despite slowdown
2 May 2012
Ireland's drinks exports market has been hailed a “major success story” with a value of around EUR1.09bn (US$1.43bn) last year, despite a slowdown in sales.
just-drinks.com site outage
2 April 2012
We apologise for the earlier just-drinks.com site outage today (2nd April) between 18:00 and 21:30. This was due to a catastrophic hardware failure.
UK: Pernod Ricard targets 'floating voter' with premium wine push
15 March 2012
The UK arm of Pernod Ricard has launched an off-trade initiative in the country, aimed at attracting more consumers to its premium wines to help stem overall market decline.
Comment - Majestic Wine: King of Wine Retail in UK?
14 November 2011
When a wine retailer operating in the UK announces half-year profit figures that are not only in the black but are up by over 23%, then the wine producers of the world really ought to reconsider their opinions on this country's wine market.
UK: Majestic Wine credits 'fine wine' roll out for H1 sales, profits
14 November 2011
Majestic Wine has praised the strong performance of still wines priced above GBP20 (US$31.80) per bottle for helping drive its sales and profits in the first six months of its current fiscal year.
UK: Smartphones touted as "game-changers" for online retail
24 October 2011
The use of smartphones to buy groceries could transform the UK's fast-growing online retail sector, an industry conference has heard.
UK: Online shoppers more brand loyal - Unilever
21 October 2011
Consumers are more brand loyal when shopping online, giving food and drinks manufacturers the chance to exploit the growth of the channel, according to Unilever.
GLOBAL: Diageo, Pernod Ricard dominate list of world's top performing brands
17 October 2011
Diageo and Pernod Ricard have dominated an inaugural list of the world's top performing spirits brands.
US: PepsiCo profits climb in Q3
12 October 2011
PepsiCo has booked an increase in third-quarter profits driven by top-line gains in its snacks and drinks divisions and reaffirmed its full-year earnings guidance.
UK: Heineken to launch Foster's Gold lager
2 July 2011
Heineken UK is launching a bottled, premium version of its Foster’s lager in the off-trade to go head-to-head with brands such as Budweiser and Stella Artois.
UK: Maxxium launches Maker's Mark push
30 June 2011
Maxxium UK has revealed plans for a marketing campaign for Beam Global Sprits & Wine's Maker's Mark Bourbon brand.
just-drinks' State of the UK Nation 2011 - Part I
23 May 2011
Presented earlier this month at the London International Wine Fair, here, for just-drinks members, is a bonus briefing for May, just-drinks' State of the UK Nation 2011 survey. Here's part one of four.
just-drinks' State of the UK Nation 2011 – Part II
23 May 2011
Presented earlier this month at the London International Wine Fair, here, for just-drinks members, is a bonus briefing for May, just-drinks' State of the UK Nation 2011 survey. Part one can be found here, while part two continues with the survey's questions.
just-drinks' State of the UK Nation 2011 – Part IV
23 May 2011
Presented earlier this month at the London International Wine Fair, here, for just-drinks members, is a bonus briefing for May, just-drinks' State of the UK Nation 2011 survey. Part three can be found here, while this, the final part, looks at the last four of the survey's questions.
UK: Oddbins files for administration
28 March 2011
Oddbins has filed for administration in the UK as the wine retailer's creditors prepare to vote on a deal that would see them recoup only a fifth of what they are owed.
UK: Oddbins on a knife-edge as debts revealed
17 March 2011
Oddbins' fate looks set to be decided by a meeting of its creditors at the end of this month, as fresh documents detail the extent of the beleaguered wine retailer's debts.
UK: Oddbins' troubles mount as spectre of administration looms
4 March 2011
Oddbins is under threat of going into administration in a matter of weeks, just-drinks has been told, although the group maintains that it has other options still available.
UK: Portman Group reprimands Asda over Strong Cider
4 March 2011
The Portman Group has told the UK's second largest supermarket, Asda-Walmart, that its Strong Cider brand breaks drinks industry rules on responsible marketing.
UK: Beer sales continue to fall in 2010 - figures
25 January 2011
Beer sales continued to fall in the UK in 2010 due to lower demand in the country's on-trade, show new figures from the British Beer & Pub Association.
US: Spirits sales climb in volume and value in 2010
24 January 2011
Spirits sales in the US have shown signs of recovery in 2010, with value growth marginally ahead of volume, the US Distilled Spirits Council has said.
US: Wine Institute eyes export boost with new campaign
17 January 2011
California's Wine Institute is to launch a global branding campaign featuring a new "California Wines" logo in an effort to boost exports.
US: Diageo makes US exec changes
17 January 2011
Diageo has appointed Mark Hubler as president, open states and Greg Armstrong to the position of president, control states and national accounts for the US spirits division of Diageo North America.
UK: Greene King, Marston's outperform the beer market
3 December 2010
Greene King and Marston's have both continued to outperform the lacklustre beer market in the UK.
UK: Premium cider sales continue to blossom - figures
25 November 2010
Consumers' thirst for premium cider is helping the sector to outperform the UK alcoholic drinks market, according to new figures.
UK: just-food.com opens its doors for two weeks
17 November 2010
just-food is to give away more than GBP1,000 (US$1,600) in free intelligence into the food sector.
FRANCE: Wine co-operative body calls for price rises
5 November 2010
France’s federation for wine co-operatives, the CCVF, has called for retailers to pay producers at least 10% more for their wines.
RUSSIA: Government eyes tougher beer sales rules
4 November 2010
Brewers in Russia are seeking to derail a legislative proposal that seeks to further limit beer sales in the country.
UK: Government moves to snuff out cheap cider
4 November 2010
The UK Government is seeking to penalise the bottom end of the cider market by establishing a minimum juice level for products, in a move that has been welcomed by industry leaders.
IRELAND: Drinks industry calls for more tax cuts
1 November 2010
Ireland's drinks trade body has called for a further 20% cut in alcohol duty tax in the Government's 2011 Budget as the sector continues to leak jobs in the country's economic downturn.
