just-drinks authors and correspondents

Articles by Arnold Kirkby

CHINA/S AFRICA: Distell takes majority control of CJ Wines & Spirits 3 September 2012

Distell has acquired a 60% share in privately-owned Chinese distribution company CJ Wines & Spirits.

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S AFRICA: KWV CEO resigns with immediate effect 15 July 2011

KWV Holdings, which is facing major profitability challenges, will have to do so now without its CEO, Thys Loubser, who has resigned with immediate effect.

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S AFRICA: Distell acquires stake in BrandPhoenix 16 May 2011

Distell has acquired a significant stake in UK-based distributor BrandPhoenix in a bid to further strengthen its presence in the UK.

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SOUTH AFRICA: KWV renews Nordic deal with Arvid Nordquist 17 March 2011

KWV and distributor Arvid Nordquist have agreed a five-year extension of their pan-Nordic wine and spirits contract.

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S AFRICA/UK: Distell switches to Matthew Clark 9 March 2011

Distell has assigned five of its leading wine brands to Matthew Clark in the UK in order to extend its presence in the country's on-trade.

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S AFRICA: KWV, Monarq sign Caribbean, LatAm deal 7 March 2011

KWV and the Monarq group, which operates in the Caribbean and Latin America, have drawn up a strategic agreement to distribute KWV’s portfolio of wines and brandies in the region.

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SOUTH AFRICA: Gov't hikes spirits duty tax 24 February 2011

South Africa's Government has hiked excise duty on spirits, despite falling sales for several producers in the country.

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SOUTH AFRICA: KWV's profits slump in H1 22 February 2011

KWV’s net profits have slumped by 80% for the first half of its fiscal year, following write-down charges and a drop in sales.

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SOUTH AFRICA: Distell's H1 profits rise amid "delayed recovery" 17 February 2011

South African alcoholic drinks group Distell has overcome tough economic conditions, locally and abroad, to increase sales and profits in its fiscal half-year.

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SOUTH AFRICA: KWV's biggest shareholder sells up 7 February 2011

The biggest shareholder in South African drinks group KWV, Zeder Investments, has sold the majority of its stake following last week's failed buyout of KWV by Pioneer Foods.