Latest drinks industry comment
The best views and opinions in beverage industry publishing, all in one place, from beverage's monthly columnists and in-house experts.
Why craft owes much to multinational brands
In wanting to trumpet their credentials, craft spirits brands still owe much to the bigger, more-established brands in the segments. Richard...
Are big brewers buying craft to benefit big beer?
Amid all the furore each time another craft brewer joins the other side, beer commentator Stephen Beaumont explores the strategy behind the...
Can Europe's wine industry weather the weather?
A recent warm spell has thrown wine commentator Chris Losh out of kilter. But, if you think he's got problems, consider what these weather b...
Is the UK not OK? - The just-drinks analyst
This month, our former beverage analyst, Ian Shackleton, is confined to base and has focused his attention on the tough trading outlook in t...
Is Coca-Cola Co making a Smartwater move with Glaceau? - Comment 2 May 2017
Recent activity by The Coca-Cola Co behind Glaceau Smartwater has brought the enhanced water segment under Richard Corbett's nose. What are the company - and the segment's - chances of success?
How craft beer has shattered its US shackles and gone global - Comment 27 Apr 2017
Much as the US hogs the craft beer limelight, the segment finally appears to be going global. Stephen Beaumont looks at how craft has broken out of its birthplace and is cropping up in markets around the world.
Has the race to premiumise made spirits forget the mainstream? - Comment 25 Apr 2017
It's the last thing the English language needs, but could a companion term to the verbally-ugly 'premiumisation' pass into everyday use in the years to come? Is 'mainstreamisation' – a neologism arguably even more hideous than the p-word – here to stay? Richard Woodard thinks so.
How soft drinks brands have offended everyone, some of the time - Comment 18 Apr 2017
In the same month that PepsiCo's knuckles got a consumer-driven wrap, Richard Corbett looks back at the adverts that have tested brand loyalty in the soft drinks arena.
As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, how long before wine faces its own revolution? - Comment 12 Apr 2017
Much has been made over the last year of the 'silent majority'; the long-suffering populations who have seen much of what they believed in eroded, their jobs migrated and workplaces closed, their standard of living on a seemingly endless downward curve. Chris Losh says the same headwinds are being felt across the wine world.
What role will Asia play in the future of beer, spirits and soft drinks? - The just-drinks Analyst 11 Apr 2017
Having focused (virtually) on Brazil in his last piece, this month our correspondent Ian Shackleton travels to Asia. Here, the former analyst shares a few thoughts on how the region might take on the West when it comes to beverages.
Millennials are not the only fruit for Absolut - Comment 4 Apr 2017
The saga of Absolut's travails in the US continues, with the mooted recovery in the Pernod Ricard-owned vodka brand's fortunes proving more elusive than the company had hoped. Are Millennials to blame? Richard Woodard reports.
Spirits leads the latest invasion of Africa - Comment 3 Apr 2017
Last month, Diageo handed the microphone to the head of its operations in Africa. Spirits commentator Ian Buxton was among those of us who listened in.
With Article 50 triggered, the Brexit shoot-out begins - Comment 30 Mar 2017
Yesterday, UK Prime Minister Theresa May invoked Article 50 of the European Union's constitution, formally beginning the two-year process by which the UK will leave the EU. Although post-exit trade arrangements are not formally included in the UK's exit terms, they are sure to be the subject of intense discussions between the two sides.
Fruit-flavoured beer? Think of the kids - Comment 28 Mar 2017
This month, just-drinks' beer commentator, Stephen Beaumont, uses his regular column to look at the fruit-flavoured beer segment, and spies a red flag.
In his latest commentary for just-drinks, former drinks analyst Ian Shackleton heads to Brazil to look at 3G's burned fingers, the future worries for Anheuser-Busch InBev and Britvic's samba moves.
What does the future look like for Australian wine? - Comment 21 Mar 2017
Earlier this year, Chris Losh attended an Australian tasting in the UK and got a glimpse of the future for the country's wine producers. Here's what he saw.
Travel Retail needs a disruptor. Is it willing to find one? - Comment 20 Mar 2017
In an interview with just-drinks this week, Pernod Ricard CEO Alex Ricard had some strong words for Travel Retail.
Are Millennials too young for brown spirits? - Comment 15 Mar 2017
This month, just-drinks' brown spirits commentator, Ian Buxton, considers the sector's efforts to entice the Millennial consumer into the fray.
A Great British Gin Boom - The outlook for 2017 - Industry Comment 8 Mar 2017
Late last month, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association released figures showing that in 2016 exports of British gin grew by 12%, reaching almost GBP500m (US$627m). Although the category has seen positive growth for a number of years this figure was a truly phenomenal sign of the category's international success - and there are no signs to show that growth is slowing down.
Where does 'craft' sit in soft drinks? - Comment 28 Feb 2017
While the term craft continues to dominate many areas of the drinks industry, the soft drinks category appears to be immune to the concept. Richard Corbett considers the opportunity, and looks at those who come closest to donning the craft mantle.
Heineken's new range foreshadows craft beer's straitened future - Comment 27 Feb 2017
With just over 20% of the country's total beer market value, the craft category in the US is ahead of the global curve.
Why the threat of excess choice in beer is over-stated - Comment 21 Feb 2017
A theory has formed in the beer industry in recent months that the sheer range of brews on offer is leading to consumer fatigue. This month, beer commentator Stephen Beaumont considers the evidence supporting and countering this theory.
Is Japan's beer market coming back to life? - Comment 21 Feb 2017
The long-accepted truth for Japan's beer market is that domestic consumption is in long-term decline, forcing the country's brewers to look overseas for growth.
Tobacco's hopes for drinks, stock of the year and the death of the analyst - The just-drinks Analyst 15 Feb 2017
In his latest commentary for just-drinks, former drinks analyst Ian Shackleton considers the tobacco model for drinks companies. He also gives us his tip of the stock to watch in 2017.
Most Popular
Insights
- Why craft owes much to multinational brands
- Are big brewers buying craft to benefit big beer?
- The on-premise trends that will shape the future
- Responsible drinking measures around the world
- Concha y Toro Q1 2017 by region - results data
News
- Brown-Forman adds UK to Slane Irish Whiskey launch
- AB InBev gifts GBP100,000 to English football team
- Constellation linked to Brown-Forman move
- Berry Bros & Rudd shifts London store to new site
- Pernod Ricard launches Absolut Canada
Market research
- Champagne production, markets and companies
- Global Champagne and sparkling wine insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Global Scotch insights - market forecasts, product innovation and consumer trends
- Sugar: The Fool Proof Target for Obesity or a Can of Worms?
- Battle of the Generations - The fight for iGen, Millennial, Gen X and Baby Boomer consumers
Get full access
