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Diageo

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On 9 May, Diageo is hosting its latest Capital Markets Day for analysts and investors, in London. Ahead of the group's presentations, Anthony Bucalo, global beverages analyst at HSBC, has prepared a list of questions for the senior executive team, for what he describes as a "crucial" day for Diageo.

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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.

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One of the older flavours in the soft drinks market has become one of the category's hottest new trends. Ginger is spicing things up with a wave of new product innovation sweeping through non-alcoholic beverages, from carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks to plant waters, healthful shots, and beyond.

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Late last week, Diageo's Africa president John O'Keeffe hosted a conference call with analysts. According to Societe Generale analyst Laurence Whyatt, Africa represents 12% of Diageo's group sales, with around 60% coming from beer, 30% from spirits and 10% from RTDs. Here, just-drinks takes a look at the key themes from the call, as well as analyst reaction.

Last month, the CEO of Pernod Ricard, Alex Ricard, was in London to discuss the group's half-year results. just-drinks sat down with Ricard following the press conference to look at both the numbers for the first six months of fiscal-2017 and Ricard's tenure so far, since assuming the leadership in early-2015. In the first part of our exclusive two-part interview, Alex considers Pernod's positions in India and China and shares his thoughts on pricing and the role it plays in a company's approach to premiumisation.

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Sanford Bernstein analyst Trevor Stirling is no stranger to the drinks industry. Having spent the late ‘90s as strategic planning director for Guinness Ireland, he then took on the role of packaged trade director at the company. He followed that by starting his own private-client wine merchant. In 2004, Stirling became an analyst at Bernstein, where he covers the major European brewing and spirits companies. Here, he talks to just-drinks about the role of an analyst, and how he sees the future of the drinks industry shaping up.

India's beer market has suffered hugely in the three months to the end of March, according to United Breweries, which posted its full-year results yesterday.

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Diageo has opened a new Guinness concept store at Dublin international airport in partnership with duty free retailer Aer Rianta International (ARI).

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This week, Diageo held its annual Capital Markets Day. Here's a round-up of the big announcements and headlines the Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff owner made at the London event.

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The head of Diageo-controlled United Spirits has warned of yet another regulatory threat to the drinks industry in India, as the country looks to introduce the nation-wide Goods & Services Tax in the coming months.

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The UK's decision to leave the European Union could help speed up the Scotch whisky category's presence in the burgeoning Indian spirits market, according to the head of Diageo.

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A software supplier that recently won US$68m from Diageo is also seeking at least US$600m from Anheuser-Busch InBev for similar alleged licensing breaches, the brewer has confirmed.

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Diageo is challenging a near-US$140m demand from the UK tax authority relating to the alleged transferral of intellectual property away from the country.

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Diageo has returned the focus of its global marketing for Johnnie Walker to the 'Keep Walking' slogan and has retired the brand's 'Joy Will Take You Further' message, less than two years after launching it.

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The head of Diageo's North America business unit has announced an increased A&P spend in the US in the coming months, against a softening backdrop for spirits in the country.

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Diageo has confirmed it is not looking to expand the flavour extensions of its Crown Royal Canadian whisky brand beyond the existing pair in North America.

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Diageo has lined up the second release within its Crown Royal Noble Collection. Crown Royal Wine Barrel Finished follows last April's Crown Royal Cornerstone Blend.

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Diageo has lined up a global campaign for its Captain Morgan rum brand, featuring former Manchester United and England football captain Rio Ferdinand. 

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Diageo has lined up a documentary series to highlight the trend for cocktail culture across the world. 

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Guinness Draught produced at Diageo's St. James’s Gate for the on-premise is now vegan-friendly after the company completed an overhaul of the brewery's filtration system.

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Diageo has launched two new Smirnoff Ice flavours exclusively to the South Korean market.

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The takeover of Christian Dior by LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton, announced yesterday, is unlikely to bring the Moet Hennessy division into play on an M&A basis, just-drinks understands.

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The Portman Group has recruited the head of EU & international government relations at Tesco to become its next CEO.

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Diageo has readied the release of the second limited edition iteration of its Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch portfolio.

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Diageo's UK unit has lined up price-marked cans across several products in its ready-to-drink portfolio. 

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Diageo has rolled out another Guinness beer developed at its experimental brewery in Dublin. 

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Diageo and Ciroc vodka stakeholder Sean 'Diddy' Combs have announced the release of a new variant under the Ciroc brand flavoured with coconut, pineapple and other flavours.

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Diageo has added a coconut-flavoured shot variant to its Captain Morgan portfolio, as it looks to capitalise on the popularity of coconut.

Paul Walsh just can't stay away from the drinks industry.

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just-drinks is in Cannes this week the Tax Free World Association show. Here's the second part of Andy Morton's blog, which will keep you up-to-date at one of the most important dates in the Travel Retail calendar.