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Diageo

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Change happens slowly in the Global Travel Retail channel. At this month's Tax Free World Association exhibition in Cannes, delegates were still discussing the same problems as two years ago - how to make money in a channel squeezed by the landlord/retailer/supplier model. The difference is, however, that two years ago, because of a backdrop of declining sales, there was a hardened sense in Cannes that "something needs to be done". This year, no such urgency exists. Global Travel Retail - right now - looks in pretty good shape.

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We're approaching the first anniversary of Constellation Brands' move into the cannabis space. And, if drinks industry observers were excited then, they're even more excited now.

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With brewers eyeing the cannabis industry with both interest and enthusiasm, beer commentator Stephen Beaumont has some words of warning for them, before they take their first steps into unknown territory.

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just-drinks' regular wine commentator Chris Losh has been away this summer. While away, has he been smoking something? If he has, it's given him something to warn the global wine category about.

Earlier today, Diageo released its full-year 2018 results, with growth coming from all regions. just-drinks spoke to CEO Ivan Menezes after the announcement to discuss the challenging vodka market, increasing thirst for no- and low-alcohol drinks and the booming gin category. 

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In the same week as International Women's Day, the National Association for Female Executives named Diageo's North American unit as one of 2018's 'Top 60 Companies for Executive Women'. The news follows a raft of pledges from Diageo, through both its business and its brands, to champion equality. To mark International Women's Day, just-drinks talks to Cristina Diezhandino, Scotch category director & MD for Diageo's Reserve portfolio, about working in the whisk(e)y sectors, the future of Scotch and how bartenders are helping to propel Reserve brands.

Diageo has released a 50 year old whisky under its The John Walker brand.

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Canada has today (17 October) become the second country in the world to legalise the recreational use of cannabis.

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Coca-Cola Amatil has completed the second transaction from its incubator unit, with Amatil X buying into restaurant tech start-up TabSquare.

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China's Kweichow Moutai is the world's most future-proofed beverage company, according to a new global ranking.

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Brand partners Diageo and Sean 'Diddy' Combs have announced Ciroc Black Raspberry, a new addition to the Ciroc vodka range.

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Former senior Diageo executive Peter McDonough has joined the board of Trait Biosciences, a Toronto-based bio-technology company operating in the nascent cannabis industry.

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Diageo-owned American whiskey brand Seagram's 7 has announced its first integrated marketing campaign in the US for more than a decade.

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Global spirits companies are turning to little-known Cognac brands to lure Asian consumers in the Global Travel Retail channel, as younger drinkers increasingly seek heritage and authenticity in the category.

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Diageo has brought in an award-winning chef to help build more connections between its luxury portfolio and food occasions.

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Diageo has launched the latest bottles in its limited-edition Smirnoff launch that links the vodka brand with the US's major cities and states.

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Remy Cointreau's focus on the higher-end of the spirits category will result in a pace of growth to outpace its bigger rivals over the next five years, an analyst has forecast.

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Diageo is expecting its current fiscal year to deliver a sales lift in line with last year's 5% increase, as the group updated shareholders on the day of its AGM.

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Diageo has introduced data-capture technology to gauge the success of its experiential marketing campaigns in Europe.

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American single malt whiskey Westward has become the latest brand to join Distill Ventures, the Diageo-backed incubator for spirits entrepreneurs.

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Diageo's unit in Australia has followed the recent release of Gordon's Premium Pink Gin in the country with a gin and soda RTD for the brand.

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Diageo has announced the tenth and final whisky in this year's line-up of Special Releases: a blended malt called Cladach.

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Diageo has declined to comment on a report linking the drinks giant with a pending entry into the cannabis market in Canada.

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Diageo's UK unit has partnered with online retailer 31dover.com to offer a range of edible straws with its pre-mixed range in the country.

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The alcohol industry should work to close the gap on other consumer product categories and create more digitally-native brands, Diageo's Distill Ventures incubator unit has warned.

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Diageo has added another flavour to its Captain Morgan line up.

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Diageo has launched a new digital out-of-home ad campaign for five of its brands across London, with messages tailored to location, weather and time of day.

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Diageo has added another limited-edition flavoured Smirnoff vodka to its line-up: Smirnoff Moscow Mule, a ginger- and lime-infused vodka-based ready-to-mix product bottled at 30% abv.

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.