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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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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.

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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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As part of our Spirits Essentials series, just-drinks and The IWSR present a comprehensive guide to the vodka category. Sourced from the joint Global Vodka Insights report, published in December, we look at both market and category trends for vodka globally, the performance of the key brands, as well as the challenges facing the category going forward.

Earlier today (28 May), Diageo announced that it will buy the Ypióca cachaça brand in Brazil from Ypióca Agroindustrial Limitada for BRL900m (US$453.9m). As part of its press material, the company issued a short interview with the president of its Latin America and Caribbean operations, Randy Millian, in which he discussed the purchase.

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This month, just-drinks returns to its two-part extended format for The Wehring Interview. Earlier this month, I enjoyed an hour in the company of Diageo's Asia Pacific president, Gilbert Ghostine. I say enjoyed; I wasn't at my best to start.

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

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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's UK unit has launched a new variant under the Smirnoff Cider brand. 

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Pernod Ricard and Remy Cointreau are the best-placed spirits companies to appeal to Millennial consumers, according to a recent report.

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Diageo has become the latest alcohol company to team up with UK home delivery service Deliveroo.

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Diageo has delivered on its promise earlier this year to enter the alcoholic seltzer fray in the US, launching a Smirnoff-branded range this month.

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Mainstream vodka brands including Diageo's Smirnoff and Pernod Ricard's Absolut have strong growth potential in emerging markets, a new report has said.

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Alcoholic drinks that use healthy cues will struggle to break into the mass market, according to analysts at Mintel.

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Diageo's Johnnie Walker and Smirnoff have continued their slide down a list of the world's most valuable brands.

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Kenya Breweries has released a new RTD variant under the Smirnoff vodka brand.

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Diageo's Johnnie Walker brand has consolidated its dominance of Global Travel Retail's spirits shelves, although Pernod Ricard's Absolut has been overtaken by Chivas Regal and Brown-Forman's Jack Daniel's, according to figures from The IWSR.

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Diageo's Smirnoff brand has moved up one place in a list of the world's biggest-selling spirits brands after posting record volumes and strong growth in 2015.

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Diageo has released two variants of Smirnoff Cider, a blend of carbonated cider, fruit flavours and Smirnoff vodka.

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Diageo has confirmed details of its latest Smirnoff Ice NPD, with two new flavours being released under the Electric mark.

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Diageo has confirmed details of three recently-released Smirnoff vodka brand extensions in the US under the name Smirnoff Sourced.

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Diageo has again extended its sponsorship of the McLaren-Honda Formula One team for its Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky brand.

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The Smirnoff vodka brand is still "very early" in its growth journey, Diageo's CEO has told just-drinks, although that growth is more likely to come from newer markets than existing ones.

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Diageo's sales dropped 5% in the first half of its financial year but underlying performance stayed solid as Smirnoff returned to growth in the US.

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United Breweries has launched Kingfisher Buzz as it targets Bacardi's dominance in India's RTD market.

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Diageo's Indian spirits unit, United Spirits, has said it is reviewing its Smirnoff Ice strategy amid media reports it has halted production.

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Here's a round-up of this week's top stories in the spirits & wine categories. We also have similar round-ups for beer & cider and soft drinks & water.

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Diageo is looking to re-invigorate its Smirnoff vodka brand to appeal more directly to Millennial consumers in all markets.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron used Diageo's Smirnoff brand as a weapon for a spot of political retaliation during his speech at the Conservative Party conference today.