Smirnoff

The spirits category in 2019 - just-drinks' Review of the Year, Part IV - FREE TO ACCESS

23 Dec 2019

As the year draws to a close, just-drinks takes a look back at the stories that have made the headlines across the global drinks industry over the last 12 months. Here, editor Olly Wehring picks out the highs and lows for the spirits category in 2019 in just-drinks' two-part review.

Diageo rolls out US Smirnoff Ice gifting activation

10 Dec 2019

Diageo has created a tongue-in-cheek holiday campaign for its Smirnoff Ice RTD brand in the US.

Why spirits brand owners should embrace the cross-category trend - Comment

28 Nov 2019

Time was when spirits brands were sacred cows, held in such high esteem by their owners that they were kept in their categories and only allowed out to play with either flavour extensions or add-on iterations. Times have changed, though, and white spirits commentator Richard Woodard believes there is little - if anything - to be concerned about by letting your brand venture a bit further.

Is Molson Coors set to pivot away from beer? - Comment

31 Oct 2019

There was a lot to take in from yesterday's news that Molson Coors is to massively overhaul its global operations. Top-line are the jobs losses - 400-500 is a big number and an undoubted hit to staff morale. That many of the job cuts will be in Molson Coors' spiritual home, Denver, will only inflame the hurt.

Diageo Scotland strikes halted after last-gasp agreement

18 Sep 2019

Diageo has averted industrial action at its Scottish production facilities after securing a last-minute deal with trade unions.

Diageo Performance Trends 2015-2019 - results data

29 Aug 2019

In late-July, Diageo released its full-year results for fiscal-2019. The group saw its sales in the 12 months to the end of June rise by 6.1% in organic terms on the year-prior. Here, just-drinks picks through Diageo's performance over the past five years for the trends set to affect the group, specifically, and the global spirits category, more broadly.

FREE TO READ - just-drinks' Mergers & Acquisitions database - July 2019

12 Aug 2019

Here, a little later than usual, just-drinks consolidates the M&A activity in the global drinks industry during July, with Molson Coors' European exploits and Pernod Ricard's Myanmar adventure both overshadowed by Anheuser-Busch InBev's decision to offload its Australian operations to Asahi Group.

Why Diageo has work to do to maintain upward trajectory - Analysis

26 Jul 2019

If Diageo's employees are in party mood today, then yesterday's results give them a good enough excuse. The 6.1% rise in full-year sales for fiscal-2019 represents the group's best performance in a decade - just pipping the 6% lift recorded in 2012.

How the spirits category can make the most of less sugar - Comment

25 Jul 2019

As consumers demand to know more about what's in their food and drink, category commentator Richard Woodard believes the spirits industry is well-placed to capitalise on the public's cravings for less sugar.

Diageo closes in on RTD, Guinness South Africa partnership with Anheuser-Busch InBev's SAB

19 Jul 2019

Diageo has moved a step closer to a licensing deal with Anheuser-Busch InBev for its RTD and Guinness brands in South Africa.

Diageo takes subtle approach to lower sugar amid "seismic shift" in consumer tastes

2 Jul 2019

Diageo is using flavours and botanicals to lower sugar levels in its drinks as consumers get a taste for non-sweetened alcohol, according to the company's head of research & development.

Baijiu retains stranglehold on world's most valuable spirits brands list - data

27 Jun 2019

Baijiu dominates the list of the world's most valuable spirits brands, occupying the top four places of the latest top 50 compiled by brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance.

Diageo chasing Aperol Spritz US success with Ketel One, Smirnoff extensions - Diageo Capital Markets Day 2019

3 Jun 2019

Diageo has noted the recent success of Campari Group's Aperol in North America and is looking to target the brand's performance in the pre-dinner consumption occasion with a slew of recently-released brand extensions.

"There's been a big consumer shift in drinks" - just-drinks speaks to Distill Ventures CEO Frank Lampen

23 May 2019

Since coming into being almost six years ago, Distill Ventures has continued to make headlines in the drinks industry. The Diageo-backed incubation project may be best-known for investing in Seedlip, the non-alcoholic spirits brand. The biggest break, however, came late last year, when Diageo brought Belsazr Vermouth on to its books after the German brand was backed by DV in 2014. Earlier this month, Olly Wehring sat down with co-founder & CEO Frank Lampen to find out more about Distill Ventures and its relationship with thelargest premium spirits company in the world.

Boom or bust for gin, the future for Anheuser-Busch InBev and Diageo's Capital Markets Day - The just-drinks Analyst

21 May 2019

Every month, Ian Shackleton, just-drinks' resident analyst, takes a look at the drinks industry through an investor lens. Here, he covers the possibility of peak gin, the future of Anheuser Busch InBev and Diageo's Capital Markets Day. 

Diageo's Smirnoff Zero Sugar Infusions range - Product Launch

3 May 2019

Diageo has added a sugar-free flavoured range to its Smirnoff vodka portfolio in the US.

Why white spirits should follow brown and play the 'brand home' card - Comment

26 Mar 2019

While many brown spirits brand owners have made hay from creating 'homes' for their brands, the white spirits category may be missing a trick. Richard Woodard explains.

How has Diageo performed in H1 fiscal-2019? - results data

31 Jan 2019

Diageo has reported a 7.5% rise in group sales for the six months to the end of December, but warned that beneficial phasings during the period would result in lower growth in the current six months.

Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, M&A plans and seltzer success – Diageo in North America - Focus

18 Dec 2018

Last week, the head of Diageo's operations in North America, Deirdre Mahlan, hosted a conference call with analysts to update them on the company's performance in the region. Here, just-drinks picks out the top topics from the call.

Where can RTD and cider categories find future growth? - Research in Focus

30 Nov 2018

The world's RTD brands can benefit from a growing market over the next few years, but divergent trends involving premiumisation and health consciousness will create varied conditions in the category's major markets.

Diageo Performance Trends 2014-2018 - results data

19 Nov 2018

In late-July, Diageo released its full-year results for fiscal-2018. The group saw its sales in the 12 months to the end of June rise by 5% in organic terms on the year-prior. Here, just-drinks picks through Diageo's performance over the past five years for the trends set to affect the group, specifically, and the global spirits category, more broadly.

What will be Diageo's priorities for the years ahead? - Analysis

19 Nov 2018

As part of just-drinks' deep-dive into the trends that have driven Diageo's performance over the last five years, Richard Woodard considers the areas that will be priorities for the group in the coming years.

Why spirits brands lists warn that the Chinese are coming - Comment

6 Nov 2018

This month, our white spirits commentator has been looking at lists. Lots and lots of lists. His findings, from a spirits perspective, suggest we should keep one eye on China's baijiu producers - and not merely for competitive purposes.

Why the usual vodka suspects will have to sit out the short-term in the US - Comment

2 Oct 2018

What are the prospects for vodka in the category's vital US market? Spirits commentator Richard Woodard takes us back, to look forwards.

Diageo adds new US states, cities to localised Smirnoff campaign

28 Sep 2018

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.

Where should vodka look for growth in the years to come? - Research in Focus

20 Aug 2018

The global vodka market continues to send mixed messages, with volume increases among higher-priced products offset by heavy declines in the traditional nations of Russia and Eastern Europe.

Diageo offers edible straws with RTDs in UK

17 Aug 2018

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.

Diageo’s Smirnoff Moscow Mule - Product Launch

31 Jul 2018

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.

Diageo to pay for 4 July holiday in Smirnoff Ice campaign

26 Jun 2018

Diageo is joining the trend for experiential prizes with a Smirnoff Ice giveaway that offers to pay US consumers to take a holiday over the upcoming 4 July celebrations.

Will Diageo's American Anthem make vodka great again? - Comment

1 Jun 2018

Monday this week was Memorial Day in the US, a federal holiday in honour of those killed while serving in the country's armed forces. Thanks to a recent product launch from Diageo, consumers were also encouraged to raise a patriotic glass of vodka in their memory. But, can American Anthem make vodka great again? Richard Woodard is sceptical.