Latest drinks industry interviews

Pernod Ricard's Chinese malt whisky distillery - just-drinks speaks to China MD Jean-Etienne Gourgues and Asia marketing head Tracy Kwan 29 Aug 2019

Andy Morton

Earlier today, Pernod Ricard unveiled plans to build a malt whisky distillery near Mount Emei, one of China's four sacred Buddhist peaks. The distillery is expected to start production in 2021, with the first product set to be released in 2023. just-drinks deputy editor Andy Morton spoke to Pernod's China MD, Jean-Etienne Gourgues, and Asia VP of marketing Tracy Kwan by phone from Emei to hear more about the project.

"We want to be the number one importer of French wine into Asia" - just-drinks speaks to Treasury Wine Estates CEO Michael Clarke - Part I 16 Aug 2019

Olly Wehring

Earlier this week, Treasury Wine Estates reported a healthy showing in the 12 months to the end of June, with group sales rising by 12% on the corresponding period a year earlier. just-drinks editor Olly Wehring caught up with group CEO Michael Clarke in a very early-morning call to Australia

"TWE could be an acquirer of other people's wine businesses" - just-drinks speaks to Treasury Wine Estates CEO Michael Clarke - Part II 16 Aug 2019

Olly Wehring

In part II of an exclusive interview, Treasury Wine Estates CEO Michael Clarke talks to just-drinks editory Olly Wehring about his ambitions in the US, the company's pricing strategy and aborted plans to launch a 19 Crimes whiskey.

Blockchain in drinks traceability and beyond - Interview 14 Aug 2019

Rosie Lintott at GlobalData

At the start of this year, labelling manufacturer Avery Dennison announced a collaboration with technology start-up Everledger to develop a blockchain-based labelling offering that would allow wine bottles to be tracked using near-field communication technology. GlobalData's Rosie Lintott spoke to Julie Vargas, director of Avery Dennison's global market development for radio frequency identification (RFID) in the food and drink sector, about the project and to find out more about blockchain's broader industry applications.

"The US is the one market where we've not seen gin's momentum develop" - Diageo CEO Ivan Menezes talks to just-drinks 25 Jul 2019

Olly Wehring

Earlier today, Diageo announced its results for the 12 months to the end of June, with mid-single-digit sales increases fast becoming the norm. just-drinks editor Olly Wehring spoke to group CEO Ivan Menezes about the latest figures.

"Taking pricing on your core trademarks is part of the premiumisation journey" - just-drinks meets Beam Suntory CEO Albert Baladi - Part II 11 Jul 2019

Olly Wehring

In the first part of our interview with Beam Suntory's CEO, which was published earlier this week, Albert Baladi talked broadly about the group, its strategy going forward and how Beam intends to grow. Here, in part two, we look at the company's portfolio and the positioning of and prospects for its major brands.

"We need to pick our battles and identify where we want to grow on a scale basis"- just-drinks meets Beam Suntory CEO Albert Baladi - Part I 9 Jul 2019

Olly Wehring

Late last month, just-drinks editor Olly Wehring met up with Beam Suntory's CEO, Albert Baladi. In this, the first of a two-part interview running this week, Baladi discusses what he found when he took the helm at the spirits group earlier this year, and how Beam intends to spend its money to get where it wants to be.

"We're putting our money where our mouth is" - Halewood Wines & Spirits jumps into CBD with hemp rum - Focus 5 Jul 2019

Andy Morton

At a London cocktail trade show in London earlier this week, the Dead Man's Fingers stall was causing a bottleneck. Bartenders and other interested parties blocked the aisles to get a taste of the spiced rum brand's newest innovation, a hemp-flavoured spirit infused with CBD. The ingredient, mainly extracted from hemp but also present in cannabis, is already a big noise in the soft drinks scene. But, London's cocktail cognoscenti haven't seen anything like this before. 

"The craft beer buying spree created some confusion in the marketplace" - just-drinks speaks to Paul Gatza, Brewers Association senior VP of professional brewing 5 Jun 2019

Ben Cooper

In an increasingly-competitive beer market, craft brewers to be underselling their sustainability credentials. Paul Gatza, senior VP of the professional brewing division at the Brewers Association, speaks with Ben Cooper about what sets craft brewers apart and why they seem not to be taking full advantage of some natural strengths. 

"There's been a big consumer shift in drinks" - just-drinks speaks to Distill Ventures CEO Frank Lampen 23 May 2019

Olly Wehring

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.