Remy Cointreau’s global sales up 8.8% organically
Rémy Cointreau (RCO.PA) reported consolidated sales for the financial year ended 31 March 2013 of 1.19 billion euros, an increase of 16.3% from 1.03 billion euros last year. Sales rose 8.8% organically. The company said its sales performance during the period confirms...
Diageo’s North American sales up 6% organically, balancing weakness in other regions
Global drinks group Diageo said a strong performance and higher prices in U.S. spirits, its biggest business, led it to a 4 percent growth in organic net sales, balancing out consumer weakness in Brazil and Nigeria. The maker of Johnnie Walker whisky and Guinness...
Governor vetoes bill allowing transport of liquor through dry counties in Mississippi
Gov. Phil Bryant has vetoed a bill that would have allowed Mississippians to transport a limited amount of unopened alcohol through dry counties. Senate Bill 2526 was passed during the waning days of the 2013 session. The bill would let a person buy the liquor in a...
Italian company testing a natural anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial preservative to replace sulphur in wines
Integrapes, a company in Italy, is currently testing an anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial preservative derived from grape pips that it claims is as effective as sulphur. Furthermore, the wine is supposed to retain more of its natural aromas, particularly the more...
China’s black market in counterfeit alcohol is a health risk and costly to legitimate restaurants and bars
Two days before Christmas, Chinese authorities led a raid in the capital city. Their findings would be shocking, had it been anywhere but China: 37,000 bottles of counterfeit alcohol, destined for Bar Street in Sanlitun, a popular drinking hub for expats in Beijing. A...
Bordeaux futures: Merchants, retailers and consumers all want lower prices, but châteaus may not be listening
Bordeaux's futures campaign is underway, and the wine world is looking to the region this week, waiting for châteaus to make their move. But it's unclear if château owners know what move they want to make. After last year's disorganized, slow campaign, consumers,...
French laboratory unveiled new mildew resistant grape variety called Divico – available for planting in 2015
A French laboratory has unveiled a new grape variety that is resistant to mildew and other fungal diseases. Called Divico, it is a red grape and apparently needs just one to three treatments a year according to Agroscope, the laboratory that developed it, rather than...
Major alcohol suppliers, local distributors face off in court over Franchise law – could reshape the way wine and spirits are distributed in Missouri
A battle brewing in local courtrooms and in Jefferson City could dramatically reshape the way wine and spirits are distributed in Missouri. Lawsuits involving the country’s largest liquor suppliers began piling up in federal court in St. Louis in recent months as they...
Distell buys Scotch whisky producer Burn Stewart for $244m
DISTELL has bought Burn Stewart Distillers from CL World Brands and Angostura for $244m. Burn Stewart is a fully integrated Scotch whisky producer, which owns three malt whisky distilleries and a strong portfolio of Scotch whisky brands. Its principal activities are...