All You Need to Know in Alcohol - Global Drinks Intel Newsletter, Friday 7 Feb

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On Global Drinks Intel this week...

• Carlsberg pushes alcohol-free narrative post-Britvic buy as full-year sales stay firm – results data

Carlsberg has signalled the start of full-year results reporting for the multinational brewers, posting a near-2.5% increase in sales from 2024.

• ‘Carbonated soft drinks is growing and that’s what we’re buying into’ – Carlsberg CFO Ulrica Fearn speaks to Global Drinks Intel

On Thursday, Carlsberg reported a 2.4% increase in sales from 2024 – a year in which the brewer hit the headlines by acquiring soft drinks specialist Britvic while also strengthening its relationship with PepsiCo as its bottler of choice across more of Europe. Following the results announcement, Global Drinks Intel editor Olly Wehring quizzed group CFO Ulrica Fearn about Carlsberg’s recent performance, as well as the company’s priority areas for 2025.

• Diageo bucks downward trend as half-year sales register lift – results data

Diageo has returned to the black in the first half of its current financial year as sales in the six months to the end of December came in up by 1%.

• Diageo implements ‘two-brand strategy’ in tequila, admits medium-term guidance ‘a distraction’

Diageo has rebalanced its approach to the tequila category having concluded that its Casamigos and Don Julio brands had been “going up against each other”.

• Martell drags Pernod Ricard into negative for half year, outlook bleak for months ahead – results data

Pernod Ricard has reported its latest results earlier than expected, prompted by a switch of its near-term guidance to a decline in sales.

• Comment - FOMO marketing – How hard-working limited editions drive brand hype

One of the unintended consequences of living at a time when everyone can be an influencer is how powerful the product itself has become as a brand-building tool – especially in drinks marketing and the rise of the limited edition.

• ‘There are blessings and curses that come with being first’ – Seedlip founder Ben Branson speaks to Global Drinks Intel

In 2015, Ben Branson created Seedlip, the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits brand. Within a year, he’d secured investment from the Diageo-backed business accelerator, Distill Ventures. Then, in 2019, Diageo acquired majority control of the brand with Branson remaining on board as a minority stakeholder. Since then, he’s been busy with Pollen Projects, a “venture studio dedicated to the non-alcoholic category”. Global Drinks Intel editor Olly Wehring spoke to Branson earlier this month about both Seedlip and Pollen Projects as well as the latter’s debut pair of releases.

• Announcing the Global Drinks Intel New Product Awards 2025 – Open Now

Is your latest product ready to take centre stage? Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the recognition your innovation efforts deserve.

Also on Global Drinks Intel this week:

• Anheuser-Busch InBev launches Canadian-made push as US tariff row erupts
• Spirits ‘slowdown will be exacerbated’ if North American trade war breaks out, warn alcohol industry bodies
• Kentucky Distillers’ Association welcomes delay in Trump’s Canada, Mexico tariffs
• Beer industry contributes US$878bn to global GDP in 2023 – research
• Molson Coors Beverage Co backs Aspall Cyder with investment
• Heineken readies global activation for Desperados – video
• Mo?t & Chandon returns to F1 podium
• Asahi names former Molson Coors exec as head of US division, Octopi Brewing
• Diageo unit MD heads to Bacardi

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