Japanese beer brand Asahi Super Dry will be the subject of a £1.3 million campaign from this month, as brand owners look to highlight its status as official beer of the Rugby World Cup 2023.  The campaign, which runs until October 28, includes outdoor and print advertising, as well as social media and trade activity. Asahi said the activation will reach “75% of all lager…

The monthly round-up of what’s new in low/no, beer, cider, wine, spirits, RTDs and mixers. RTDs Funkin Cocktails Passion Fruit Margarita and Pineapple Daiquiri  14% abv  £3.50 each (14cl) USP: The first two launches in Funkin’s new Double Shot range are both made with a double spirit measure as the brand looks to tap into the demand for…

Trade organisation WineGB is looking to establish Britain as one of the most sustainable winegrowing regions in the world as the English wine category continues to expand both domestically and internationally.  Speaking ahead of the Wines of Great Britain annual trade tasting, WineGB chair Sam Linter (pictured left) noted the considerable growth of the English wine industry in the past five years, with a…

BrewDog has appointed James Arrow to the role of chief operating officer. Arrow, who joins the brewer from Boots Opticians, will report to BrewDog CEO and co-founder James Watt. Boots Opticians is part of the wider international division of Walgreens Boots Alliance where Arrow is currently managing director. He will join BrewDog this month. Arrow replaces David McDowall who left BrewDog to join Stonegate Group…

A complaint made against Docks Beers’ Carbon Crush has been upheld by the alcohol industry’s Independent Complaints Panel, after concerns were raised that the packaging appealed to under-18s. The Portman Group said the predominant theme of the product’s label was a comic book strip style story which featured a caped crusader. The brewer said Carbon Crush was intended as a limited-edition product designed to spread…

Plumpton College has named Sam Linter as the new wine director of its wine division. A spokesperson for the college said Linter will replace Dr Greg Dunn. The appointment comes four months after Linter announced that she would leave Bolney Wine Estate. The Sussex estate was set up by Linter’s parents in 1972, and sold to Freixenet Copestick last year.  In addition to…

Pernod Ricard has reported a single-digit sales increase in the UK, as part of its full-year 2023 results announcement. The company said today that sales in the UK were up 2% in the 12 months to the end of June, with “dynamic double-digit sales from Jameson, Absolut, Malibu and Kahlua”. The company reported share gains in the UK on-trade. Overall, global group net sales rose…