New analysis from the IWSR, published yesterday, revealed that total beverage alcohol (TBA) volumes worldwide dipped by 1% in 2024.  This was led by a 3% decrease in the US market and a 5% drop in China, with all categories reporting declines in China and all but RTDs following a downward trend in the US.  The IWSR named political and…

Guinness Ventures – which is separate from the Diageo-owned brand – has invested in CBD brand Goodrays.  The functional drinks brand announced that it has secured £5m in funding from Guinness and a selection of celebrity backers.  At the same time, the company has appointed Ben Dando, former MD at Liquid Death, as its new MD. …

Fine wine merchant Armit Wines is launching a new wine club initiative.   The Armit Wine Club offers subscribers access to a “sharply priced” selection of the team’s favourite wines.  A case will be put together each quarter with a selection of bottles that pivot on terroir-focused and small-production wines.   Armit have said that the initial case will…

The key to a flourishing spirits brand is responding to culture, said Imme Emgassen, co-founder of non-alcoholic aperitif brand Botivo, which is stocked in Waitrose and Ocado.  Speaking at BCB London this morning (June 30), Emgassen was joined by Michael Vachon, advisor at Drinks Sherpa, and Fabrizio Leoni, co-founder of whisky bottler The Heart Cut, for a panel discussion…

For the adventurous drinker, world whisky makers are unlocking a whole new universe of flavour. But not everyone’s along for the ride. Kristiane Sherry discovers why some experts predict big things – but others remain cautious about the uncharted territory. It was the April Fool’s Day joke that wasn’t. In a coordinated press release, Stauning, Kyrö and other European rye whisky makers used…

Summer 2025 is set to be a big one for the drinks trade, with sport tie-ins such as the FIFA Club World Cup and festivals like Glastonbury offering ripe opportunities to reach consumers. But what are they actually drinking? Lizzy O’Riordan catches up with retailers and producers to hear predictions for the season ahead LIGHT REDS Although summer is often associated with…

Robert Hallworth, senior client insight partner at NIQ, looks at the upcoming trends predicted for drinks this summer As the drinks industry prepares for the summer season, what trends can we expect this year? While Christmas traditionally delivers a significant sales boost, summer offers a strong opportunity – especially for beer, cider and RTDs, which see a higher share of their annual sales…