RTDs have boomed in recent years, offsetting a moribund trend in the overall alcohol category to provide bright spots centred around convenience, a keen understanding of modern drinking occasions and innovation. But how are brands keeping up growth momentum?  According to research from the IWSR, this initial burst of innovation is slowing as the category matures, with less of a focus on malt-based…

Pernod Ricard has announced the completion of sale of its international wines portfolio to the owner of Accolade Wines, a consortium named Australian Wine Holdco Limited (AWL).  The consortium has combined the portfolio from Pernod Ricard with Accolade Wines to create a new global wine company – Vinarchy.   Pernod Ricard will continue to distribute its international wine portfolio…

Supermarkets experienced a boost thanks to Easter, with take-home sales increasing 6.5% over the four weeks to April 20, compared to the same time last year.  At the same time however, grocery inflation crept up to 3.8%.  As inflation levels rose, customers increased their spending on promotions, which reached 29.7%, the highest level of the year so far.  In Tesco and…

The Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) has revealed that demand for independent beer is high, but headwinds still threaten the survival of independent breweries.  The SIBA Independent Beer Report 2025 named taxation, market access restrictions and reduced alcohol consumption as the main stumbling blocks for indie brewers.  It further added that while average production at independent breweries grew by 10%…

In its Q3 financial results for FY25, Pernod Ricard reported a 3% decline in sales during the third quarter of the fiscal year.  The company cited a “challenging” geopolitical environment and “very fluid” tariffs as contributing factors, alongside phasing technicalities in India, which it said will be resolved by the fourth quarter.  The results showed struggles in Europe, where sales declined by…

Insight company KAM has revealed that 74% of UK adults are actively looking to moderate their alcohol consumption.  Though the population is reducing its alcohol intake, KAM stressed that alcohol remains a “regular” part of most Britons’ lives, with 82% of those surveyed drinking alcohol weekly in 2025, compared to 87% in 2021.  Leading the Breakfast Briefing at BREW//LDN this year, Katie…

Stationed on the fourth and fifth floors of London’s Science Museum, the Wines from Spain annual tasting is in full swing when the Drinks Retailing team arrives.  A gathering of importers and producers alike, the event offers tastings and masterclasses throughout the day.  Amid it all, one question keeps surfacing more than any other: Is Spain moving away from red wine? Looking at…