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This week’s top 10 drinks stories

March 17, 2017
By Alana House

It was an intense week for the drinks industry as Coopers came under fire for its association with The Bible Society, Nant Distilling going into receivership and CCA announced an executive-level reshuffle. 

 

1. Peter McLoughlin stepped in as Coca-Cola Amatil MD

It was a busy week for Coca Cola Amatil following MD Brian O’Connell’s unexpected departure, the retirement of three board members and a new MD for Molson Coors Australia. 

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2. Pubs boycotted Coopers beer 

Pubs started boycotting Coopers following its beer appearing in a video created by the Bible Society Australia on same-sex marriage.

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Tim and Melanie Cooper released an apology video following the backlash, cancelled the release of Bible Society commemorative cans and joined Australian Marriage Equality.

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3. TWE revealed its new French label will be on shelves by November

“It’s a wine planned in Melbourne, executed from Napa, grown in France and shipped to north Asia.”

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The AFR also reported that TWE’s turnaround “relied on leadership and culture”

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4. CUB scooped the only Aussie medal at the DBA Awards

Mercury Hard Cider took out a bronze medal in the beverages category at the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards.

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5. India’s first-ever wine report raised the question: is it a missed opportunity for Aussie wine?

Indian Wine Insider 2017 holds interesting insights for Australian winemakers.

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6. Diageo opened its first distillery for Bulleit

Diageo finally opened its first-ever distillery for the booming Bulleit bourbon brand near Louisville, Kentucky. 

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7. AB InBev revealed it’s preparing to brew beer on Mars

AB InBev announced a “Bud on Mars” initiative with the aim of becoming the first brewery in space.

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8. A Canberra vineyard won the world’s best wine label award

Canberra district winery Four Winds was awarded the Overall Supreme Champion trophy at the 2017 International Wine Design Challenge.

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9. AB InBev revealed 3 ways it’s marketing beer in a tech-led world

Tina Wung, Director of Digital Strategy & Innovation, addressed ad:tech Sydney 2017.

Read more

 

10. Nant Distilling went into receivership

The news followed its sale to AWH falling through amid revelations that more than 700 barrels sold to investors by Nant Distilling “have never been filled with whisky.”

Read more

 

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This week’s top 10 drinks stories

March 10, 2017
By Alana House

What a week! Rick Wilson became the new GM at Accolade, plus there were four other new Chair, CEO and GM announcements in the industry; TWE announced it was creating a French wine brand; and Women in drinks triumphed with a fantastic International Women’s Day event featuring an industry panel discussing diversity and inclusion. 

 

1. TWE revealed it’s launching a new French wine label in China

Treasury Wine Estates announced at it’s inaugural investor day that it is creating a French wine portfolio, with a focus on the North Asian market. 

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2. Accolade Wines announced its new General Manager

Accolade Wines appointed Advantage Australia’s Rick Wilson as its new General Manager, Australia & New Zealand.

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CHAMP Private Equity also officially confirmed that its $1 billion-plus public float of Accolade Wines is off the table.

Read more

 

3. Three more drinks industry appointments were made

The Board of ILG announced Paul Esposito as its new CEO, replacing Allen De Costa who resigned late last year.

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And Independent Liquor Retailers appointed Corey Leeson as its General Manager.

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Karen Betts, the British ambassador to Morocco, has become the first woman to lead the Scotch Whisky Association.

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4. The Nant Distillery battle took another nasty turn

Concerns have escalated about the damage the Nant Distillery scandal is wreaking on the Tasmanian whisky industry following the sale to AWH falling through and the revelation 700 investor barrels are empty.

Read more

 

5. The drinks industry condemned a UK duty increase

The wine and spirits industry had been campaigning for a 2% reduction, instead the UK duty on beer, cider, wine and spirits will increase by RPI inflation, which is currently 3.9%.

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6. Women in drinks held a successful International Women’s Day event focussing on diversity

The Women in drinks council celebrated International Women’s Day with more than 450 guests at Doltone House in Sydney, raising $16,000 for ANZGOG.

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Here’s what drinks bulletin had to say about the day …

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And here’s a rundown on the diversity & inclusion panel discussion …

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7. A new Chair was announced for WISA

Wine Industry Suppliers Australia announced that Paula Edwards had been unanimously voted to the role of Chair of the Association.

Read more

 

8. Andrew Margan slammed NSW tourism officials

Margan said NSW, as a brand, was falling behind the other states when it came to global promotion.

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Destination NSW defended itself, saying it “actively supports” the state’s food and wine sector.

 

9. [yellowtail] released a second US ad in its $40m campaign

Despite local criticism, the ad campaign has been a huge success in the US, with a 26% sales increase and a 30% jump in followers on Instagram and Twitter.
Read more

 

10. Halliday, Hancock and Horgan were honoured by WFA

James Halliday AM, Chris Hancock MW and Denis Horgan AM were named Life Members of the Australian Wine Industry at an awards presentation held by the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) in Adelaide.

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This week’s top 10 drinks stories

February 24, 2017
By Alana House

It was half-year results time and there was plenty of good news for the drinks industry, but ugly legal issues raised their heads for Cellarhand, two craft brewers and Penfolds, and unions weren’t happy with Coca Cola or the Fair Work Commission. 

 

1. Endeavour Drinks Group announced another winning half-year result

Sales were up 4% for the liquor division of Woolworths. The company also flagged 27 new liquor stores, a reinvigorated Cellarmasters and more “compelling brands” for Pinnacle Drinks.

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2. Australian Vintage half-year results were back in the black

Australian Vintage recorded a $1.6million profit in its latest results, but profits remain down due to exchange rate challenges. 

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3. A well-known wine expert was “fingered in $300,000 wine heist”

It was revealed that former sommelier and vintner Lak Quach was under investigation by his employer, Melbourne wholesaler Cellarhand, over claims he stole up to $300,000 worth of wine while working as a specialist buyer.

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4. Penalty and public holiday rates were slashed for hospitality workers

The Fair Work Commission agreed to major cuts Sunday and public holiday penalty rates in the hospitality industry.

Read more

 

5. Two craft brewers went to war over the use of “Pacific Ale” on their labels

Byron Bay craft brewer Stone & Wood is fighting to stop Melbourne craft brewer Thunder Road using the term “Pacific Ale” on its products.
Read more

 

6. Coca-Cola announced it was closing its iconic Adelaide bottling factory

Coca-Cola Amatil will close its manufacturing facilities in Adelaide by 2019 and focus on production in Queensland.

Read more

 

7. It was revealed whisky sales surged 11% in Australia last year

Single malt Scotch whisky has recovered from its 2014-15 slump, topping £1billion worth of exports for the first time in 2016. And Australia was one of its biggest markets. 

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8. CUB revealed it will brew Goose Island in Australia

Goose Island Indian Pale Ale will most likely be produced at Cascade Brewery in Tasmania and CUB says more international craft labels are on the way. 

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9. Plans for a $4.5million Barossa wine museum were unveiled

It’s hoped construction of the $4.5m museum will begin later this year.

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10. Treasury Wine Estates faced more legal battles over Chinese name for Penfolds

The latest challenge comes from Ben Fu International Trade, which last week listed on the Shanghai Equity Exchange and claims to be in the wine importing and exporting business.

Read more

 

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This week’s top 10 drink’s stories

January 13, 2017
By Alana House

It was a big week for Aussie wine, with a win for Penfolds in China and accolades from Decanter and drinks business’ Malbec Masters. Meanwhile, there was movement at Diageo and news that Moutai may steal its world-leader crown. 

 

1. Penfolds won its trademark dispute in China
Treasury Wine Estates won the right to use the Ben Fu trademark, the Chinese translation of its iconic wine brand Penfolds, after a long legal battle. And Australia’s new IP counsellor in Beijing says other wine companies should take note. 

Click here to read more. 

 

2. Diageo announced Simon Tamke’s replacement
Diageo Australia revealed it has appointed Andrew Clarke as its new Commercial Director following the resignation of Simon Tamke.

Click here to read more. 

 

3. CUB revealed it’s trialling flavoured “beer pods” in pubs
The on-premise flavoured beer pods are an Australian first – with around 30 pubs and bars across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane trialling them. The company says the pods have been well received. 

Click here to read more. 

 

Meanwhile, Pernod Ricard and AB-InBev are gearing up to bring boozy versions of Nespresso coffee machines to kitchen benchtops.

Click here to read more. 

 

4. Aussie sparkling reds were predicted to soar in 2017
Sparkling reds are expected to steal the show at Wine Australia’s annual Australia Day Tasting in London on January 24, with experts tipping them as the wine to watch this year. 

Click here to read more. 

 

Meanwhile, the 2017 vintage is shaping up to be a corker as grapes ripen weeks later than last year. 

Click here to read more. 

 

5. Decanter revealed its Top 10 Exciting Wine Buys of 2016
And McGuigan Shortlisted Semillon 2007 made the cut, the only Aussie wine on the list. 

Click here to read more. 

 

6. 4 Aussie medals in 2016 Malbec Masters
The drinks business’ Malbec Masters 2016 has awarded four medals to Australian Wines, including Taylors Wines’ 2015 Taylor Made Malbec, the first-ever straight Malbec the company has produced. 

Click here to read more. 

 

7. Wine Australia revealed there was strong growth for small winemakers in 2016
Australia’s small winemakers enjoyed an average increase of 12% in wine sales in 2016 and overall revenue of $1billion.

Click here to read more. 

 

8. Moutai closed in on Diageo’s crown
Kweichow Moutai is poised to steal Diageo’s spot as the world’s most valuable alcoholic drinks firm.

Click here to read more.

 

9. Australia’s top drinks companies for 2016 were revealed
Four the drinks association members were among Australia’s top 10 food and drink companies for 2016.

Click here to read more.

 

10. False cost claims by anti-alcohol activists were exposed
Columnist Nick Cater suggested it’s time for a prohibition on taxpayer-funded fibs.

Click here to read more. 

 

 

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This week’s top 10 drinks stories

December 9, 2016
By Alana House

The lead-up to Christmas has been unseasonably action-packed for the drinks industry. Here are the top stories of the week: 

 

1. Sydney’s lockout laws were relaxed

NSW Premier Mike Baird revealed he is adopting the Callinan Review recommendations during a two-year trial commencing in January, 2017. Lockout hours in the Sydney CBD and King’s Cross will extend from 3am to 3.30am; live entertainment venues will extend from 1.30am to 2am; the definition of a small bar will be increased from a capacity of 60 to 100; and bottle shops across NSW will be allowed to open one hour later, until 11pm.

Click here to read more.

ABA and DSICA responded to drinks bulletin, saying they were underwhelmed by the revised lockout laws.

Click here to read more. 

 

2. CUB ended its long-running dispute with workers at its Abbotsford brewery
The dispute arose when the company ended its contract with the maintenance service provider Quant, which impacted 55 workers at the brewery.

Click here to read more. 

 

3. TWE ditched its UK bottling deal with Accolade
Two months after Accolade Wines announced it was ending its co-bottling deal with TWE in Australia, TWE gave notice that it will be cease using Accolade’s bottling facilities in the UK.

Click here to read more. 

 

4. ALM bought Porter’s Liquor
After months of speculation, it was finally revealed that Australian Liquor Marketers (ALM) has bought Porter’s Liquor and plans to expand the chain from 30 to 100 stories nationally.  

Click here to read more.

 

5. Three Aussie wines made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list
Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines reviewed over the previous 12 months and select their Top 100, based on quality, value, availability and excitement. The first Aussie wine on the list came in at number 30 – Mollydooker Shiraz McLaren Vale Carnival of Love 2014.

Click here to read more.

 

6. TWE slammed “bullying tactics” in The Stag court case
Treasury Wine Estates responded to the latest round of court action by Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates (SLWC and SMWE) over its “The Stag” brand, saying “hypocrisy in this matter is incredulous.”

Click here to read more. 

 

7. 2016 best employers for women list was released

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency released its annual list of Employers of Choice for Gender Equality, with no liquor companies making the cut. 

Click here to read more.

 

8. Winemakers gave their verdict on WET reforms

Reaction in the wine industry to the Government’s revised wine equalisation tax reforms has been largely positive, but one predicted the end of the WET rebate on bulk wine would lead to higher prices for SA wine grapes.

Click here to read more. 


9. Brown-Forman revealed a sales decline, but Oz “up slightly”
Brown-Forman has been hit with a profit and sales decline in its second quarter and revised its adjusted sales forecast to between 4% and 5%, 1% less than it originally announced.

Click here to read more. 

 

10. AFFW appointed new committee chairs
Australia’s First Families of Wine announced Bruce Tyrrell as its new Chair (pictured above), and Katherine Brown as the new Chair of the Next Generation of AFFW,

Click here to read more.

 

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Private: This week’s top 10 drinks stories

October 28, 2016
By Alana House

It was a week of dramatic highs and lows, with Australian Vintage releasing a profit warning and global wine output hitting a 20-year low, while TWE set its sights on growing wine sales in Japan and booming beer sales in Vietnam boosted Heineken. 

 

1. the drinks association held its 2016 AGM

“We have had a really strong year and we’re looking forward to a very robust year going forward in terms of what we want to deliver to our members,” chairman Ralph Dunning said.

Click here to read more. 

 

2. Global wine output hit a 20-year low
Price hikes for wine have been predicted in many countries, with global output slumping to an almost 20-year low in 2016.

Click here to read more.

 

3. Australian Vintage released a second profit warning
The plummeting UK pound forced Australian Vintage to release its second profit warning since July.

Click here to read more.

 

4. Grant Burge bought a new vineyard
Grant Burge is growing the footprint of his Illaparra Winery, after buying the 25-hectare Lorndan Vineyard in the Adelaide Hills.

Click here to read more.

 

5. TWE set its sights on Japan
Treasury Wine Estates announced a new strategy for selling its premium Australian and New Zealand wines into Japan.

Click here to read more.

 

6. AB InBev made its first beer shipment by robot truck driver
In a world first, AB InBev made a commercial beer delivery in the United States using a self-driving truck.

Click here to read more. 

 

7. CUB spoke out on its contractor dispute
“Claims CUB sacked 55 workers without notice are untrue,” CUB said in a statement. “CUB has not employed maintenance workers since 2009, when those impacted by the services being outsourced were paid redundancies of $150,000 – $200,000.”

Click here to read more. 

 

8. The 2016 Wine Communicators Awards finalists were announced

Recognising outstanding contribution to, and excellence in, wine communication in all its forms, more than 50 entries were received across all seven categories this year, and the feedback from the judges has been tremendous.

Click here to read more. 

 

9. Sales of vodka in Russia have dropped “catastrophically” 
During a time of economic crisis, Russians are drinking less vodka and hard liquor and have instead turned to beer and wine.

Click here to read more. 

 

10. Heineken revealed a 2% rise in beer sales
Heineken released its third-quarter figures, showing the company sold 2% more beer than a year earlier, with strong growth in Mexico and Asia.

Click here to read more. 

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Private: This week’s top 10 drinks stories

October 21, 2016
By Alana House

What a week! Wine awards season is in full flight, Coles has launched a Dan Murphy’s rival and Rekorderlig Cocktail Cans have been withdrawn from shelves.

 

1. Coles launched a liquor store it hopes will rival Dan Murphy’s
Liquor Market has made its debut in Melbourne’s Ringwood on the site of a former First Choice store. If successful, Liquor Market will become an Australia-wide chain. 

Click here to read more.

 

2. Australia’s best Riesling for 2016 was announced 

Western Australia’s Ferngrove Wines won Best Wine at the 17th Canberra International Riesling Challenge for the Ferngrove Off-Dry Riesling Limited Release 2016.

Click here to read more.

 

3. Drinks Business revealed its Top 10 Australian Fine Wines to Watch

The website noted that the labels have “great fine wine potential and are set to be the stars of the future.”

Click here to read more.

 

4. Penfolds released a $185,000 bottle of Grange

Treasury Wine Estates’ chief marketing officer Simon Marton told The Australian Financial Review there has already been ” strong interest from buyers in Australia, Asia and the United States.”

Click here to read more. 

 

5. Finalists were announced for the 2016 Australian Women in Wine Awards

The Fabulous Ladies’ Wine Society, together with the AWIWA Advisory Board, revealed the 21 women (and 1 man) who are finalists for the  2016 Australian Women in Wine Awards.

Click here to read more. 

 

6. Tasmania’s troubled Nant Distillery found a buyer 

The Tasmanian whisky distillery founded by bankrupt Queensland property developer Keith Batt has been sold to a private equity company. Australian Whisky Holdings (AWH) has bought Nant Distillery for $3million.

Click here to read more.

 

7. Wine export report revealed China is now Australia’s No.1 market
The Wine Export Report, released by Wine Australia this week, shows China has moved into top position as our number one export market for wine. Wine exports to the country in the last year more than doubled to $474 million, the highest they’ve ever been.

Click here to read more. 

 

8. Taylors Wines won Marketing Team Of The Year at the 36th Annual AMI Awards

The team won for the campaign “Live better by degrees with Taylors Wines”, which was sparked after IPSOS research revealed 8 out of 10 Australians drink their reds at room temperature, reducing their character and subtlety. 

Click here to read more. 

 

9. Deep Woods won the 2016 Jimmy Watson trophy
The Royal Melbourne Wine Awards (RMWA) crowned its 2016 Trophy winners on Thursday, including Deep Woods Estate, which picked up the coveted Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red Wine with its 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.

Click here to read more. 

 

10. CCA ordered a mass recall for Rekorderlig cider cocktail cans
Rekorderlig Cocktail Cans are being voluntarily withdrawn from shelves after brand owner Åbro identified an issue with the cans that has the potential to compromise product quality.

Click here to read more. 

 

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