Drinks

News

Britvic invests £22.5m in new technology at London factory

22-Aug-2023 By William Dodds

Soft drink manufacturer Britvic is investing £22.5m in its factory in Beckton, East London.

News

Heineken profits down after front-loaded price rise

31-Jul-2023 By William Dodds

Heineken announced an 8.6% decrease in net profit during its results for the first half of 2023 amid price rises designed to ease inflation concerns.

News

Senior appointments in food and drink

19-Jul-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Drinks giant Beam Suntory, fermentation specialist MycoTechnology and food redistribution firm Company Shop have all announced senior appointments in the past week, covered in our latest round-up of people on the move in food and drink.

Latest innovations in food and drink ingredients

04-Jul-2023 By Gwen Ridler

From vegan proteins ‘genetically identical’ to the ones found in milk to the growth of microalgae in the pet food market, we run-down some of the latest innovations in food and drink ingredients.

News

Strike action threatens summer stocks of Irn-Bru

23-Jun-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Proposed strike action at AG Barr’s Cumbernauld production and distribution centre threatens to disrupt supplies of Irn-Bru this summer, according to Unite the Union.

New

New product development in drinks

15-Jun-2023 By Gwen Ridler

A new summer cider launch from Sheppy’s and a blend of classic sweets with sports nutrition lead this round-up of recent drinks NPD.

News

‘UK’s first’ aluminium bottled soft drinks

15-Jun-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Gunna Drinks has launched the ‘UK’s first’ aluminium bottled soft drinks as part of its campaign to reduce the use of plastic within the sector.

News

Arla and Coca-Cola announce senior appointments

13-Jun-2023 By Gwen Ridler

A new managing director has been appointed at Arla Foods, while Coca-Cola HBC announces its new general manager for its island of Ireland operations.

News

Diageo brings forward date of new CEO appointment

05-Jun-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Drinks giant Diageo has accelerated the appointment of its first female chief executive, after current CEO Sir Ivan Menezes’ hospital recovery suffers a ‘significant setback’.

Long read

The latest innovations in beverages

01-Jun-2023 By Bethan Grylls

Food Manufacture reports on the trends dominating the beverage sector, how leading brands are delivering to these demands with innovative new product development, and areas of interest for the future of drinks.

News

Strike action threatens supplies of Coca Cola

25-May-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Strike action at Coca-Cola Europacific Partner’s (CCEP’s) Wakefield site threatens to disrupt supplies of the drinks firms’ most famous brands this summer, claims Unite the Union.

News

Classic Mineral Water invests £3.4m in new bottling line

24-May-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Lurgan, Northern Ireland-based Classic Mineral Water invests £3.4m in developing a third bottling line as it extends its reach into the own-label market and creates 16 new jobs.

News

CCEP makes further investment in eliminating virgin plastics

11-May-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has strengthened its commitment to eliminating virgin plastics in its bottles with an investment in scaling up technology to convert hard to recycle polyester into high quality recycled PET (rPET).

News

Packaging innovation reduces movement in transport issues by 80%

10-May-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Lindum Packaging has partnered with an international brewer to reduce its movement in transport (MIT) issues by 80%.

News

Britvic £8m project to cut carbon emissions

10-May-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Drinks giant Britvic has invested £8m into its London factory to improve energy efficiency and cut carbon emissions by 50%.

Foodex 2023

Inside FoodEx: What’s the greatest opportunity in food and drink?

04-May-2023 By Bethan Grylls & Gwen Ridler

At last week’s FoodEx Manufacturing Solutions, Food Manufacture sought the expertise of a range of companies and individuals to find out what they considered to be the biggest opportunity in food and drink.

News

Strike action threatened at Coca-Cola plant

03-May-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Unite the Union has threatened strike action at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ (CCEP’s) factory in Wakefield, reportedly the largest soft drinks plant in Europe.

News

Radnor Hills opens multi-million-pound production facilities

28-Apr-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Soft drinks manufacturer Radnor Hills has opened the doors of its expanded facilities in Powys, South Wales, following a multi-million-pound investment.

News

Soft drinks innovation driven by three key trends

28-Apr-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Gen Z, maximising health and energy drinks were the key trends driving innovation and new product development in the soft drinks category, according to Britvic.

News

Soft Drinks Levy driving innovation and growth

25-Apr-2023 By Gwen Ridler

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy – AKA the Sugar Levy – has been a catalyst for growth in the soft drinks industry, but growth of sugary drinks in the out of home market suggests more could be done to educate retailers and consumers of sugar-free alternatives.

News

Senior appointments at Britvic and Mars

24-Apr-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Drinks firm Britvic and food industry giant Mars have both announced senior appointments.

News

Ingredients, meat and drinks industry senior appointments

19-Apr-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Sleaford Quality Foods, HCC and Cawston Press have all announced senior appointments, featured in this run-down of people on the move in food and drink.

News

Diageo appoints first female chief executive

28-Mar-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Drinks giant Diageo has appointed its first female chief executive, following the announcement of current head Sir Ivan Menezes’ retirement in June this year.

News

Gin and honey company to file for administration

21-Mar-2023 By Gwen Ridler

The British Honey Company (BHC) has announced its intention to appoint administrators after failing to secure further funding to continue operating.

News

Britvic announces £13m canning line investment

20-Mar-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Drinks manufacturer Britvic is to invest £13m in a new canning line at its Rugby factory, creating new jobs and providing opportunities for apprentices to advance in their roles.

News

Climate change may "significantly" affect coffee production

13-Mar-2023 By Michelle Perrett

Climate change may “significantly” impact the land where coffee plants are cultivated, a study published in PLOS Climate by Doug Richardson at CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia and colleagues has suggested.

Typhoo to close factory with loss of up to 90 jobs

10-Mar-2023 By Michelle Perrett

Typhoo Tea is to close its tea blending and packing site in Moreton, Wirral in June 2023 which could result in up to 90 job losses.

Union warns alcohol advertising ban will impact jobs and investment

10-Mar-2023 By Michelle Perrett

GMB, the union, has warned the Scottish Government it must ditch plans to restrict alcohol marketing and instead bring forward a national strategy for the future of jobs and investment with workers and employers.

News

Senior appointments at For Aisha and Britvic

10-Feb-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Halal baby food brand For Aisha and drinks manufacturer Britvic both announced senior appointments this week.

Forklift fatality lands drinks firm with £800k fine

27-Jan-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Wine and drinks supplier Kingsland Drinks Ltd has been fined £800k after an HGV driver was killed after being hit by a forklift truck at its Salford depot.

Top trends

Alcoholic drinks: Top 5 trends for 2023

25-Jan-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Low alcohol, brand collaboration and flavoured beers were just some of the key alcohol trends to look out for in 2023, according to home brewing kit firm Pinter.

News

Nichols posts growth as out of home boosted post pandemic

11-Jan-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Vimto maker Nichols reported a year of growth in its 2022 full-year financial results, boosted by the strong resurgence of the out-of-home (OoH) market following the COVID-19 pandemic.

News

Westons Cider invests £2m in new presses

11-Jan-2023 By Gwen Ridler

Westons Cider has invested £2m in its Herefordshire mill in a bid to increase capacity and further its journey along its carbon reduction roadmap.

Alcohol duty freeze brings holiday cheer to drinks industry

20-Dec-2022 By Gwen Ridler

The Government’s decision to continue the freeze on UK alcohol duty until at least August 2023 has brought holiday cheer to members of the drinks industry.

Ag Barrs takes full control of Moma Foods in £3.5m deal

20-Dec-2022 By Gwen Ridler

Drinks firm AG Barr has acquired full control of Moma Foods for a total cash consideration of £3.4m.

Toast Ale secures £2m from high-profile investors

13-Dec-2022 By Gwen Ridler

Toast Ale, the brewery that recycles waste bread into beer, has secured £2m from high-profile investors to help scale its sustainability projects and environmental impact.

Princes Group completes £60m investment in drinks factory

07-Dec-2022 By Michelle Perrett

Princes has completed a £60m investment to expand its drinks facility in Cardiff, Wales.

AG Barr acquires Boost Drinks in £20m deal

05-Dec-2022 By Gwen Ridler

AG Barr, best known for its Irn Bru and Rubicon brands, has acquired Boost Drinks Holdings in a deal worth £20m.

Asahi to close Dark Star Brewery

18-Nov-2022 By Michelle Perrett

Asahi has revealed it is to close its Sussex brewery Dark Star due to the challenges of the current economic environment.

Autumn Budget: Government accused of failing to provide clarity for food and drink businesses

17-Nov-2022 By Michelle Perrett

There was mixed reaction from the food and drink sector to today’s (17 November) Autumn Statement with the Government being accused of a lack of clarity and disregarding food security, but welcomed for its approach to tackling the 600,000 people on universal...

Accolade Wines to sell bottling and warehouse facility

15-Nov-2022 By Michelle Perrett

Accolade Wines, the wine producer, has agreed a deal to sell its bottling and warehousing facility in Bristol called “The Park”.

Brewers call for beer duty support in Chancellor’s Budget

14-Nov-2022 By Michelle Perrett

Brewers have called on the Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to reinstate the beer duty freeze as costs continue to rise and beer sales start to slow.

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company to sell Eagle Brewery

08-Nov-2022 By Michelle Perrett

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) is to sell the Eagle Brewery in Bedford to Spanish brewer S.A. Damm (Damm), best known in the UK as the brewer Estrella Damm.

Petition launched to ban plastic bottles

31-Oct-2022 By Gwen Ridler

Gunna Drinks has launched a petition to lobby the UK government to ban the use of single use plastics in the soft drink industry.

Dragon’s Den contestant Noveltea appoints liquidators

28-Oct-2022 By Michelle Perrett

Alcohol tea brand Noveltea has appointed liquidators after being unable to withstand the immense pressure of rising input prices and the impact of Covid-19.

Wildcraft Brewery expansion boosts output and creates new jobs

25-Oct-2022 By Gwen Ridler

Wildcraft Brewery has moved to a larger premises, boosting output and creating new jobs, thanks to a five-figure funding package from HSBC UK.

Boom in small breweries boosted by Government policy, says new report

18-Oct-2022 By Michelle Perrett

There has been a boom in small breweries and a huge increase in the number of different beer styles being brewed over the last 20 years due to Small Breweries’ Relief (SBR), a new report by the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has revealed.

Sneak appoints new head for energy drink firm

05-Oct-2022 By Gwen Ridler

Direct to consumer energy drink firm Sneak has appointed Ashley Read as its new chief executive, following a raft of senior hires at the business.

New supply chain lead at Suntory Beverage & Food

21-Sep-2022 By Gwen Ridler

Suntory Beverage & Food (SBF) GB&I has appointed Daniel Woodhead to lead its supply chain operations across Great Britain and Ireland.

Brewery in Leeds closes doors as cost-of-living crisis hits

16-Sep-2022 By Michelle Perrett

Nomadic Beers, the Leeds based brewery, has closed its doors citing the impact of the Covid pandemic and the increases in costs.