Drinks Sector News

Foodservice leaders demand rescue package for “imperilled sector”
Over 100 hospitality businesses have urged the government to rethink its controversial 10pm curfew or risk further decimating the sector. In an open letter to the prime minister, Boris Johnson, companies including JD Wetherspoon, Sodexo, Heineken UK, Greene King and…
Shortlist for the Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards 2020 in association with Matthew Clark announced
The judging has concluded and we are delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2020 Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards, revealing the sustainability initiatives of the on-trade drinks sector’s leading responsible businesses. SHORTLIST 2020: ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AWARD Barn Farm…
Sales of no-and low-alcohol spirits in rude health
Sales of alcohol-free and low-alcohol spirits are up 19% year-on-year, according to new data from Nielsen. Supermarket shoppers have spent more than £5.4m on 170,500 litres of low- and no-alcohol spirits so far this year. Some £3.5m of that has…
Covid-19 boosts market for local, healthy drinks
Drinks manufactured locally are set to benefit from the covid-19 pandemic, gaining popularity as consumers “rally behind symbolic and job-sustaining producers”, according to IWSR. The latest analysis of how the crisis is shaping the alcohol industry also suggested that new…
£10m for ‘green distilleries’
The government has launched a new fund to help UK distilleries “go green and cut emissions” by switching to low carbon fuels such as hydrogen, biomass and re-purposed waste. The support will help cut emissions by half a million tonnes…
Heineken’s Green Grip to eliminate plastic rings
Heineken UK said it was on track to eliminate plastic rings on supermarket packs of beer by the end of 2021 after announcing plans to roll out its 100% plastic-free cardboard topper across thousands of UK retailers this summer. The…
Calorie labelling for alcohol splits opinion
A government proposal to end the current exemption for alcohol products from calorie labelling requirements has received a mixed response from health campaigners and industry bodies. The Alcohol Health Alliance said the decision was “very welcome”, adding that the fact…
Brewdog fuels reusable growth with new drive-thrus
Scottish brewer Brewdog has unveiled plans to open drive-thrus which will act as hubs for returning reusable drinks bottles and kegs. The brewer’s co-founder James Watt tweeted an artists’ impression of the drive-thrus which he said would act as beer…
Sewers at risk from spoilt beer
Pub operators must seek permission from their water company before disposing of stale beer this week. Those that don’t could risk missing Saturday’s reopening of England’s hospitality sector. Water UK, the water industry trade body, warned that wildlife could be…
Wine trade faces £70m ‘no-deal’ tab
A leading trade body has warned of the “catastrophic” cost to the wine industry of new trading rules that would apply if a deal with the EU is not agreed by the end of the transition period. Mike Beale, chief…