Tag: Alcoholic beverages

South African alcohol manufacturers welcome lift of alcohol sale ban, tax payment deferment

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SOUTH AFRICA – South Africa’s government has lifted a ban on liquor sales and relaxed other pandemic restrictions, moving to Adjusted Alert Level 3 lockdown, amid hope that the worst of the third wave of Covid-19 may be over. Its been a month since the country was placed under stricter lockdown restrictions aimed at reducing Covid-19 infections and easing pressure on the healthcare system. The decision to ease lockdown regulations comes amid a drop in Covid-19 cases, test positivity rates, and hospitalisations, which according to the News24, the average number…

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Heineken unveils new sustainable bar concept in effort to make the world “a little greener every day”

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UK – Dutch multinational brewing giant Heineken has launched Greener Bar, a completely new entertainment experience designed to reduce waste, water, emissions and energy usage in the company’s event bars.  Heineken said that every element of the Heineken Greener Bar- from the uniforms of the staff to the soil and plant ballasts weighing the bar down – has had a life before or will have a life long after the bar is gone.  “From the coasters made from the spent grain of the barley used during the brewing process, through to the use of reusable and recyclable cups, everything is designed…

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Distell to register triple digit profit growth supported by improved performance across all markets

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SOUTH AFRICA – Despite repeated bans on alcohol sales at his home market, Distell is expecting strong profit growth for the year to end-June. The owner of brands like Savanna, Hunter’s and Klipdrift, expects its headline earnings will jump by more than 230% to stand at between 735.6 cents and 782.7 cents, compared to the previous year’s 235.3 cents. This will also be almost 20% higher than in its HEPS of 2019 financial year, before the impact of the pandemic, which was 652.9 cents. According to the drink maker, the…

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Change of guard at South Africa’s iconic winery Spier as alcohol industry faces turmoil

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SOUTH AFRICA – One of South Africa’s oldest wine farms, Spier, has promoted its long-serving Cellar Master, Frans Smit, to be its Managing Director after 25 years of winemaking and viticultural leadership. To succeed him is his protégé, Johan Jordaan, the new Cellar Master of the three centuries old winery. The historic Stellenbosch-based farm, established in 1692, is renowned for developing awarded, quality wines in local and international markets.  From the vineyards where Spier sources grapes to the cellar producing terroir-driven wines, there’s a well-recognised commitment to the sustainability of…

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Nile Breweries eases COVID-19 burden on Uganda’s health system, donates 300 oxygen cylinders

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UGANDA – Nile Breweries Limited (NBL), the Ugandan subsidiary of AB InBev, has donated 300 oxygen cylinders worth Ush 333 million (US$93,800) to major referral hospitals, spread across 17 districts in the country. The donation is timely as over the past few weeks, Uganda has registered a rise in COVID-19 infections which has tested the capacity of its healthcare system. Handing over the donations at the Office of the Prime Minister, Nile Breweries Legal & Corporate Affairs Director Onapito Ekomoloit said, “As Nile Breweries, Uganda’s beer market leader, we believe…

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Molson Coors introduces Vizzy Hard Seltzer watermelon variety pack as Jack Daniels ends partnership with Bacardi in Austria

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US – Chicago-based multinational beverage company Molson Coors Beverage Company is expanding its popular  Vizzy Hard Seltzer portfolio with the introduction of a watermelon variety pack.  The new offering made with real watermelon juice and vitamin C features four watermelon flavour combinations: blueberry watermelon, kiwi watermelon, passionfruit watermelon, and mango watermelon.  Each 5% ABV variant contains 100 calories and 1g of sugar. The launch follows the introduction of another new Vizzy Hard Seltzer variety pack earlier this year, featuring papaya passionfruit, blackberry lemon, watermelon strawberry, and raspberry tangerine flavours.  Barcadi to stop distributing Jack Daniels in Austria Meanwhile, Brown-Forman, one of the largest American-owned spirits…

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China’s Mengtai Group imports entire distillery from Scotland to create “globally award-winning whisky”

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CHINA – The Mengtai Group, One of Inner Mongolia’s largest private firms with vast interests in coal production and electricity generation, is importing an entire whisky distillery from Scotland to China.  According to a report by the BBC, more than 35 tonnes of equipment, including stills, flooring, control valves, and pipework, are leaving Buckie in Moray for the port of Tianjin.  On arrival, the equipment part of a £3m “design and build” deal signed between Forfar firm Valentine International and China’s Mengtai Group in 2019 will be assembled at a facility being built in Inner Mongolia.  The facility in Ordos – a city of more…

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Botswana based Sechaba Brewery Holdings names Mabu Nteta as its new Managing Director

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BOTSWANA – Sechaba Brewery Holdings Limited (SBHL), an investment holding company with 60% controlling interest in Kgalagadi Breweries Limited (KLB) and Botswana Breweries (Pty) Limited, has appointed Ms. Mabu Nteta to the position of Managing Director with effect from 1 July 2021. SBHL’s subsidiary, Kgalagadi Breweries, produces lager beers, traditional beers, bottled water and soft drinks under license. The brewery has four traditional beer breweries, a clear beer brewery, a sparkling soft drinks production plant and six sales and distribution centres in Botswana. Meanwhile its other unit, Botswana Breweries produces…

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UK retail chains, pubs mull shutting some stores due to staff shortages amid rising Covid-19 cases

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UK – The rising number of cases in the UK is presenting a new challenge to business operators as many employees have had to self-isolate themselves following contact with people who have tested positive.  Recent figures showed more than 500,000 people in England and Wales were “pinged” by the NHS Covid app in the week to 7 July and required to self-isolate for 10 days for coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19.    According to a BBC report, the rising number of people who are being forced into self-isolation is having profound consequences for the economy…

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Boston Beer, Beam Suntory partner to enhance presence in emerging alcoholic beverage categories

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US – Boston Beer, a leading independent, American craft brewer, has partnered with premium spirits maker Beam Suntory to take on the emerging alcoholic beverage categories that are taking the market by storm.    Boston Beer is the maker of the popular Sam Adams beer that debuted in the US in 1984 and the recently introduced Truly Hard Seltzer.  Beam Suntory on the other hand produces a number of leading premium spirits brands including Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands, Sauza tequila, and Pinnacle vodka.  As part of the collaboration, Beam Suntory’s Sauza tequila brand will…

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