Portfolio changes, factory closures, NPD and celebrity investments (and legal spats) were among the topics on Just Drinks’ news pages that caught your eye throughout the year.
But one company’s woes featured prominently in the list of the top 24 most-read news stories on our site in 2024 – and next year could see the business offload the asset that attracted negative headlines to the group.
Scroll down for a flavour of the stories that shaped the drinks-industry agenda over the last 12 months.
Banks’s to be next Carlsberg UK closure
7 October
Carlsberg’s UK venture Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) is planning to shut Banks’s Brewery in the English Midlands next year.
AB InBev to close US distribution site
20 August
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By GlobalDataAnheuser-Busch InBev has revealed plans to shut a distribution facility belonging to its US arm Anheuser-Busch, in Medford, Massachusetts.
Lionel Messi, Mark Anthony Brands launch “hydration drink” Más+
5 June
Footballer Lionel Messi has launched a non-alcoholic “hydration drink” brand called Más+.
The beverage is described as having a “balanced blend of electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals”. Más+ comes in four flavours: Miami Punch, Orange d’Or, Berry Copa Crush and Limon Lime League.
Vintage Wine Estates files for bankruptcy
24 July
US wine group Vintage Wine Estates has filed for bankruptcy and is to voluntarily delist its common stock after failing to pay off $60.5m in debt.
Brown-Forman drops diversity and inclusion programmes, leaves LGBTQ equity index
23 August
Brown-Forman has scrapped its diversity and inclusion policies and ended its participation in an LGBTQ corporate equality index.
Thailand approves alcohol tax cuts to boost tourism
3 January
Thailand’s cabinet has approved slashing taxes on wine and spirits in a bid to promote tourism.
Nestlé admits to illegally treating bottled water in France
30 January
Nestlé has admitted to breaching regulations in France in the way it treats bottled mineral water against contamination.
Diageo, PepsiCo join forces for Captain Morgan RTD launch
25 September
Diageo and PepsiCo have partnered to launch an alcoholic RTD drink combining Captain Morgan spiced rum and Pepsi Max.
Treasury Wine Estates to offload commercial portfolio
6 August
Australian wine group Treasury Wine Estates has revealed plans to divest wines sitting under its commercial portfolio.
Heineken touts Europe potential in 2024 as cost pressure “bubble” bursts
15 February
Dutch beer giant Heineken has touted the potential for growth in Europe this year as cost pressures in the region ease.
Bottler Coca-Cola FEMSA closes flood-hit factory in Brazil
10 May
Coca-Cola FEMSA has temporarily shut one of its production sites in Brazil following severe floods in the local area.
Canada extends alcohol duty cap until 2026
11 March
Canada’s federal government is capping the duty on alcohol at 2% for two additional years following its introduction last year.
Tilray Brands cuts jobs in drinks operations
5 September
Canada-based cannabis and beverage company Tilray Brands has cut “a limited number” of jobs in its drinks division.
Nestlé to spin off water business in attempt to fuel growth
19 November
Nestlé is to separate its water and “premium beverages” activities into a global stand-alone business from the start of next year.
Workers strike at Diageo Italy plant amid closure plans
27 November
Hundreds of employees at a Diageo packaging plant in north-west Italy downed their tools today (27 November) following the company’s decision to shut the site.
Nestlé suspends part of Perrier water production in France due to contamination
25 April
Nestlé has “temporarily suspended” a well in France that supplies its Perrier bottled-water brand following contamination.
Prime’s Logan Paul defends drink against “forever chemical” lawsuit
25 April
The co-founder of US-based sports-beverage brand Prime, wrestler Logan Paul, has denied claims the drinks contain harmful so-called “forever chemicals”.
Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg to launch Gin & Juice RTDs in Europe
18 July
Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg’s US ready-to-drink (RTD) brand Gin & Juice is being launched in the UK this month, with production being expanded to the country.
JDE Peet’s CEO Fabien Simon to exit coffee giant
8 March
Fabien Simon, the chief executive of coffee major JDE Peet’s, is to leave the business next month.
UK pub group Stonegate battling to refinance debt pile
10 April
UK-based pubs and bars group Stonegate Pub Company has revealed it may struggle to refinance its debt of £2.2bn ($2.8bn).
PepsiCo to shut bottling plant in Chicago
29 October
PepsiCo is closing a bottling plant in the US, citing the facility’s “physical limitations”.
WHO blames ultra-processed foods, alcohol for millions of annual deaths
12 June
The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and alcohol among four products that cause 19 million deaths per year globally.
Prime Hydration sued by US Olympic body for alleged trademark infringement
23 July
US energy drinks producer Prime Hydration has been accused of using trademarked symbols associated with the US Olympics team.
Diageo launches official draught Guinness 0.0 trials in UK
2 September
Diageo has started a longer-term test sale of its non-alcoholic Guinness on draught in the UK on-premise.
