Nation of beer drinkers: Brits spend extra £2.1bn on booze in lockdown December 18, 2020 Booze-drinking Brits spent an extra £2.1bn on alcoholic beverages this year as they stocked up on lager, wine and spirits while pubs were closed during lockdown. Despite its name, Corona was one of the lager brands to toast the largest growth, with sales up £68m compared to last year. Lager was the fastest growing drink [...]
Why Bruno Fernandes, Gabriel Jesus and Jadon Sancho might be forced to sit out the next international break March 5, 2021 Football’s international break is on the horizon, but for some players these 2022 World Cup qualifying matches might as well not be happening at all. The UK’s requirement that those travelling to certain countries quarantine for 10 days on their return has made some Premier League clubs reluctant to release players. But the situation could [...]
Sport on TV: How to watch India v England, the Six Nations, Liverpool v Man City and Super Bowl LV in the UK February 6, 2021 What better way to beat the lockdown blues than by gorging on a feast of sport on TV? Answer: none. And this weekend’s fare is the most abundant yet this year, with an England Test series on terrestrial TV, the first round of the Six Nations, a Premier League title showdown between Liverpool and Manchester [...]
Drinks giant AB InBev rebrands as Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I March 25, 2019 Beer behemoth AB InBev has changed its UK name to Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I as it doubles down on its commitment to the region after Brexit. The world’s biggest brewer, whose brands include Budweiser and Stella Artois, said the more recognisable name will boost awareness of the company and marks the firm’s latest show of [...]
Pubs beg for emergency support for ‘scapegoated’ sector November 25, 2020 Over fifty of the country’s pubs and brewers have written to Boris Johnson to beg for emergency support amid the “darkest of moments” for the sector. They warned that unless the government changed its guidance, or provided extra funding, “the focal point of countless communities in every region of the UK could be lost forever”. [...]
Week in Sportbiz: Fenerbahce step up attacks on beIN; CVC serves up $300m volleyball deal; London pipped by Big Apple; Qatar sales record; Man Utd February 5, 2021 Conflict is in the air at Fenerbahce – and not just because they face rivals Galatasaray in the Istanbul derby this weekend. Mesut Ozil’s new club have embarked on a bizarre crusade against broadcaster beIN Sports, accusing it of conspiring against the club by manipulating VAR and choosing camera angles or highlights that show them [...]
The green spirits revolution, and no absinthe in sight February 26, 2021 There have been an uncountable number of words written about how the restaurant industry has had to adapt to survive, and altogether fewer on how the premium booze market is staying afloat. Like the hospitality trade, spirits distillers and winemakers have seen a huge portion of their trade wiped out over lockdown, unable to sell [...]
City Spirits: Our new drinks column takes on the Super Bowl February 5, 2021 Several years ago, Joel Harrison and Andy Silvester met in a south London pub discussing lower-league football. Fast forward, and Joel is now the co-author of several books on spirits and one of the world’s leading booze writers and creative consultants, and Andy Silvester is City A.M.’s Acting Editor – with a penchant for cocktails [...]
AB InBev toasts $16bn sale of Australian beer business to Japanese group Asahi July 19, 2019 The world’s largest brewer AB InBev has offloaded its Australian business to Japanese group Asahi as it looks to pay down its debt. In a deal worth $16bn (£9bn), the owner of Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois is calling time on its Australian subsidiary, Carlton & United Breweries. Read more: New tube map shows you [...]
Businesses innovate but brands fall behind in race for environmentally conscious customers February 24, 2019 Some of the world’s biggest brands are not innovating despite customers who demand more action on climate issues, a pressure group has warned. Top companies such as Nestle, Coca Cola and Procter & Gamble are in a race to adapt to vegans and customers who are keen to reduce plastic packaging. Read more: On a roll: [...]