Mark Kleinman: Ovo’s quest for cash needs fresh spark October 23, 2025 Ovo’s quest for cash needs fresh spark Talk about losing its spark. For Stephen Fitzpatrick, the 2020 acquisition of SSE’s retail energy supply arm was a defining moment – a daring swoop by Ovo, the upstart utility he had founded, for a principal member of the sector oligopoly. It’s been far from plain sailing since: [...]
Whisky Business: Distillery tours saving the Scotch industry September 11, 2025 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. The 1980s were a particularly dark time in the history of the Scotch whisky industry. Throughout the decade, around a third of all Scottish distilleries closed their doors as demand dried up. Even well-established players were caught in the slump. Distillers such as Carsebridge, also [...]
Port Ellen cheers 200th year with Distillers One of One donation August 20, 2025 Last year, after four decades of closure, the iconic Port Ellen distillery reopened its doors just in time for its 200th anniversary. And to celebrate, the distillery has donated a one-of-a-kind bottle to the Distillers One of One auction. The Islay distillery closed in the 1980s, one of many victims of a crash that decimated [...]
Diageo: Debra Crew gets golden goodbye after being ousted as CEO August 14, 2025 The former chief executive of FTSE 100 giant Diageo is set to receive a bumper pay day after being ousted last month, it has been revealed. Debra Crew quit with immediate effect in July and was succeeded on an interim basis by the embattled drinks group’s finance boss Nik Jhangiani. Diageo, whose brands include Johnnie [...]
Diageo: Profit at FTSE 100 giant tumbles despite Guinness growth August 5, 2025 Profit at FTSE 100 giant Diageo has fallen far short of expectations as high costs hammer the drinks giant. Net sales fell 0.1 per cent to $20.24bn (£15.24bn), Diageo told markets this morning, below analysts’ expectations of 1.4 per cent. It expects next year’s organic sales growth to be flat, and for organic operating profit [...]
Guinness sales in focus as Diageo updates market after boss’s exit August 3, 2025 Investors in Diageo will be hoping the continued boom in demand for Guinness will help put the drinks giant back on track following the departure of its boss, and challenging conditions. The FTSE 100 firm, which also makes Johnnie Walker whisky and Gordon’s gin, is among the index’s weaker performers this year, with its share [...]
FTSE100 giant Diageo to replace CEO Debra Crew as sales slide July 16, 2025 Diageo will replace Debra Crew just over a year into her tenure as the drinks giant struggles to regain investor confidence following a turbulent period marked by falling sales and a sharp decline in its share price. The FTSE 100 giant has confirmed that Crew has quit with immediate effect and will be replaced on [...]
How artisan mezcal brand Zacal is hoping to storm the UK’s alcohol market July 16, 2025 If you’ve been to a London bar recently, chances are you’ve seen a mezcal margarita on the menu. Having already found popularity in the US, the once-small market is rapidly expanding into the UK, helped by a shift towards ‘less but better’ consumption. Zacal is one of the brands hoping to make the most of [...]
Hundred teams to be buoyed by hike in IPL franchise valuations July 8, 2025 Hundred teams with links to the Indian Premier League (IPL) are to be buoyed by increased brand valuations for their subcontinental sibling clubs after a new report revealed major competition growth. While Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who do not have any involvement in bids for the eight Hundred franchises, topped the brand value list at £198m, [...]
What’s behind the post-pandemic tumble in Diageo and Pernod Ricard shares? June 25, 2025 Two of the world’s biggest drinks companies, Diageo and Pernod Ricard, have had a bruising time of it on the stock market in the last two years. Since mid-2023, shares in Pernod Ricard have dropped nearly 60 per cent, while market leader Diageo has seen its share price fall over 40 per cent. A lot [...]