Guinness maker Diageo sales squeezed under ‘competitive pressure’ Retail Diageo recorded sluggish sales growth in the first quarter of its financial year as the drinks giant faced “competitive pressure” in its top markets. The FTSE 100 group, which owns Guinness, Johnnie Walker and Tanqueray, recorded net sales up 1.2 per cent year-on-year at $4.9bn. But organic growth, which strips out currency volatility and the [...]
Government warned ‘unworkable’ new healthy food rules will backfire Retail The food and drink industry has warned Labour its new healthy food red tape will backfire, as manufacturers insist they are already investing millions in making products healthier. Food and drink manufacturers are racing to prove to the government that they are cutting salt, sugar and calories from their products – as Labour plans to [...]
Dragon Soop owners hand themselves £4.3m dividend after profit rise Retail The owners of Dragon Soop have handed themselves a dividend of £4.3m after the drinks brand toasted a rise in profit. Corinthian Brands, which is based in Knaresbrook and is owned by Paul Burton and John Hibberd, posted profit of just under £5m for 2025, a rise of 2.3 per cent on the previous year. [...]
UK manufacturing at four-year high but costs rise at pandemic pace May 1, 2026 The UK manufacturing sector broke to a four-year record in April but the constraints triggered by the Iran war threatened to upend growth prospects. The latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) from S&P Global put the industry’s reading at 53.7 – its best since May 2022. This marked its sixth consecutive month above the neutral 50.0 [...]
‘Drastic’ Dave to serve up new vision for Guinness maker Diageo February 22, 2026 It’s been a rocky 12 months for drinks titan Diageo and Sir Dave Lewis will be looking to cure the firm’s long-running hangover when he serves up his future vision next week. Diageo’s stock has tumbled over 15 per cent in the last 12 months with a notable drop in November after operating profit growth [...]
Irn-Bru maker shares jump after snapping up soft drinks rivals for £50m February 3, 2026 The drinks merchant behind Irn-Bru is forecasting a major boost to profit for the latest financial year after the firm stripped back costs and snapped up a pair of its soft drink rivals. AG Barr, which owns brands such as Boost, Funkin Cocktails and Rubicon, told markets it had sealed a near-£38m deal to buy [...]
Activity in UK’s embattled manufacturing sector hits 15-month high January 2, 2026 The UK’s embattled manufacturing sector took another small step towards recovery at the end of 2025 thanks to an influx of new orders. The latest UK Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) from S&P Global UK hit a 15-month high as the industry continued to grow for the second consecutive month. The PMI reading hit 50.6, up [...]
Innocent Drinks makes first profit since 2020 December 10, 2025 Innocent Drinks has returned to profit for the first time since 2020 as its revenue continued to rise, it has been confirmed. The business, which is now majority-owned by Coca-Cola, has posted an operating profit of £13m for 2024, late-filed accounts with Companies House have revealed. It is the first time Innocent Drinks has reported [...]
Reeves’ milkshake tax ‘could force me to quit UK’ November 19, 2025 Rachel Reeves’ possible ‘milkshake tax’ could force a family business to move production oversees if it is introduced in the Budget next week, its boss has warned. Global Brands chief executive Steve Perez said the rumoured changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy could lead to making the decision which would “be devastating for local [...]
Trip: CBD drinks brand valued at £200m after Joe Jonas backing November 10, 2025 Trip, a CBD drinks brand, has been valued at more than £200m after a fundraising round backed by the likes of singer and actor Joe Jonas. The London-headquartered firm has raised a further £30.3m in a move which it said makes it the most valuable UK-founded drinks brand since Innocent and Fever-Tree. The business has [...]