All articles by James Beeson
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NewsPortman Group hails ‘near universal’ adherence to booze marketing rules
Only 5% of products assessed were deemed in breach of marketing guidelines
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NewsDry January trend fades with low & no-alcohol sales growth in ‘noticeable slowdown’
Value sales of low & no-alcohol beers climbed just 2.8% year on year to £17.1m in the four weeks to 24 January 2026
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NewsKeystone Brewing creditors owed £15m prior to pre-pack sale
Keystone was sold last month to Saltaire Brewing for £4.1m
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NewsCo-op commercial director departs for soft drinks challenger Hip Pop
The new hire is also a director at UK deposit management organisation Exchange for Change
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NewsSt Austell Brewery ups stake in Cornish peer Harbour Brewing
St Austell has purchased shares sold by long-standing Harbour investor Rick Rowse
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NewsWales hikes minimum unit pricing by 30% in bid to tackle alcohol harm
A review of the 50p per unit threshold for MUP in Wales found increasing the threshold would lead to further reductions in alcohol consumption and harm
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NewsPepsiCo to cut Doritos and Lay’s prices following consumer backlash
The snacks and beverage maker said ‘extensive consumer feedback around affordability limitations’ was behind the move
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NewsTenzing adds Natural Energy+ to tap growing functional demand
Natural Energy+ had been ‘created to meet growing consumer demand for targeted, functional benefits’, Tenzing said
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NewsGrind eyes shift to profitability as grocery listings perk up sales
Net sales from Grind’s roastery business grew by 30% to £20.8m
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NewsAussie whisky brand Starward reacquired by founder as Distill Ventures exits
Vitale sold a 30% stake to Diageo-backed incubator Distill Ventures in 2015
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NewsWaitrose backs independent beer campaign with online and in-store activity
It comes after Waitrose handed listings to independent brewers including The Kernel last year
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NewsSpirits ‘treated like a cash cow’ say suppliers as another duty hike takes effect
An inflated-linked duty rise from next month is set to reinforce the UK’s position as the country with the highest rate of excise duty in the G7
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NewsHoly in £10m push to shake up UK soft drinks category
The brand will this year set up a dedicated UK-based operations team in London
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NewsRemedy brings Sodaly prebiotic soda line to UK shoppers
The drinks were ‘already a bestseller’ in Australia, said Remedy
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NewsThe Whisky Exchange MD: category facing ‘moment of correction’
Tennent said btand owners had a responsibility to “clear the stock that is out there”.
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Comment & OpinionWhy Absolut Tabasco could be this year’s hottest brand collab
The NPD is one of Absolut brand owner Pernod Ricard’s big bets for 2026 and is launching across 50-plus global markets from next month
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NewsChapel Down hails ‘generational shift into English sparkling’ as sales swell
Millennials were now flocking to English sparkling wine, Chapel Down CEO James Pennefather said
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NewsNaked Wine toasts ‘pleasing’ peak trading period
Revenues declined organically by 19% year on year, but average order value and revenue per member were both up
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NewsNearly one in four adults avoiding booze, NHS survey shows
Across all age cohorts, some 24% of adults surveyed said they had not drunk alcohol in the previous year
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NewsAbsolut and Tabasco team up to launch spicy vodka
The NPD brought together ‘two titans of flavours,’ said Absolut