Pressure has been mounting on caffeinated alcohol beverages as US consumer groups look to ban such products. With binge drinking a concern, it appears the focus has now spread from alcopops to caffeinated alcohol products. Anheuser-Busch has announced that they will remove the caffeine, guarana, and ginseng from their flavored malt beverages Tilt and Bud Extra. The move comes as part of agreements reached with the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which in February threatened... ...Read more »

InBev has announced that it is still committed to its proposal to create the world’s leading beer company through the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. The proposal, which was put to Anheuser last month, would create the world’s largest brewer, eclipsing SABMiller. Anheuser-Busch, famous for their ownership of Budweiser, rejected the offer last week as their Board considered that the valuation of $46 billion was too low. Carlos Brito, Chief Executive Officer of InBev, remains steadfast in... ...Read more »

The high cost of fuel is wreaking havoc with some food and beverage industries worldwide, with demands for government aid increasing by the day. Winemakers in the south of France have vandalized supermarkets and burned two police cars in the southern city of Montpellier. The protest by vintners last week was in response to skyrocketing fuel costs and falling prices for regional wines. The thousands of protesters were seeking to draw the government’s attention to the plight of winemakers in... ...Read more »

InBev have reaffirmed their interest in Anheuser-Busch via a letter prodding a response from the American company. The unsolicited takeover bid, which values Anheuser-Busch at US$46.3b, was made two weeks ago, but Anheuser-Busch has since remained coy about their possible response. It has been reported that members of the Busch family are divided about the potential takeover, while the company’s second largest shareholder, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, had been in support of... ...Read more »

The Australian Government is not the only government making policy changes to curb binge drinking rates as concern spreads worldwide. Like the Rudd Government, the American Government has increased alcopop taxes, while England is considering increasing prices of alcohol in supermarkets. Scotland, though, are planning to go further, with a range of initiatives planned to limit binge drinking. The Scottish Government yesterday launched its new approach with the aim of changing Scotland’s... ...Read more »

p.i.n.k vodka, the first 80-proof ultra-premium vodka infused with caffeine and guarana, is to be made available in Australia from July. Made from the handcrafted vodka from Holland, p.i.n.k. vodka contains a flavorless caffeine and guarana formula that does not disrupt the vodka’s exceptional quality, according to the company. The product launched in 2006 in the US with great success and it has since won a number of awards. The company has recently released a new line of infused... ...Read more »

Consolidation in the beer industry has been a noticeable trend over the past decade but the potential takeover of Anheuser-Busch by InBev would certainly shake the sector up. If the deal goes ahead it would merge together the second and third largest brewers in the world, creating one of the five largest consumer products companies and the largest brewing corporation - eclipsing current leader SABMiller. The audacious offer by InBev, owner of the Beck’s, Stella Artois and Hoegaarden... ...Read more »

The Senate Committee Inquiry into the proposed tax increase on “alcopops” begun this morning in Canberra with the public hearing, held over the next two days, to have evidence provided by 17 groups (mainly from health and alcohol sectors). The Community Affairs Committee is due to report on ten issues relating to the proposed tax increase on ready-to-drink (RTD) alcoholic beverages. The primary issues are: the likely effect of the scheme on RTD consumption prevalence, the modelling underpinning... ...Read more »

Foster’s Group Limited has accepted the resignation of their CEO Trevor O’Hoy as they announce a revised forecast of profit for fiscal year 2008. Foster’s, Australia’s biggest beer and winemaker, cited disappointing returns from wine sales in the US and slower than expected growth in Australia as the main reasons for the revised forecast. Mr O’Hoy, appointed in 2004, has now decided to leave the company but will stay on in the near-term to assist with a smooth... ...Read more »

Lion Nathan Australia (LNA) has announced today that its spirit and ready-to-drink brands, McKenna Bourbon and Inner Circle Rum, will be sold in Australia exclusively through Bacardi-Lion, the 50/50 joint venture between Lion Nathan and Bacardi Martini, from October 1. Andrew Reeves, LNA Managing Director, indicates the decision was made to strengthen the portfolio of Bacardi-Lion. “Following the successful launch of McKenna Bourbon and Inner Circle Rum through LNA and the widespread distribution... ...Read more »