Former Pernod Ricard Australia Sales Director, Kevin Mapson, has been appointed as Managing Director of the wine and spirits company’s New Zealand business. Mapson previously worked for Pernod Ricard New Zealand in 2004 as National Trading Manager and later General Manager Sales before moving to Pernod Ricard Australia as Sales Director. He has already relocated to the country to start his new role with i…

Australia Post has partnered with China’s largest online wholesale website, 1688.com as part of an initiative that will help Australian businesses capitalise on the free-trade agreement signed in June. The launch of ‘Australian pavilion’ (auspost.1688.com) will provide a powerful online platform for Australian businesses to sell into China in bulk, reaching more than 100 million registered users and ent…

A record 380 liquor retailers, suppliers, representatives and key industry stakeholders from across NSW and the ACT were in attendance to celebrate excellence in the retail liquor industry at the 2015 Retail Liquor Industry Awards for Excellence Presentation Dinner at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth last Friday. LSA NSW Executive Director Michael Waters said, “Tonight’s record attendance mirrors the 30 per c…

Stolen Spirits, producer of Stolen Rum, has agreed to give US company Liquid Asset Brands LLC (LAB) a majority stake in the business for US$14/AU$19 million. The significant investment from LAB will provide Stolen Spirits with the growth capital it needs to expand its portfolio further, with plans to produce a smoked whiskey and several other rums next year. Based in Chicago, the partnership with LAB will…

This week marked one of the biggest events on the industry’s calendar – the drinks association’s 2015 Annual General Meeting. First established by a small group of liquor merchants in 1897, today the association’s Board of Directors represents a group of 28 of the industry’s most influential suppliers, who are driving the next big decisions. Following a significant year for our industry, this year’s AGM p…

Diageo has sold its shareholding in Jamaican brewer Desnoes & Geddes Ltd. (D&G) and GAPL Pte Limited (GAPL) to Heineken for 20 per cent of the Guinness business in Ghana. The sale sees the spirits company’s shareholding in Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) increase to 72.42 per cent. As a result, Heineken has gained Diageo’s 57.87 per cent shareholding in D&G and 49.99 per cent in GAPL. …

Brown Brothers’ new CEO, Dean Carroll Brown Brothers appointed Dean Carroll as its new Chief Executive Officer this week, replacing CEO of five years, Roland Wahlquist. The change in leadership at the company is a result of Mr. Wahlquist’s decision to retire. Mr. Wahlquist joined Brown Brothers in 1990 as Chief Winemaker, before taking on the role of General Manager and later CEO. “Roland’s focused leade…

Accolade Wines has appointed its General Manager of the UK and Ireland, Paul Schaafsma as Chief Executive Officer. As a result, current CEO of the company, John Ratcliffe will become Deputy Chairman. Mr. Schaafsma has been involved in the wine industry for almost 20 years, having worked in Australia, the UK, Europe and Africa. For the past three years, Mr. Schaafsma has been heading up the largest divisio…

It was Coca-Cola Amatil’s (CCA) Group Managing Director, Alison Watkins, who said the smaller pack size could be the solution to reviving the Coca-Cola trademark in Australia, after the company reported declines in total earnings last year. Now, after successful trials of the 390ml bottle, and the 250ml can and 200ml multipack roll out proving popular with retailers and consumers, Coca-Cola South Pacific …

The Bayfield Hotels Group, owned by Northern Beaches’ Bayfield family, has bought The Light Brigade Hotel in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. The purchase also includes the restaurant above the hotel, La Scala on Jersey, which sees the family bring on Executive Chef, Marco Adler to help reinvigorate the venue’s food offering. “We are thrilled to now be a part of Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs’ rapidly growing food and…