Accolade Wines has sold its 50% shareholding in Matthew Clark to Conviviality Retail Plc. in the UK for £100 million. Conviviality is one of the UK’s largest franchised off-licence and convenience chains. Matthew Clark – the UK’s largest independent drinks distributor – is a joint venture between Accolade Wines and Punch Taverns. The deal will therefore also see Punch Taverns sell its shareholdings to Con…

Jim Beam & Lion – Beer, Spirits & Wine Last night, Australia’s leading beverage suppliers, distributors and retailers congregated at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to celebrate the night of nights – the Australian drinks Awards. Andrew Daddo welcomes attendees to the 2015 Australian drinks Awards Atop the plethora of high achievers who took away awards on the evening, were the much-anticipated…

A torrid week for one of Sydney’s latest pub renovations has seen unwanted media attention from the Daily Telegraph and the Sydney Morning Herald, criticising a newly implemented dress code banning high-vis vests. The Village Inn is the re-invigoated Durty Nelly’s, located in Sydney’s Paddington prime pub region. In an effort to re-position the venue and cater to a different occasion, publican Leeroy Pete…

ASM Liquor Pty Ltd (ASM) has announced that it will move forward with plans to distribute its own portfolio as a result of a mutual agreement with previous distributor Beam Suntory. “We would like to thank Beam Suntory and Coca-Cola Amatil for their custodianship of our brands over the past 18 months. ASM will issue a separate announcement about its sales structure in due course.” From Saturday September …

Rising from years of progressive loss, Treasury Wine Estates has posted its second largest profit in over four years with a strong plan in place for continued, sustainable growth. The company, who has past battled a number of challenges including unwanted stock and a presumed over-reliance on the Penfolds brand, will now enter fiscal 2016 stronger than ever according to a recently released annual report. …

De Bortoli Wines has been recognised as an ABA100 Winner in Sustainability as part of the 2015 Australian Business Awards. The award underlines De Bortoli Wines’ achievements in implementing its “Re-Engineering Our Future for a Carbon Economy Project”, as part of the company’s goal of becoming a zero waste winery. Beginning in 2011 with a $4.8AUD million grant from the Australian Federal Government’s Clea…

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) and Beam Suntory have announced a new distribution partnership in New Zealand that builds on the companies’ strengthened relationship in Australia. Commencing   on the first of October,   the new agreement will see Beam Suntory partner with CCA for 10 years, making CCA one of the largest distributors of beverages in New Zealand. Beam Suntory NZ will form the cornerstone of one the …

Lion has announced the appointment of Matt Tapper to the newly created position of Managing Director Global Markets, Lion Beer, Cider & Wine. Tapper will leave his current role as National Marketing Director of Lion’s Australian beer and cider business to head the new international unit— reporting to Lion CEO Stuart Irvine. The move follows the development of Lion’s 10 year strategy in 2014, which inc…

After forty years with the company, Bernard Hickin, Chief Winemaker for Pernod Ricard Winemakers in Australia, has announced plans to retire June 2016. Throughout his career Hickin made many significant contributions to both the business and its brands – including an instrumental role in the progression of sparkling wine production and varietal labelling. Best known for his work in the formation of a glob…

UK wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros & Rudd has appointed Samuel Smith & Son as sole distributor of The King’s Ginger in Australia, effective August 1 st . The brand was previously distributed in Australia under Suntory. Johnny Roberts, Berry Bros & Rudd Regional Spirits Director – APAC, commented: “We want to thank Suntory for introducing The King’s Ginger to Australia. The appointment of …