Asahi Holdings (Australia) has bought Melbourne-based craft brewer, Mountain Goat Beer. Owners, Cam and Dave said on Monday night: “We’ve been contract partners with Asahi for three years now, and with their expert help, our beer has grown in demand, expanded nationally, and found a special place with beer lovers.” “We are confident with Asahi on board, we will be able to convert many more people to craft…

Joined by South Australian Premier, the Honourable Jay Weatherill MP, Lion Chairman, Sir Rod Eddington and CEO, Stuart Irvine opened the doors to the company’s new Petaluma Winery and Cellar Door in the Adelaide Hills this week. Sir Rod Eddington, Jay Weatherill and Andrew Hardy It is hoped that the multi-million dollar investment will help meet demand in Asia, following Lion’s partnership agreement with…

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 …

Business owners to The Drinks Industry Show on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 November will have the opportunity to sit in on a free seminar hosted by Shopper Tracker Australia at Luna Park in Sydney. Day two of the event, Managing Director, Shopper Tracker Australia, Simon Ford will provide visitors with a valuable session on market research for the liquor industry. Shopper Tracker Australia provides research …

Campari Australia has announced the appointment of ex-Diageo Commercial Director, David Halliday as its new Managing Director. The position will see Mr. Halliday responsible for Campari’s portfolio of brands in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Previously Commercial Director, Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific for Diageo, Mr. Halliday also has experience in the FMCG and alcohol sector …

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…

By Drew Lambert It’s the biggest indicator yet that Neil Perry’s QANTAS team of sommeliers mean business; QANTAS revealed exclusively to The Wine Wankers last week that 40% of the 270 wines chosen for the airline’s new wine list have never flown in First or Business class before. Oenophile fliers – those who choose their airlines according to the wines being served – will no doubt be salivating at the n…

Formula One World Champion, Jenson Button and Oscar-nominated actor, Jude Law are the faces of Johnnie Walker’s new campaign ‘Joy Will Take You Further’ – the brand’s largest global marketing campaign to date. Launching across 50 countries, the campaign is expected to reach 270 million consumers within just the first few weeks. Joy Will Take You Further will evolve on the brand’s famous ‘Keep Walking’ cam…

The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD) has released its two-year report of ‘Beer, Wine and Spirits Producers’ Commitments’ to Reduce Harmful Drinking. Signed back in October 2012, the commitments were agreed upon by CEOs of leading global producers of beer, wine and spirits to improve harmful drinking worldwide. The report released this week now highlights the steps and successes that …

Shares in SABMiller soared to approximately 23 per cent on Wednesday on the back of news of a ‘super-merger’ between the world’s two largest brewers – Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) and SAB Miller. SAB Miller – owners of Carlton & United Breweries (CUB) here in Australia and brewers of VB, Peroni and Carlton Draught, is the target of a takeover by AB InBev, who between them would control roughly 30 p…