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Whether they are made by accident or by design, there has never been a better time for vegan drinks, finds Laura Foster. 

Whether a drink is vegan by accident or design could arguably be a moot point if it hasn’t been given official accreditation.

As social media platforms go, Instagram might be one of the trickiest, says Tom Harvey, co-founder of YesMore drinks marketing agency. It seems so easy - pics, followers, likes, shares - but this low barrier to entry hides a complex platform and some cunning algorithms that can require a more strategic approach. 

The UK’s love affair with New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is well documented - as is the news that the 2021 vintage was hit by bad weather. The question is, what do suppliers and retailers have lined up for SB-loving consumers?

Luxury and sustainability both feature in the world of gifting this year, as consumers look to treat each other while being kind to the planet, finds Lucy Britner

Nigel Huddleston takes a bird’s eye view of the category

As we approach the festive season, Drinks Retailing explores the key trends in wine, spirits and RTDs shaping this year’s peak sales period

As we approach the festive season, Drinks Retailing explores the key trends in wine, spirits and RTDs shaping this year’s peak sales period

With climate change conference the COP26 Summit just around the corner, drinks companies are working hard to show off their sustainability credentials. Here’s a selection of the latest initiatives across beer, wine, spirits and hard seltzers.

As we approach the run-up to the festive season, Drinks Retailing explores the key trends in wine, spirits and RTDs shaping this year’s peak sales period

Phil Mellows has the latest on what retailers should stock up on for Christmas

Innovation in vodka showcasing provenance and quality is pulling consumers back into the category. Nigel Huddleston reports

Christmas is always a bumper time for sherry and port, but with innovation bringing in more consumers, the upcoming festive season is promising to be particularly bountiful. Rob Brown reports.

Consumers have become more willing to embrace Old World alternatives to the most popular New World wine styles. Nigel Huddleston reports on what has driven the swing back to Europe

In the next three to six years, moving drinks around the world could become a paperless exercise, as both Brexit and the pandemic have accelerated the shift to digital. This was one of the key messages from the WSTA Industry Summit panel discussion on global trade, yesterday.

Direct-to-consumer sales made up half of all English and Welsh wine purchases in 2020, according to new research from WineGB.

This week marks Bordeaux Day – two days of tastings hosted by the Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB). The London session is on Wednesday 8 September at Camden House, while the Manchester session takes place on Thursday 9 September at Oglesby Atrium, Stoller Hall.

The Co-op is ambitious in its desire to be a business at the forefront of sustainable retailing, and this has inspired the drinks team to look at a number of planet-friendly initiatives. Sonya Hooks speaks with the Co-op's head of drinks, Simon Cairns, to find out more:

Although still in its infancy in the UK, the hard seltzers category looks like it has plenty of potential with UK consumers. Sonya Hook reports:

Earlier this year Virgin Wines floated on London’s AIM market following strong growth.

The buzz around hard seltzers has led to a raft of producers launching into the category. Sonya Hook rounds up the brands vying for attention

Shopping local and buying more sustainable products are just two trends accelerated by the pandemic. And both are proving important to the gin category, finds Lucy Britner

By International Cider Challenge (ICC) Chairman, James Finch:

Distill Ventures was born out of a realisation that emerging spirits and drinks producers were being held back by numerous barriers, including limited access to resources.

Wildjac Distillery’s founders didn’t choose the best time to start their new business, but now they are thriving. Sonya Hook finds out more:

Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP), which works with retailers to prevent under-age drinking, has reported substantial reductions in the supply of alcohol to children in areas where it has created local partnerships.

The term ready-to-drink hardly seems adequate these days to describe a category that has fractured and fragmented into almost as many style variations as there are brands.

Highlighting the spicy notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla in rum should be a more approachable flavour push for retailers than the traditional gin botanicals of juniper, orris root and angelica.

There are a multitude of roles and career paths in the drinks industry but the idea of moving into the sector for the first time, or shifting across or upwards into a new role, might seem challenging, particularly in an industry that promotes and thrives on well-established relationships.

At the start of 2020 Italian drinks distributor Illva Saronno launched its UK subsidiary, Disaronno International UK.