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Tag: drink

  • Heineken no longer a major shareholder of Sabeco

    Heineken no longer a major shareholder of Sabeco

    Dutch brewer Heineken sold over 5 million Sabeco shares Friday, bringing its stake in Vietnam’s biggest brewer Sabeco down to 4.32 percent.

    The shares, equivalent to an approximate 0.81 percent stake, were sold to buyers whose identities have not been disclosed via an agreement, the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) reported.

    The sale was worth over VND1.2 trillion ($51.79 million), at VND234,000 ($10.1) per share (ticker: SAB), VND18,000 ($0.78) lower than its stock opening price Friday, according to HoSE.

    On the stock market, the Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corporation’s SAB shares have been falling or stalling for the last 12 consecutive sessions.

    The remaining 4.32 percent stake in the Vietnamese brewer is held by Heineken, its regional subsidiary Heineken Asia Pacific, and related companies.

    Sabeco is owned 53.59 percent by Vietnam Beverage, a subsidiary of Thai beverage company ThaiBev. The Vietnamese government, represented by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, owns a 36 percent stake in the company.

    Thaibev had bought its stake in Sabeco when the government publicly auctioned them in December 2017. At the time, Heineken, who had held shares in Sabeco since 2008, also submitted a bid but lost to Thaibev.

    According to a report by securities firm FPTS Securities, Heineken’s share of the Vietnam beer market at the end of 2018 was 23 percent, second to Sabeco at 40.9 percent.

    In its latest financial report, Sabeco reported revenues of over VND28.3 trillion ($1.22 billion) in nine months, up 10 percent year-on-year. Revenue from beer in the period accounted for 86 percent of total, or VND24.3 trillion ($1.05 billion).

    In the third quarter alone, post-tax profit was highest among all brewers in Vietnam at almost VND1.46 trillion ($63 million), up over 40 percent year-on-year.

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  • Countdown cuts off kids’ access to energy drinks

    Countdown cuts off kids’ access to energy drinks

    Countdown’s implemented its energy drink age-restrictions on Tuesday, in an effort to curb the growing obesity rate in New Zealand.

    Customers will now need to produce ID to prove they are over the age of 16 in order to purchase energy drinks across Countdown’s 180 stores.

    According to Countdown general manager of corporate affairs, safety and sustainability Kiri Hannifin, support for the initiative has been overwhelmingly positive since it was announced in June.

    “We have had incredible feedback from parents, teachers, health workers and our customers about our decision. I think New Zealanders were ready for this discussion around energy drinks,” Hannifin said.

    “We made our decision after engaging with health and education leaders, but also in talking with our team, many of whom are parents themselves.

    “Across the board, we found communities of people who are seeking help to address New Zealand’s high child obesity rates.”

    New Zealand’s has the third-highest obesity rate in the OECD.

    Public health advocate Dr Lance O’Sullivan said reducing children’s access to energy drinks is a step in the right direction.

    “Children don’t understand either the short or longer-term consequences of consuming drinks with high amounts of sugar and caffeine, and sometimes we need to step in until they are old enough to make that decision for themselves,” O’Sullivan said.

    The New Zealand Beverage Council spokesperson Stephen Jones said in June while he respected the right of Countdown to make this decision, New Zealand already has some of the strongest energy drink regulations in the world.

    “This is really a case of a solution looking for a problem,” Jones said.

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  • Changi Airport and DFS launching online liquor initiative

    Changi Airport and DFS launching online liquor initiative

    Changi Airport Group and DFS Group have launched the first luxury-focused Singapore online liquor store.

    Called iShopChangiWines.com, the store will offer duty- and GST-absorbed premium-priced wines, Champagnes, and sakes.

    Consumers can now purchase up to 30 liters of tax and duty-absorbed wines, Champagnes, and sakes even if they are not traveling. The new Singapore online liquor store offers more than 140 quality products from some of the world’s most sought-after brands, as well as DFS travel exclusives.

    “The launch of the new iShopChangiWines.com e-shopping site marks Changi Airport’s latest move in making shopping accessible to consumers even if they do not have a boarding pass to fly,” said airside concessions at Changi Airport Group senior VP Teo Chew Hoon. “Not only do they get to pick from a wide selection of premium products specially curated by DFS, they will also enjoy the privileges presented by Changi Rewards, the airport’s loyalty rewards program.”

    The new website and service kicks off with a series of on-ground activations around Singapore through a novel pre-teaser campaign titled #BestKeptSecretSG to spark curiosity. The campaign kicked off with a branded truck carrying empty wine bottles traveling around Singapore. Members of the public are encouraged to capture a photo of the truck and upload it on social media along with the hashtag: #BestKeptSecretSG. They can also participate in an ongoing contest on www.bestkeptsecret.sg to guess the number of empty wine bottles housed in the truck.

    “At DFS, we recognize that our consumers’ needs and shopping behavior continue to evolve and we are always seeking new ways to satisfy them,” said DFS Group GM Singapore Prashant Mahboobani. “The launch of iShopChangiWines.com is a significant milestone for DFS at Changi Airport as we bring our standards of quality and value, with added convenience to consumers.”

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  • Chivas Celebrates Blended is Better with Manchester United Team at ICC 2019 Tournament

    Chivas Celebrates Blended is Better with Manchester United Team at ICC 2019 Tournament

    Original luxury blended Scotch whisky, Chivas will welcome one of the world’s biggest football clubs, Manchester United to Singapore, when the team arrives to participate in the International Champions Cup (ICC) from 20th-21st 2019. Fans of premium blended whisky and Manchester United will be hosted a special Chivas Party at one of the Singapore’s premium music clubs, where guests will be treated to a special meet-and-greet with selected first team players as well as Manchester United Ambassador, Denis Irwin.

    “We are excited to present to our Asian football fans the football extravagance from Chivas with the ICC 2019 Tournament showcasing one of the world’s greatest football teams, Manchester United. The collaboration between Chivas and Manchester United reinforces the collective belief that great things can be achieved when we come together – blended is better – in life, football and Scotch. From balancing the perfect blend of malt and grain whiskies that go into our Scotch, to using the perfect combination of players’ on the pitch.. We look forward to using our spirit to help showcase the spirit of the Club and its fans in the Asian region.” Janelle Tong, Marketing Director for Pernod Ricard Singapore commented.

    To demonstrate that blended is better, Chivas hopes to encourage fans to celebrate the blend that makes them unique. Chivas football supporters from around the region will be treated to the best seats to watch the ICC 2019 football match between Manchester United team and Inter Milan. The match will be held on 20 July 2019, 7.30pm at the Singapore National Stadium.

    Chivas guests can also anticipate an exciting exclusive after-match party, lined-up at Singapore’ renowned music club. Party-goers can expect a unique experience featuring a dazzling 3D light showcase, a delectable treat of unique Chivas cocktails, and dance to non-stop to the beats of a renowned DJ to celebrate the special occasion.

    Closing the exciting weekend on a high, die-hard fans are invited to spend the Sunday afternoon off-pitch, with three of the club’s first team players, at a post-game Meet-and-Greet session hosted by Chivas. The exclusive by-invite only session will be on 21 July 2019. Attendees can also look forward to exclusive limited edition autographed mementos to commemorate this special occasion.

    As a lead-up to the exciting ICC 2019 weekend, Chivas will bring to life the message that ‘Blended is better’ through a campaign activated across all local bars and partners from now till 12 July 2019. Chivas will be giving away five (5) pairs of VIP tickets for Manchester United fans to have a chance to watch their favourite players on pitch, off-pitch as well as a chance to enjoy the Chivas party.  Chivas branding will also be displayed on digital perimeter boards at Singapore Stadium as well as throughout the stadium during the showcase game on Saturday.

  • Pernod Ricard calls for Hong Kong to mind its throw-away fashion and glass this Responsib’ALL Day

    Pernod Ricard calls for Hong Kong to mind its throw-away fashion and glass this Responsib’ALL Day

    Hong Kong-based entities of Pernod Ricard – Pernod Ricard Asia HQ, Pernod Ricard Hong Kong and Macau and Pernod Ricard Travel Retail Asia – will be helping to tackle the growing problem of throw-away fashion and glass by partnering over 200 of its employees with non-profit organisation ‘HandsOn Hong Kong’, turning waste into reusable items for people in need.

    Known globally as ‘Responsib’ALL Day’, it will see local employees creating street mats for the homeless and bath mats for the elderly out of discarded t-shirts and upcycling unwanted bottles into glass lamps that will all be donated to four respective non-profit organizations and schools in need.

    Cyril Sayag, Vice President, Corporate Affairs of Pernod Ricard Asia, says that by participating in upcycling workshops such as these, we all have the chance to bring life back to glassware and textiles that would otherwise be going to landfill.

    “Sustainability and Responsibility have always been at the heart of Pernod Ricard and that’s why we want to foster circularity across the business, to encourage employees to reimagine the way they use, dispose, and minimise waste,” says Mr Sayag.

    “For the 9th consecutive year, all 19,000 employees of Pernod Ricard in 86 countries are mobilized on the Responsib’ALL Day to minimizing waste and make the most of resources in their local community.”

    Every minute in Hong Kong, 1,400 t-shirts are being sent to landfill as a wasted resource, adding up to 110,000 tonnes of textiles thrown away each year. Textile waste is also the second largest source of pollution in the world.*

    This is in addition to the 300 tonnes of glass, mostly bottles, sent to landfills every day, despite a local levy on imports made of them into Hong Kong.**

    Sue Toomey, Executive Director of HandsOn Hong Kong, says that the generation of waste has been growing at an increasingly alarming rate and Hong Kong’s consumption-led lifestyle is putting enormous pressure on local landfills.

    “With more than 300 tonnes of textile waste discarded in the city’s landfills each day, there is a greater need than ever to raise awareness around the importance of reclaiming discarded items and recycling them for local use,” says Ms Toomey. “That’s why partnerships such as this with Pernod Ricard are so valuable to the environmental health of the local community.”

    The initiative follows Pernod Ricard’s 2030 Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap , “Good Time from a Good Place”,  which focuses on all aspects of the business from ‘grain to glass’ and supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

    Its four pillars, Nurturing Terroir, Valuing People, Circular Making and Responsible Hosting, bring alive the Group’s vision ‘créateurs de convivialité’ by mobilising all employees to engage with local communities on Responsib’ALL Day across the world on the same day.

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  • DFS launches fourth Whisky Festival

    DFS launches fourth Whisky Festival

    DFS Group has launched the fourth Whisky Festival at Changi Airport, this one with a pop-up bar. Aiming to “demystify the whiskey-making process”, the festival offers a selection of more than 400 whiskeys and many exclusive offers.

    Highlights include Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10, Compass Box No Name, No 2, Glenmorangie Rare Cask 1399, Johnnie Walker Black Triple Cask Edition and Royal Salute 21 Year Old Lost Blend.

    “The Whisky Festival is one of our favorite celebrations at DFS, providing a great opportunity to showcase this wonderful spirit in a fun and engaging way to whiskey connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike,” said Brooke Supernaw, senior VP spirits, wines, tobacco, food and gifts at DFS Group.

    “We are delighted to work with some of the best whiskey makers in the world to bring this event to life again this year in partnership with Changi Airport Group.”

    The pop-up bar, reminiscent of the speakeasy bars of the 1920s Jazz Era, will remain open until June 10. At the bar, travelers can enjoy interactive experiences with whiskey tastings, and vaporizers producing scents from floral all the way to smoky and intense.

    Live performances by jazz singers including Carol Gomez, Ywenna Carolin, and Richard Jackson will feature.

    “We are thrilled to partner with DFS Changi once again and bring the annual Whisky Festival to the next level with a pop-up bar for the first time ever. This 1920s-themed bar with its unique interior and collection of never-before-seen whiskeys will offer travelers a multi-sensorial travel retail experience, in celebration of all things whiskey,” said Teo Chew Hoon, group senior VP, airside concessions, at Changi Airport Group.

    After Singapore, the festival will relocate to seven DFS locations across Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Hawaii.

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  • Habeco forecasts profit to drop a third to 10-year low

    Habeco forecasts profit to drop a third to 10-year low

    The Hà Nội Beer-Alcohol-Beverage JSC (Habeco) has forecast its post-tax profit will fall 36 per cent year-on-year to VNĐ310 billion (US$13.3 million) in 2019, the lowest in 10 years.

    The announcement will be reported at the firm’s annual shareholder.

    Other topics that will be brought up at the meeting include the projection of total production, total revenue and dividend payouts.

    In 2019, total production is projected at 438 million litres, including 434.5 million litres of beer and 3.6 million litres of mineral water.

    Total revenue for 2019 is predicted to reach VNĐ8.27 trillion and pre-tax profit is expected to touch VNĐ384.5 billion.

    The company will also ask shareholders to pass a 10 per cent dividend payout for 2019.

    According to the company’s board of directors, the beer industry has gradually approached its break-even point with annual growth rate of 5 per cent.

    Habeco’s sales volume in the north and central regions in 2018 fell 3 per cent year-on-year. The company has also encountered strong competition from other firms such as the Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage JSC (Sabeco) and Heineken Vietnam.

    In addition, increases to the special consumption tax and production costs had also hit home.

    In 2019, the board of directors will keep restructuring the company and developing local retailers in the central and southern regions.

    The company will strive to maintain its market share in the traditional markets in the northern and northern coastal regions.

    In 2018, Habeco recorded VNĐ484 billion in total post-tax profit, down 26.4 per cent year-on-year. It plans to pay a 8 per cent dividend for 2018.

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  • Emart24 ups the booze to capture solo drinker market

    Emart24 ups the booze to capture solo drinker market

    Convenience store chain Emart24 will expand its alcohol selection tenfold at around 500 branches this year, the brand said Wednesday. The products will be offered using the shop-in-shop model with 120 products, including wine, whiskey and micro-beers, displayed in a dedicated corner. Three to six racks will be added at each outlet to hold the products.

    The company explained the efforts are motivated by the rise of solo drinkers, those who enjoy a few drinks after work as opposed to drinking in larger groups.

    The reduction of the workweek to 52 hours and changing lifestyles, which prioritize work-life balance, have further driven up the number of solo drinkers. Before the announcement, the convenience store tested the shop-in-shop model at 19 branches for two months from November. Sales of wine, craft beer and whiskey increased 20-fold. Overall sales at these 19 branches doubled.

    Emart24 said it plans to expand the shop-in-shop concept to products other than alcohol in the future. It is considering fresh food and imported snacks.

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  • Heineken Malaysia 2018 net profit up 4.6%

    Heineken Malaysia 2018 net profit up 4.6%

    Heineken Malaysia Bhd, which posted a 4.6% jump in its net profit for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2018 (FY18), remains cautious about its outlook given the challenging environment due to intense competition, implementation of the sales & service tax (SST), and the continued presence of contraband beer in the market. In line with rising global commodity prices, the group also expects an increase in cost of operations including raw materials and packaging.

    Finance director Szilard Voros said how the group will perform in FY19 also depend on the market, adding that it will benefit if consumers remain optimistic and if efforts to curb illicit trade are stepped up.

    “But we remain cautious because SST was just introduced in September so that also comes with a lag… we also need to see how things settle down after Chinese New Year and see what is the normalised performance and if there’s a growth continuation,” he told reporters at a media and analyst briefing today after announcing the group’s financial results.

    Managing director Roland Bala (pix) said the external environment remains challenging. Amidst slowing global growth rates, currency volatility and uncertainty in the commodity markets, he said the group will need to adopt a cautious approach in cost management.

    “Moving forward, we will continue to invest in our core brands and leverage on our portfolio. As consumer taste profile changes, we will make bets on brands that we believe will have scale,” he added.

    Heineken’s net profit for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2018 grew 6.8% to RM100 million compared with RM93.64 million in the same quarter last year due to higher revenue as well as efficient and effective management of commercial spend and overheads.

    Group revenue grew 12.3% to RM662.28 million as compared to RM589.96 million in the same quarter in 2017 mainly due to increase in sales volume driven by the flagship Tiger brand.

    For the full year period, net profit grew 4.6% to RM282.2 million from RM270.06 million a year ago, while revenue rose 8.3% to RM2.03 billion from RM1.87 billion.

    It has proposed a final dividend of 54 sen per share for the quarter under review, bringing the full-year dividend payout to 94 sen.

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  • PepsiCo franchise rights to be acquired in South, West India

    PepsiCo franchise rights to be acquired in South, West India

    PepsiCo India’s bottling partner Varun Beverages Monday said its board has approved plans to acquire franchise rights of the beverages and snacks major in South and West regions. The board has approved the company’s intent to enter into a binding agreement with PepsiCo India Holdings to acquire franchise rights in the two regions for a national bottling, sales and distribution footprint in seven states and five UTs, Varun Beverages Ltd (VBL) said in a regulatory filing.

    According to a report, upon completion of these acquisitions, VBL will be a franchise of PepsiCo beverages business across 27 states and seven Union Territories (UTs), it added.

    “The proposed acquisitions are in line with the company’s strategy to expand into contiguous territories and will help to acquire greater scale, operational productivity and efficiency leading to higher revenues and profitable growth,” it said.

    VBL, however, did not disclose financial details of the proposed acquisitions.

    The company further said its board will meet on February 26 to consider raising of capital through Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP).

    Last year in January, VBL had entered into a pact with PepsiCo to sell and distribute the latter’s entire Tropicana range of juices along with Gatorade and Quaker Value-Added Dairy in North and East India.

    VBL already held manufacturing, sales and distribution rights for Tropicana Slice and Tropicana Frutz in the two regions.

    PepsiCo had then stated that North and East regions together accounted for 80 percent of the juice market in India and VBL’s contiguous reach would help it more than double the distribution reach in these states.

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  • Cola, sugar prices shoot up 10% in Korea

    Cola, sugar prices shoot up 10% in Korea

    Processed food prices rose in January, with soybean paste, sugar and cola all jumping up around 10 percent compared to a year earlier. The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) said Monday that 18 of 26 major processed foods measured both in 2018 and 2019 cost more in January than the previous year. The highest price hikes on year included sugar at 11 percent, soybean paste at 9.8 percent and cola at 9.7 percent. Among processed grain foods, instant rice products rose the most, by 5.6 percent. Prices for cup ramyeon noodles, one of the country’s favorite snacks, rose 3.4 percent.

    The KCA releases prices for a basket of around 30 major processed food categories every month. The basket price data serves as a separate indicator of real price changes for consumers. Other tracked products include beer, coffee mix and curry.

    Compared to the previous month, the average basket price for January rose 0.2 percent to 122,686 won ($109) from 122,491 won. Soybean paste prices rose on month by 4.7 percent and curry by 1.4 percent. Average cola prices rose 6.0 percent from December. The soft drink’s price rose last month after two months of declines.

    The KCA reported that the basket’s price was most affordable from large retail stores compared to traditional markets, department stores and large-size supermarkets.

    Meanwhile, products that declined in price on year included cooking oil at minus 6.1 percent, orange juice at minus 5.3 percent and red pepper paste at minus 4.9 percent.

    The data comes as consumer prices for January rose by 0.8 percent from 2018, according to Statistics Korea. The consumer price index for “living necessity food” rose 2.6 percent last month from the previous year.

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  • Coca-Cola India launches grape based sparkling drink Colour

    Coca-Cola India launches grape based sparkling drink Colour

    Beverages major Coca-Cola India on Friday expanded its Minute Maid product range by launching a grape fruit based sparkling drink branded as Colour, said a top company official. People in Tamil Nadu towns and villages used to call soft drink ‘Colour’. Coca-Cola India has branded its new grape juice sparkler as ‘Colour’ to resonate with the local lingo.

    He also said the company would launch a new product in Andhra Pradesh that would be branded under a similar philosophy.

    “The new grape juice based Colour is launched here and will be focused on Tamilian population within India. The product is part of our strategy of expanding our fruit based beverages,” T.Krishnakumar, President, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia said.

    He said the company apart from focusing on its core products – carbonated drinks – also concentrates on launching products preferred in regional markets and also on expanding the ‘fruit circular economy’ – launching fruit based drinks made with domestically grown fruits.

    “The black grapes for the drink are sourced from grape farmers in South India,” Krishnakumar said.

    He did not agree that the new brand ‘Colour’ under the broader Minute Maid brand would reduce the latter’s brand equity. Minute Maid brand is known as a fruit based beverage brand.

    “We are expanding the products under the Minute Maid brand. The new product has 12 per cent grape juice content,” Krishnakumar said.

    According to Srideep Kesavan, Director-Juices, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia, research showed that grape juice was a fast moving product at fruit juice stalls in Tamil Nadu.

    Queried about cutting down on the sugar content in the company’s beverages, Krishnakumar said it will come down soon and a start has been made with the grape sparkler Colour with 9.5 grams of sugar.

    On the value of fruit pulp/products that Coca-Cola India would source under its ‘fruit circular economy’ he said the company had committed that a sum of Rs 5,000 crore would be spent on that head by 2023 and the company is in line with that commitment.

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  • LVMH sues Hong Kong merchant over XLV wine range

    LVMH sues Hong Kong merchant over XLV wine range

    French luxury group LVMH is suing a wine merchant in Hong Kong over an alleged trademark infringement.bThe plaintiffs are suing over a wine range named “XLV”, established in collaboration between Cuvee XLV French Wine and Quentin-Louis, the son of fifth generation family member Xavier-Louis Vuitton.

    During a January 16 hearing in the High Court, LVMH claimed that the wine’s label design deliberately mimics the Louis Vuitton logo to mislead consumers. Cuvee XLV’s owner Wong Sau Ying has previously stated that the range has no relationship with the LV business, although the family connection is a factor in the wine sales.

    “The family is involved and that is important. In China trust is important – there are many imitations, but this brand can be trusted,” said Wong in a 2012 interview.

    Wong is pleading that the font size used on the XLV label differs from that of LV products.

    The case has been pending since 2008 when the label became apparent to the LVMH group.

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  • Chun Yang Tea expands into Canada

    Chun Yang Tea expands into Canada

    Taiwanese bubble-tea brand Chun Yang Tea is launching its first store in Canada. With operations across Taiwan as well as in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Malaysia, the brand is now planning two new store locations in Toronto and one in Vancouver. While the Canadian market has been judged as saturated for bubble-tea retailers, Chun Yang claims its product is authentic and traditional, offering beverages made without any artificial milk powder to achieve a more natural taste.

    So far no information has been released as to exact launch dates, although the brand’s website claims the stores are “coming soon”.

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  • The Coca-Cola Company completes acquisition of Costa

    The Coca-Cola Company completes acquisition of Costa

    The Coca-Cola Company has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Costa Limited from Whitbread PLC. The US$ 4.9 billion transaction follows approval from regulatory authorities in the European Union and China. The acquisition was first announced on August 31, 2018. Costa, which has operations in more than 30 countries, gives Coca-Cola a significant footprint in the global coffee business. Worldwide, the coffee segment is growing 6 percent annually. Costa has a scalable platform across multiple formats and channels, from the existing Costa Express vending system to opportunities to introduce ready-to-drink products.

    “We see great opportunities for value creation through the combination of Costa’s capabilities and Coca-Cola’s marketing expertise and global reach,” said James Quincey, CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. “Our vision is to use the strong Costa platform to expand our portfolio in the growing coffee category.”

    “We wish our friends and colleagues at Costa all the very best for their future success,” said Alison Brittain, Whitbread Chief Executive. “Whitbread acquired Costa 23 years ago, when it had only 39 shops. Costa has grown to become a leading, international coffee brand, and Coca-Cola is the right partner to take Costa to the next stage of expansion.”

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