Soft drinks group's profits up by 8%

AG Barr, the soft drinks group whose brands include Irn-Bru, Tizer, and Strathmore Water, has announced a pre-tax profits rise of 8% for the six months ending July 28.

Malibu pumps up the volume with Soundclash

Malibu is to host another series of Soundclash DJ battles.

Drought hits Australia's grape yields

Australia: Australia's drought-hit 2008 grape harvest is likely to be down by 800,000 to 1.3m tones.

Palandri appoints Russian agent

Margaret River-based producer Palandri Wines has appointed Svargo JSC as its agent for the Russian Federation.

Tasmania wins Commnwealth grant

Australia: A Commonweatlth grant worth nearly one million AUS Dollars (433,000) could help Tasmania's sparkling and Pinot Noir producers.

Hotel du Vin sale hit by debt market problems

Entrepreneur Richard Balfour Lynn has cancelled the sale of his Hotel du Vin and Malmaison hotel chains due to the recent turmoil in the financial markets.

Consumers ready to accept light-weight bottles

UK: The fact that most consumers consider the weight of a bottle to be unimportant signals the industry can move towards lighter-weight packaging

Wine drinkers still prefer glass

UK: Despite industry efforts to introduce increasingly environmentally friendly packaging, most consumers still opt for glass

Wal-Mart to carbon check suppliers

US retail giant Wal-Mart is to ask 68,000 suppliers to provide information about their emissions footprint.

Hillebrand to sponsor WOSA charity party

Logistics giant JF Hillebrand is to sponsor next month's "Mega Party", aimed at raising money for South Africa's Pebbles Project charity.

Strong growth leads Campo Viejo to rerun ad campaign

Spanish brand Campo Viejo is to bring back its colourful "Pablo" advertising campaign on the back of double-growth.

Johnnie Walker investment tops 100m mark

A new 12 million bottling line has helped push investment into Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky past the 100m mark.

Thierry Cabanne memorial service

Memorial service to take place on Friday 5 october 2007 in Romsey Abbey, Hampshire

Revolution vodka bars in property deal

Nine Revolution vodka bars sold to property investor, and then leased back

Napa is fastest-growing wine tourism destination

The Napa Valley in California is the top US wine tourism destination, according to a three-year survey.

Mas continues expansion with 10 new wines

Languedoc producer Domaines Paul Mas is carrying on a programme of growth with AOC wines released from the south of France.

Wines of South Africa MEGA tasting

Wild Honey takes top Time Out award

Wild Honey was last night voted the best new restaurant in London at Time Out's annual awards.

Sainsbury's opens its books for takeover

The proposed takeover of Sainsbury's by Qatari's Delta Two moved a step closer today when the supermarket group opened up its books to the bidding team.

PM threatens to revoke licence for irresponsible retailers

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has warned retailers that they face losing their licence if they sell alcohol to underage drinkers.