Beverages
The Beverages section on Catering Today covers the latest developments, trends, and business insights from across the UK drinks industry. From coffee and soft drinks to beers, wines, and spirits, it examines product innovation, supplier partnerships, and changing consumer preferences influencing restaurant, pub, and catering operations. Featuring brand updates, market analysis, and expert commentary, this coverage helps hospitality professionals stay informed on the commercial and operational drivers shaping the beverage segment.
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Jan- 2019 -31 January
Diageo sees £6.9bn net sales in half-year results
Beverage company Diageo has reported a 5.8% increase in net sales, amounting to £6.9bn, in its half-year results ending 31 December 2018. The company said all the regions it operates in contributed to broad based organic net sales growth, up 7.5%, with organic volume up 3.5%. It closed the period…
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25 January
Fuller’s exits brewery trade with £250m sale
Fuller’s has sold its brewery business to the European arm of Japanese brewer Asahi as it shifts its focus to its upmarket pub and hotel businesses. It was sold for £250m on a debt-free, cash-free basis and comprises the entirety of Fuller’s beer, cider and soft drinks brewing and production,…
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24 January
Former Carlsberg CEO appointed to Quintessential Brands
International spirits company, Quintessential Brands, has appointed James Lousada as managing director of its international commercial products arm, Quintessential Brands Spirit Solutions. The firm said the appointment of Lousada, who has over 20 years’ experience in the industry running UK and European drinks companies, is indicative of the its ambitions…
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11 January
US coffee chain Roasting Plant to open first UK outlet
US coffee chain Roasting Plant is set to open its first UK outlet on 16 January, located between London Bridge and Borough market. The outlet will feature the chain’s ‘Javabot’ tubes for preparing coffee without a barista. The tubes fire coffee beans through plastic tubes to a roaster through to…
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10 January
G&J Distillers unveils new miniature bottles production line
International spirits company, Quintessential Brands, has expanded its first-class operations at the multi-award-winning G&J Distillers in Warrington to include a new production line for 5cl miniature bottles. The first run of the new production line was officially started by the local MP for Warrington North, Helen Jones, who visited the…
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9 January
Le Cordon Bleu London launches new wine programme
Le Cordon Bleu, a global network of culinary arts and hospitality management institutes, is launching a new intensive Certificate in Wine and Beverage Studies in London, in March 2019. The three-month programme aims to educate students about all the intricacies of “everything from Cote de Rhone to Shiraz, Craft Beer…
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7 January
Whitbread’s Costa sale to Coca-Cola given green light
Whitbread’s sale of Costa to Coca-Cola has been cleared by the EU, the clearance means the £3.9bn deal is expected to be completed this month. The sale of Costa will see a £500m share buyback programme triggered which will see “a significant majority of the net proceeds to shareholders”. The…
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4 January
Man ordered to demolish ‘secret’ garden pub
A Kidderminster man has been ordered to demolish his “secret” pub located in his garden after inspectors claimed it was “not being used for personal use” and that alcohol had been sold on the premises without a licence. Carl Roberts, 49, had spent £6,000 on The Dick Inn, installing pub…
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Dec- 2018 -20 December
Wine bar pair to open third Hackney site
Wine bar owners chef Will Gleave and businessman Phil Bracey are set to open their third Hackney site in addition to the existing P Franco and Bright sites. The new bar will be named Peg, after a Steely Dan song of the same name, and is set to open on…
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19 December
‘Sloe Gin World Champions 2018’ announced
This year’s Sloe Gin World Championships, held at the George Inn village pub near Tunbridge Wells, on Sunday 16 December, saw two previous winners awarded the top prizes. The commercial title was retained by London-based Mother’s Ruin, who also won in 2017, while the homemade category was won by professional…
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