Europe Intelligence Wire articles from April 2008

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from April 2008

Specialists set more store by wider offer.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Graham Holter An independent study has revealed how important convenience products have become for specialist off-licences - and the loyalty customers have to the sector. But while the 2008...

Jamming musicians push it for Bud.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Anheuser-Busch has this week launched two TV ads as part of its new Budweiser -True Dedication marketing campaign. The 60 and 30-second ads show a group of jamming musicians playing Salt-n-Pepa's 1988 hit Push...

Staff close ranks around Thresher open door policy.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Thresher staff and green campaigners have slammed the group's new open door policy for wasting energy. Managers have been told to keep the shop door open at all times during trading hours, but staff are having...

Davenport direct.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The findings of HIM's SOLTrack survey provide a much needed vote of confidence for retailers. While the survey does not claim to be reflective of the entire market, it certainly offers valuable insights. In many...

Feedback.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Supermarkets will always win Minimum pricing is indeed on the off-trade agenda, as your front page story of April 4 suggests. But even if a mechanism is found to ban below-cost selling, what exactly is such a...

Parents should take blame for kids.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) W hen immersed in the political maelstrom that is the national alcohol policy debate, it is easy to believe everything you read and hear. Recently, the story has been that alcohol-related disorder blights every...

Success breeds Absolut success.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) After stumping up AGBP4.4 billion to buy Sweden's Vin & Sprit, Pernod Ricard triumphed in the bidding war to become the owner of the prized Absolut vodka brand. The French producer fought off spirits rivals...

Executing a brilliant idea.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) I was in London for a couple of days recently, getting a brief fix of big city life. I have some friends I habitually stay with, one of whom had been spectacularly unwell . In fact, they had a brain tumour the...

Does this man have the toughest job in brewing?
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Eight weeks ago Stuart MacFarlane became the fourth man to occupy the hot seat at Inbev UK in five years. He has inherited the global brewer's only western European division to lose market share last year , with...

Wychwood is refreshed.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Marston's has pledged to keep the Wychwood brewery in Oxfordshire open after acquiring Refresh UK. The Midlands brewer plans to build Refresh's brands - already strong in take-home - in pubs. Marston's bought...

In Brief.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Parker quits Wine Cellar Steve Parker, one of the longest-serving team members of any of the remaining off-licence chains, has unexpectedly departed Wine Cellar. Parker took on his role as general manager for...

Facial recognition technology debuts.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) A security firm is testing a facial recognition device in a Budgens store to see how the technology could help in the fight against under-age sales. If the trial is successful, OmniPerception will be making...

WKD site sparks new guidelines.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The Portman Group has created new guidelines for drinks producers with websites following a complaint about promotional photos. Beverage Brands was told to remove the Mugshots section from its WKD website...

Don' hold your breath ...
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q I'm reading so many conflicting reports about corks and whether they allow wines to breathe. What is the definitive line on this? Is it true that the benefit of a natural closure is that a small amount of oxygen...

Wine shows no sign of turning Japanese in the UK.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q There is a lot of chatter about wine from India and China. What about Japan? A Japan does have a wine industry - most of it based around Mount Fuji to the west of Tokyo in the Kofu basin. There are fewer than...

the forum.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Q Can I rely on a "portcullis" shutter system to protect my shop or must it be solid steel ? A The portcullis models are really only suitable for shops in shopping centres where there is already some security . In...

Old for New - a pretty good deal.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) What has the New World of wine done for the Old? It might sound like a strange question, given what's happened over the past two decades. In the UK, we have seen a steady erosion of the latter's market share at...

Celebration of a very English affair.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Surrey-based Denbies Wine Estate is celebrating English Wine Week with a host of quintessentially English activities. Running from May 24 to June 1, the week will kick off with a lecture by geologist Professor...

Pomegranate wine's superfood boost.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Israel's Rimon Winery has created what it says is the world's first range of wines made completely from pomegranates. Making its debut at the London International Wine Fair, the range is called Rimon - the...

News in brief.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) l Alliance Wine has added Stellenbosch producer Raats Family Wines to its South African portfolio. The range includes Raats Chenin Blanc 2006, which scored 91 points in April's issue of Wine Spectator for the...

Award for north west's best.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Emma Eversham The North West Wines & Spirits Association is searching for the region's top wine retailer . The North West Specialist Wine Retailer of the Year competition will be judged by an...

News in brief.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) l Future Wines is now the UK importer of Uruguay's Gimenez Mendez wines. The range , which comprises four Tannat variations and a Sauvignon Blanc, will be available to retailers after the London International Wine...

Stellenbosch focus for Harvey-Miller.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Harvey-Miller Wine & Spirit Agencies is launching a three-strong wine range from South Africa's Overgaauw vineyards. Shepherd's Cottage will be available in the on and off-trade and includes a...

Distell supports winemaking hopefuls.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) South African wine producer Distell has awarded the first of its bursaries to three aspiring winemakers. The Drostdy-Hof Bursary Scheme is designed to give disadvantaged individuals the chance to develop a...

Sparklers trump Champers on volume.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) UK drinkers are buying more sparkling wine than Champagne, latest figures show . In the past five years, volume sales of sparkling wine have risen 44% compared with 24% for Champagne, according to Mintel...

Blueprint's facelift to target tastings.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Nigel Huddleston The Federation of Wholesale Distributors' Blueprint for wine is to be revamped with six planogram options to suit different levels of retailing in the non-specialist independent...

Dip into the variety pack.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) If you asked seven wine experts what grape varieties they found most exciting in Argentina, it's a fair bet Malbec would come out in front. But that's not the only variety making an impression. Argentina's rich...

The nouveau Beaujolais.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Imagine, if you will, that 30 years ago you followed a course of action that reaped huge rewards at the time, yet blighted your prospects for years to come. If the scenario sounds familiar, you're probably either...

Meantime move to treble capacity.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Christine Boggis Greenwich brewer Meantime will treble its capacity when it moves site next year. The new brewery will be on a brownfield site in the Greenwich area, and work is due to start at...

Major campaign for keg's roll-out.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Heineken is running a spring ad campaign for its newly-rolled out 5-litre DraughtKeg on TV break bumpers, London Underground, posters in major UK cities and online. The ads carry Heineken's strapline, Get the...

Thatchers' new variety makes debut.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Somerset cidermaker Thatchers has added two single varietal ciders to its range after an excellent apple harvest last autumn. Prince William is a new variety Thatchers has grown in conjunction with the...

Relaunch points up provenance.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Wells & Young's is relaunching the Young's portfolio of bottle-conditioned beers to give a more premium image. Marketing director Chris Lewis said: " We see this as a new sector in premium bottled ales - super...

Light ads target calorie-conscious.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Magners is launching a TV ad campaign for its lower calorie Magners Light, targeted at women drinkers. With the strapline Light by Nature, the ad is set in an apple orchard and shows bottles of Magners Light...

United pull away as Arsenal falter.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) March proved a crucial month in this year's Premier League as Arsenal's challenge faded badly under massive pressure from the rampaging Red Devils. Derby are relegated, and any managers in this year's FFL with...

Top 50 managers for March.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) 1 Paul Morgan Rafaelites 91 2 Steve Kitchen Lish Athletic 90 3 Kieren Hawken Wine Rack Wanderers 90 4 Graham Power Grays-Go-Nads 90 5 Danny Mobley Mobley's Mobsters 86 6 Matt Johnston The Arse 86 7 Luke Howard...

Manager of the Month.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The winning manager is Paul Morgan from independent 3B Wines in Paignton, South Devon. Paul 's winning team includes the fabulous Fernando Torres, who has hit successive hat tricks in Liverpool's March fixtures,...

Imports of importance.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Beer sales are falling, disposable incomes are in peril and imported products are being lambasted for their carbon footprint. In theory, there has never been a less promising time to sell imported beers - yet the...

Ads expect the unexpected.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Laura Clark Tia Maria is to get a AGBP1 million marketing boost this year. Brand owner Pernod Ricard has created Deliciously Unexpected to include sponsorship of Living TV's new US drama Army...

Provocative underwear gives Pinky a lift.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Whyte & Mackay has teamed up with lingerie brand Agent Provocateur to promote its Pinky Vodka. A sampling campaign will see Pinky cocktails being served to customers at Agent Provocateur's 13 stores across the...

Misleading whisky must change name.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) A court has ruled that Glen Breton whisky must change its name because it makes people think it is Scottish. The Scotch Whisky Association has welcomed the Canadian Federal Court decision to refuse to register...

Union address from Pernod.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Pernod Ricard is giving consumers the chance to win a Union Jack Mini Cooper in an on-pack give away for Beefeater Gin. The promotion is the first Pernod has run in the off-trade since the brand was relaunched...

Five minute focus.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Bourbon's new fan base Bourbon is a category that's really starting to gather momentum and younger consumers are coming into the marketplace. They're more adventurous than their parents and see Bourbon as...

Glenfarclas singles improve with age.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The Glenfarclas distillery is extending its collection of single cask whiskies, The Family Casks, with releases from 1952, 1957, 1960, 1967 and 1969 . Cask 1710, which was filled on boxing day 1952, has...

In brief.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) l InterContinental Brands is rolling out its Cactus Jack's Schnapps in 1-litre bottles. The brand's Apple Sour and Kool Kola variants will be available in the new bottle size from this month with a price tag of...

Make your shelves shine.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Think of summer drinks and leaf-filled, fruit-adorned cocktails must come somewhere near the top of your list. But summer is not the season for spirits. Nielsen figures over the past three years show an average...

Targeting women who feel a bit fruity.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Laura Clark Appletiser's new lightly sparkling fruit-flavoured range of soft drinks is being targeted at women wanting a sophisticated alternative to alcohol. Fruitiser is made with 100% fruit...

Now loose juice is back in the hoose.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Cadbury Trebor Bassett is backing the relaunch of its Maynards Wine Gums TV ad, which first screened in 1991, with a AGBP2.4 million marketing spend. Reviving the original jingle, "there's juice loose aboot...

Galaxy smooths way for book stars.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Mars UK is spending AGBP1.5 million on sponsorship of the 2008 Galaxy Book Awards. The deal will include a TV ad campaign, press ads in the national press, online and PR activity. Mars will also be running a...

In brief.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) l Pop group Girls Aloud star in Kit Kat Senses' new TV ad which focuses on the "indulgent breaks" that busy women crave. The chocolate bar - a low-calorie version of the original Kit Kat - is the headline sponsor...

Under-age drinking not retailers' fault, says poll.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Only 9% of consumers think shops are responsible for under-age street drinking problems in the UK, an independent poll by the Association of Convenience Stores has found. But the survey of 1,001 consumers,...

Coors strips strip for impending ban.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Coors is removing Carling branding from children's replica football shirts two years before a ban by the Portman Group is due to come into effect. The decision to remove sponsorship from the new strip for...

Vins de Pays quality steps up.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Christine Boggis A crack tasting team , chaired by OLN wine editor at large Tim Atkin MW and including buyers from retailers such as Tesco, Waitrose, Majestic and Oddbins, has picked the 2008 Top 100...

In Brief.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Just for dads Glengoyne Distillery has launched a limited-edition Father's Day (Sunday June 15) gift pack containing a bottle of Glengoyne 10 Year Old and a stainless steel cigar flask with collapsible cup....

Top Tip.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) English Wine Week is running from May 24 to June 1 this year and we wanted to shout about how we encourage our customers to buy English wine. Bring up the subject and most will wrinkle their nose and make a face,...

COMPETITION.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Cutty Sark Whisky was created 85 years ago during Prohibition in the US when legendary Captain Bill McCoy started to bootleg the drink into the country. Despite this handicap the new whisky was an instant...

Dates for your diary.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) April 23 St George's Day April 23 International Wine ChallengeA-ADiscovery Tasting, BarbicanACentre, London (iwc@william-reed.co.uk) April 23 English Wine Producers' Annual Trade & Press Tasting, Lord'sA cricket...

NEW oLN CROSSWORD Number 24.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) ACROSS 1 Suspended canvas bed (7); 5 Chickens (4); 7 Old horse (3); 8 The outside (7); 9 Curved (5); 10 Constant (4); 13 A break in friendly relations (4); 14 Defrost (4); 18 Fix with a stud (4); 19 Flower (5);...

Convenience format takes off in charts.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) First we had Cornershop, an Asian band who, for a time, had the nation tapping its feet to the catchy Brimful of Asha. Now, we're delighted to report, a group called Offlicence have released their debut album,...

TALKING HEADS.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) What do you wish you had known when you started out as a retailer? That the supermarket Goliaths were going to change the wine industry. Also a foolproof method of enticing customers through the front door of our...

Shop crimes go unreported as retailers lose faith in police.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Graham Holter Retailers are failing to report crimes because they do not have faith in police responses, says a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce. The Forum of Private Business has warn...

Bidders line up for Liefmans.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Hopes are high that Liefmans could resume brewing under new ownership after a Belgian court placed the company in the hands of liquidators last week. The brewer, famous for its paper-wrapped fruit beers,...

Vin Vans' votes victory.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Adnams' Cellar & Kitchen Stores has launched a delivery service by store staff to add a personal touch to online and mail order sales. Each of the nine stores in the chain - the group's first London shop...

Kids' minister offers advice to trade.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Children's minister Kevin Brennan will tell members of the drinks industry how they can help cut alcohol misuse among under-18s at the Wine & Spirit Trade Association's spring conference. Brennan, the under...

In Brief.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Direct appointsAMcMurtrie Laithwaites owner Direct Wines has appointed Simon McMurtrie chief executive. McMurtrie, who has been a director at the company since the beginningAof last year, took up his new role on...

In Brief.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Off-licence murder arrest A 66-year-old man has been murdered at an off-licence in Ilford, Essex. Arulanantham Jayasundarakumar was stabbed in the stomach during what police believe was a robbery attempt at the...

Half-term crackdown pays off.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Emma Eversham More than 25,000 litres of alcohol were seized from under-18s during February half-term, figures from the Home Office have shown. Police from 39 forces in England and Wales took to...

Sauza tequila gets modern makeover.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Beam Global's premium tequila brand Sauza has been repackaged as part of a AGBP650,000 push. The Blanco and Reposado variants will be available from May in revamped bottles, which are taller than the original and...

Caledonian pledge to preserve Harviestoun independence.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The directors of Scotland's Harviestoun Brewery have bought it from the Caledonian Brewing Company to preserve it as an independent microbrewery. Caledonian 's founder shareholders Sandy Orr and Donald MacDonald,...

Bacchanalia opens London showroom.
April 18, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Spanish wine importer Bacchanalia TWS has set up a tasting showroom in London, with plans to open a shop in the future. Situated on the River Thames, the showroom will enable guests from corporate businesses...

Dates for your diary.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) April 9 Annual Tasting of Portuguese Wines, Lord's Cricket Ground, London (jkmarketing.co.uk) April 15 Partnering White Wine With Food, London Wine & Spirit School, Bermondsey (courses@wset.co.uk) April 23 St...

NEW oLN CROSSWORD Number 23.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) ACROSS 1 Desired (6); 4 Plaster between tiles (5); 7 In an upside- down position (10); 8 Noisy (4); 9 Find an answer to (5); 11 Dangling earring (7); 13 Period without rain (7); 15 Painful wind suffered by babies...

Budding expectations fail to blossom.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) "I thought the prices seemed remarkably cheap for a guest house in Californian wine country," writes Lee Saged, of Hetton-le-Hole. "As a devotee of Blossom Hill I was desperate to explore the birthplace of my...

Winery on wrong side of EU over fruit liqueur bottle sizes.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Emma Eversham The EU has ordered a producer of English wines, meads and fruit liqueurs to change the size of the glass bottles it uses . Jerry Schooler, owner of Lurgashall Winery in West Sussex, said it could...

Adnams' off-trade move.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Adnams is looking to expand in the off-trade in the face of increasingly tough on-trade conditions. This year the company is launching four premium bottled beers a nd is planning five new Cellar & Kitchen...

In Brief.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Cabanne leaves AGBP4.3m estate Thierry Cabanne, who died in a car accident last year, left an estate of almost AGBP4.3 million. The founder and chairman of Thierry's Wines Services will be honoured with an award...

Trading Standards reports more fake Glen's vodka.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) More counterfeit Glen's vodka has emerged in the north west, several weeks after Trading Standards officers warned that the fake spirit had been found on sale in 29 areas across England, Wales and Scotland. ...

Newquay scheme cuts down antisocial drinking problems.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Emma Eversham Police in Newquay have seen a "significant drop" in the number of cases of antisocial drinking since joining forces with drinks retailers in the town. The Banned From One, Banned From All...

Packaging audit warns 32 brands.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Producers of 32 drinks brands have been told to make changes to their packaging or face having them banned from sale after an independent audit revealed they may be breaking the Portman Group's code of practice....

Vinovation creates canned wine range.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) A new range of wines packaged in 20cl aluminium cans has been developed by a Dutch company called Vinovation International. The wines, under the Wild Pelican brand, are sourced from Spain, South Africa and...

Sake portfolio gets an airing in the UK.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Japan's Akashi-Tai Brewery is lauching its portfolio of sakes in the UK. The family-owned producer has appointed Malcolm Cowen to handle distribution in the on and off-trades, and Tazaki Foods to cover the...

In Brief.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Scottish shops ban under-21s Three towns in Scotland have banned the sale of alcohol to under-21s as part of a six-week trial to reduce antisocial behaviour. All 11 off-licences in Armadale, West Lothian, have...

High street pair scoop new awards.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Tesco and Marks & Spencer have overcome tough competition to win 19 of the 31 trophies up for grabs in the inaugural Own Label Awards. All major supermarkets and high street multiples, with the exceptions of...

Jolly good show.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) The prize for best diversification at the Countryside Alliance's Rural Retailer of the Year awards went to a deli this year. And a pub. No, it wasn' a tie; they're one and the same business - the Jolly Farmers, in...

Minimum prices on off-trade's agenda.
April 4, 2008... (From Off Licence News) Byline: Graham Holter Minimum pricing regulations could be introduced in the UK off-trade without breaching European law, a Labour MP has claimed. John Grogan, a fierce critic of cheap alcohol and a...