Regal Foods snaps up soft drinks brand Suncrest
The Yorkshire-based manufacturer has acquired Suncrest for an undisclosed sum.
Beverages
Manchester Gin maker faces administration
The small distilling and blending business Drinks of Manchester has appointed an insolvency firm.
Inside the rigorous Q Grader exams with Food Manufacture’s 2024 Future Talent winner
Last year saw Mollie Harvey, an apprentice at coffee producer Lincoln & York, taking home the title of Future Talent at the annual Food Manufacture Excellence Awards.
Wrexham Lager secures listing with Waitrose
The Wrexham Lager Beer Co has secured a listing with Waitrose that will see its beers stocked in all of the retailer’s stores across Wales.
Diageo: 60 jobs at risk in Northern Ireland
Around 60 people employed by Diageo in Northern Ireland are set to be made redundant.
Pepsi introduces functional cola with prebiotics
The Pepsi-Cola launch marks a significant innovation within the cola category and follows other prebiotic-focused beverage NPD.
Jason’s Sourdough and Toast Brewing launch limited edition beer
Jason’s Sourdough and Toast Brewing have collaborated on the launch of a limited edition beer aimed at tackling food waste.
Diageo agrees to sell Irish cream liqueur brand
Drinks firm Diageo has agreed to sell Irish cream liqueur brand Sheridan’s to Casa Redondo.
Cask ale growing in popularity among Gen Z
The number of Gen Z beer drinkers that regularly order cask ale has increased by 50% compared with last year, new data has revealed.
Whisky engineers to vote on strike action over ‘hugely disruptive’ new rotas
Engineers at Edrington’s Speyside distilleries are voting on strike action in response to ‘hugely disruptive’ new rotas.
Government opens consultation on banning energy drinks for under-16s
The proposal, which could save tens of millions of pounds, was set out as a government commitment in the 2024 King’s Speech and underscored in Labour’s recently published 10-Year Health Plan.
Heineken president Americas steps down as CEO
Lipton Teas and Infusions has pinched the ex-Heineken president as its chief executive officer.
Dr Pepper owner to acquire JDE Peet’s for €15.7BN
Keurig Dr Pepper is purchasing the Dutch coffee company JDE Peet’s and subsequently separating into two independent companies.
Wagamama owner eyes Costa Coffee
Rumours surfaced over the weekend that the Coca-Cola Company is exploring the sale of Costa Coffee, with Wagamama owner Apollo said to be interested.
Palestinian brewery and Brewgooder launch lager with proceeds set for Gaza and West Bank
Palestinian microbrewery Taybeh Brewing Co has partnered with Brewgooder to launch the Sun & Stone lager in the UK.
Megadeth frontman launches beer range in the UK
Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine is launching the Rattlehead beer range in the UK.
Former Exmoor brewery to reopen under new ownership
Exmoor Drinks is set to start brewing at the site of the former Cotleigh Brewery in Wiveliscombe this month, three months after the closure of the Golden Hill brewery.
Daily Dose expands with new juice offerings
British cold pressed juice company Daily Dose has launched two new apple juice flavours into Waitrose stores across the UK.
Low and no drinks sales ‘soar’ at Waitrose amid ‘sober summer’
Sales of a wide range of low and no alcohol drinks at Waitrose have risen dramatically in the past year.
Guinness owner profits fall 28% after ‘challenging year’
Operating profit at Diageo fell 27.8% in the year up to 30 June 2025 after a challenging period for the drinks giant.
Ribena owner investing close to £1M into berry resilience
Ribena owner Suntory Beverage & Food Great Britain and Ireland has announced plans invest nearly £1 million to continue its blackcurrant breeding programme.
Future of Mighty Drinks brand secured after sale to The Mighty Kitchen
The Mighty Drinks brand has been sold to The Mighty Kitchen less than six weeks after its owner appointed administrators.
CBD industry at a crossroads
It’s time to back the CBD brands ‘doing it right from the start’, writes Adam Pritchard, co-founder of start-up SKÏP Drinks.
The Drink Report 2025: Soft drinks
Food Manufacture offers a detailed outlook on the soft drinks market and analyses what’s trending in this category of beverages.
The Drink Report 2025: Alcoholic drinks
Welcome to the alcoholic drinks chapter of Food Manufacture’s Drinks Report 2025, providing an in-depth dive into the biggest tipple trends.
The Drink Report 2025: Low and no beverages
Welcome to the low and no chapter of Food Manufacture’s Drinks Report, outlining the biggest trends in low and alcohol-free beverages.
The Drinks Report 2025: Hot beverages
Welcome to the hot beverage chapter of Food Manufacture’s Drinks Report. Dive in for an in-depth review of the hot drinks market and trends.
The Drinks Report 2025
Welcome to Food Manufacture’s 2025 Drink Trends Report.
BrewDog closing 10 pubs as staff consultation begins
BrewDog has announced that is closing 10 of its pubs located in England and Scotland.
Estrella Damm 0.0% launches in the UK
Spanish brewer Damm has launched its new alcohol-free beer, Estrella Damm 0.0%, in the UK.
‘Healthy UPF’ start-up secures £2.5M investment
Modern Baker, the business behind Superloaf, has secured major backing led by impact investor network Adjuvo, as it looks to scale up and enter other food and drink categories.
TRIP told off by UK ad watchdog
The Advertising Standards Agency has ruled that a drinks advert, which appeared on the TRIP website, could mislead consumers on nutrition and health benefits.
Bol Foods secures category-first with new shake
The London-based manufacturer has launched a new blueberry flavoured shake which it maintains is a UK-first for both the RTD protein shake and nutritionally complete meal category.
Slushie drinks containing glycerol unsafe for children under 7
A new warning has been issued advising parents and carers that slushie drinks containing glycerol are unsafe for children under seven.
Guinness owner CEO steps down with immediate effect
The CEO of drinks giant Diageo, Debra Crew, is leaving the company with immediate effect following a ‘mutual agreement’.
Forklift drivers at drinks bottle factory to strike over ‘union-busting’
Forklift drivers working at a drinks bottle factory in Yorkshire are preparing to strike in the coming days in response to ‘union-busting’.
Oakham Ales brews first solar-powered beer
Oakham Ales is preparing to launch its first-ever beer brewed using solar power.
Irn Bru maker acquires stake in Hal Robson-Kanu owned drinks firm
AG Barr has acquired a stake in the Hal Robson-Kanu owned functional beverage manufacturing business, Innate-Essence.
CBD drinks start-up secures £5M investment
Former Liquid Death managing director Ben Dando takes the helm as Goodrays’ new MD amid growth plans.
Lipton Ice Tea gets slap on wrist for social media prank
The advertising standards watchdog has ruled adverts from Lipton Ice Tea which gave the impression its peach flavoured SKU was being discontinued were misleading.
Stowford Press gets ‘bold new look’
Westons Cider has unveiled a ‘bold new look’ for its cider brand Stowford Press.
Wrexham Lager launches in Canada
The Wrexham Lager Beer Co has announced that its beer is now being sold in Canada.
Co-op bolsters craft beer range
Co-op has secured partnerships with seven UK small breweries in order to bolster its in-store craft beer offering.
2,000 cans a minute: Inside Coca-Cola’s Sidcup bottling powerhouse
Food manufacture steps inside Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ (CCEP) south-east London facility in Sidcup to find out more about its recent investments into machinery and people.
Famous Grouse sold to William Grant & Sons
Whisky brand The Famous Grouse has been sold to William Grant & Sons for an undisclosed fee.
Behind the beans: Day in the life of a coffee buyer & taster
Chris Tough is a Q Grader - the coffee industry’s equivalent to a wine sommelier.
Brits support ban on TV alcohol advertising before watershed
Almost two-thirds (65%) of Brits support banning TV alcohol advertising before the 9pm watershed, a YouGov Poll has revealed.
EPR regulations under fire as Government unveils fees
Further criticism has been levelled at the Government over Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Man given custodial sentence for Scottish tea fraud
He was given a three-and-half-years custodial sentence following a conviction on two counts of fraud totalling nearly £600,000.
Robinsons Fruit Shoot launches packaging for the blind and partially sighted
Robinsons Fruit Shoot has launched a new accessible packaging for blind and partially sighted shoppers.