Campari Group, home to spirits brands in the UK such as Aperol, Wray & Nephew, Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, and the eponymous Campari, has unveiled its state-of-the-art new regional headquarters, in the heart of the capital.
The UK is the largest spirits market in Europe and the fifth largest in the world, making it a crucial strategic territory for Campari Group – the sixth major player in the spirits industry worldwide. Its new regional HQ signals a new era for the Italian giant’s operations in this country and in the Northern Central & Eastern Europe Region – as well as internationally. Building on its rapid growth trajectory in the UK, this new opening also underlines Campari Group’s ambitions for its future, creating new jobs and lasting partnerships as part of a long-term commitment to the UK market.
Named “The House of Campari Group, UK”, the new London HQ is situated in Great Portland Street – a stone’s throw from Oxford Street – and will be the first time the business has owned a UK office space, becoming a key permanent in-market home for the business. As well as being a significant investment in a strategic market, taking ownership of its London footprint has allowed the company to blend its heritage with cutting edge innovations in the flagship drinks and hospitality space – all with customary Italian flair, as can be seen in the show-stopping design of the new building.
“We have been operating in the UK for just seven years – and it has quickly become one of our most important markets, not just in Europe, but globally," said Cesare Vandini, Managing Director BU NCEE. "As such, The House of Campari Group, UK is not only our new Northern Central & Eastern Europe home here, but also an important strategic development for the business, demonstrating our commitment to our customers, partners, and colleagues – ultimately underlining our belief in the UK market and our brands’ performance within it.”
The company’s Italian heritage is proudly channelled throughout the space, with care taken to add a local London twist as well as nods to the culture of each of Campari Group’s famed brands. From a stunning 7ft long mosaic centrepiece and unique Depero artworks on the ground level, to an Aperitivo-inspired roof terrace with views of the London skyline, the new office is as aesthetically pleasing as it is practical.
The new HQ also introduces a brand-new concept to the UK market: Campari Academy. Already a global movement with training facilities as far afield as Sao Paolo and Sydney, London’s Campari Academy represents the first time it has been brought under one roof in a UK venue – offering an additional layer of hospitality and drinks excellence for both customers and employees. Campari Academy seeks to connect, educate, and inspire bartenders with innovative masterclasses and industry-leading training programmes.
“In the short time we have been operating in the UK, we have experienced very strong growth in sales and people," said Brad Madigan, Managing Director at Campari Group UK. "As we move into The House of Campari Group, UK, I look forward to building an even greater business from these strong foundations.”
The House of Campari Group, UK was officially opened on 4 November.
Kliro Capital Partners has announced the appointment of Ed Cottrell as chief executive of the newly launched Fortitude Spirits Group.
Cottrell took up the role effective from 16 December and will be working alongside the Fortitude Spirits Group chairman Warren Scott, leading the senior management team as they continue to scale the business with the ambition of becoming one of the leading independent UK spirits companies.
The investment group said Cottrell brings knowledge, experience and a network to the team from 28 years in the drinks industry. Starting his career as an Army officer, he then joined Diageo where he spent 14 years, including leading its prestige business, Justerini & Brooks.
He has held number of other roles including commercial director of Enterprise Inns (now Stonegate), managing director of William Grant & Sons’ Global Travel Retail business, based in Singapore, and most recently leading the category team at MMI in the UAE. He has also been non-executive chair of Saccone & Speed Ltd, Gibraltar, since 2022.
“I am delighted to welcome Ed to the Fortitude Spirits Group at an important point in our journey,” Warren Scott, chairman, Fortitude Spirits Group, said.
“Ed brings a unique combination of UK commercial insight together with premium brand international expertise. His roles at Diageo and Stonegate provided hands on experience in the highly competitive UK spirits industry across different categories and price points, both in the on and off-trade. His time at William Grant & Sons and more recently with MMI, have enabled him to be at the forefront of international premium brand development providing detailed insight into European, Middle East and Asian spirit markets.
“As we move into 2025, Fortitude Sprits Group under Ed’s leadership, will accelerate the building of its own premium brand portfolio together with a collection of exciting third party owned international brands. Ed will also lead the expansion of the international operations of the group through the appointment of appropriate country distributors in key overseas markets. This is an exciting time for Fortitude Spirits Group and Kliro Capital is looking forward to supporting Ed in pursuit of our ambitious goals.”
Cottrell said: “I am thrilled to be joining Fortitude Spirits Group. The management team is a good combination of new and established, the brand portfolio is exciting and well-positioned, and there are significant opportunities with our partners to grow at scale in both the UK and internationally. I am convinced we can build a highly respected UK based international spirits company in the coming years.”
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Tuesday cleared the anticipated acquisition by Danish brewer Carlsberg of British soft drinks manufacturer.
The companies said they have also received the clearance from the European Commission to proceed with the acquisition, satisfying all regulatory conditions.
The acquisition remains subject to the court's sanction at the sanction court hearing, which has been scheduled to take place on 15 January 2025.
Britvic sells non-alcoholic drinks in Britain, Ireland, Brazil and other international markets such as France, the Middle East and Asia. The company is the main partner for PepsiCo in Britain and Ireland with exclusive rights to manufacture and sell brands including Pepsi, 7UP, and Lipton Ice Tea.
A joint statement at the time said Carlsberg estimated that the deal could deliver annual cost savings and efficiency improvements in the region of £100 million, which it expects to be delivered over the five years following completion of the acquisition.
It said the savings were expected to be realised across a number of areas including direct and indirect procurement, supply chain, administration and overheads across Carlsberg and Britvic's combined business, but that Carlsberg was also committed to invest in Britvic's operations.
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The Royal Mail logo is seen outside a sorting office depot on May 29, 2024 in Uxbridge, England.
Britain on Monday cleared Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's EP Group to buy Royal Mail in a 3.57 billion pound deal, after securing commitments that the government said would protect one of the world's oldest postal services.
EP Group agreed to acquire Royal Mail parent International Distribution Services (IDS) in May, but the British government said in August it would scrutinise the deal due to the national importance of the service.
Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said EP Group had committed to protect Royal Mail's postal network, and he had secured a "golden share" that would ensure its headquarters remained in Britain and it would continue to pay UK taxes.
He said the deal provided a secure future to thousands of workers and customers, and would ensure a financially stable Royal Mail.
EP also said on Monday it had reached agreements in principle with Royal Mail's unions.
Other commitments include keeping the brand and Royal Mail's Crown cypher, which reflects a history that dates back to the sixteenth century.
Reynolds said it was a good deal for Britain, for the people who work for Royal Mail and for customers.
"It actually increases what was in place following the privatisation of Royal Mail, with a golden share for the UK government," he told broadcasters.
Kretinsky, a former investment bank lawyer who built one of Europe's largest energy groups, Energeticky a Prumyslovy Holding (EPH), has been diversifying into retail, media and other areas.
He said EP Group was a long term and committed investor with a mission to make Royal Mail a successful modern postal operator.
"We look forward to delivering on this mission alongside our partners in government," he said in a statement.
Royal Mail was privatised in 2013 in a massive state selloff at an initial public offering price of 330 pence a share.
Kretinsky was already the biggest shareholder in IDS, the owner of both Royal Mail and international parcels network GLS.
The takeover, agreed in May, valued shares in IDS at 370 pence each. The deal included a commitment to a 'one-price goes anywhere' postal service six days a week, which was cemented in Monday's agreement.
The deal is subject to some remaining shareholder and regulatory approvals. It is expected to complete in the first quarter of 2025, EP said.
(Reuters)
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A selection of beers are seen available at the bar inside The Old Ivy House public house in Clerkenwell, London on December 15, 2024, with the glass on the Guinness tap indicating the tap not in use due to the drink being unavailable.
At her London pub, landlady Kate Davidson has taken to issuing Guinness ration cards, but still the beer has run out amid a UK shortage of Ireland's national drink.
Bars across Britain, even Irish ones, have reported limited supplies of the black stuff since Guinness owner Diageo announced earlier this month that it was experiencing "exceptional consumer demand".
"I'm a bit shocked because it's Christmas," said Davidson, co-owner of the Old Ivy House, where an empty upside down Guinness glass signalled that its tap had run dry.
"I wouldn't have expected them to run out at this time of year," the 42-year-old told AFP at the cosy boozer in the Clerkenwell area of central London.
A number of factors have meant that Diageo has become a victim of its own success.
Earlier this year, Diageo chief executive Debra Crew said Guinness consumption was up 24 per cent among women, as the company shifts its marketing strategy to attract new consumers.
So-called ‘Guinnfluencers’ online - including Kim Kardashian, who has posted a photo of herself with the beer on Instagram - have been credited with fuelling the stout's appeal among Gen Z.
A Guinness beer towel on the bar inside The Old Ivy House public house in Clerkenwell, London on December 15, 2024.Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images
And a viral craze online where drinkers take a big gulp to try to line up the beer with the glass's Guinness logo in a challenge called ‘Split the G’ has also helped.
Diageo began restricting the number of barrels of Guinness that pubs in Britain can buy because of the soaring sales of the stout.
The dark, creamy liquid, traditionally seen as the drink of choice for rugby fans and middle aged men with beards, had soared in popularity among younger women.
Davidson first realised there was a problem when she tried to make her normal weekly order of seven or eight barrels, to be told she could only buy four.
"The brewery confirmed that they were being rationed by Diageo, so they were passing on that ration (to us)," she explained.
Davidson and her business partner came up with the idea to introduce the ration card, which requires customers to purchase two other drinks before being allowed to buy a Guinness.
It notes "these difficult times of Guinness rationing".
"It's just a bit of fun, really," said Davidson. "Nobody's turned around and walked out."
'Panic buying'
Despite the initiative, the barrels - which hold 88 pints of Guinness each - were empty by Friday night. The drink won't be back on tap until the next delivery on Wednesday.
"It's kind of sad," 39-year-old Guinness fan and tattoo artist Claudia Russo told AFP, knocking back a Bloody Mary instead.
Sales of Guinness by volume in Britain soared by almost 21 per cent between July and October, despite the overall beer market gradually declining, according to food and drink market research brand CGA by NIQ.
"Over the past month we have seen exceptional consumer demand for Guinness in Great Britain," a Diageo spokesperson said in a statement sent to AFP.
"We have maximised supply and we are working proactively with our customers to manage the distribution to trade as efficiently as possible."
Shaun Jenkinson, operations director for the Katie O'Brien's chain of Irish pubs, said they had been receiving "about 70 per cent of the stock required to fulfil orders at present".
He told AFP via email that he has received "continued warnings from wholesalers that they are not expecting to be able to meet our requirements in the run up to Christmas".
The Times reported this month that the shortage was encouraging "panic buying" - worsening supplies.
"Stop young people drinking Guinness and there won't be this problem," 79-year-old author Howard Thomas told AFP at the Old Ivy House.
Major upgrades have been made to SPAR North of England’s range of Meal Deals.
The creation of a Premium Meal Deal means mealtimes have just got a whole lot tastier, with customers already benefiting from the launch of the new offer and additional lines within it. Hot food, sushi, or a deli baguette, sub or panini are included as mains, with a snack and a drink added in conjunction to complete the deal for just £5.
The new Premium Meal Deal complements the existing Standard Meal Deal, set at £4.25, which customers are already familiar with. This consists of a main – including pre-packed SPAR sandwiches, wraps, pasta pots, and salad pots – with a snack and a drink.
SPAR North of England’s Meal Deals have also been enhanced with the breadth of products and big brands also now available for customers to select from. There are now more than 400 drinks lines in the range and over 50 snack products, giving customers a much better variety when building their chosen deal.
As well as the changes to the lunchtime Meal Deals, the keenly priced Breakfast Meal Deal at £3.75, which includes a breakfast roll and hot drink, remains unchanged.
Standout value can also be found in the Coffee and Cake Deal and the Coffee and Pastry deal where customers can purchase a regular Cheeky Coffee and Clayton Park cake or continental pastry of their choice for just £2.75.
Months of work has gone into reviewing and improving the Meal Deal at SPAR stores in Northern England owned or serviced by James Hall & Co. Ltd, and the changes are the biggest to be implemented simultaneously by the business in 15 years.
Kim Hudson, Food To Go Development Manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “We are excited to implement the new Premium Meal Deal and introduce the changes to the range we think customers will love.
“An enormous amount of work has gone into the entire Meal Deal review, and it has been a fantastic effort from departments across the company.
“The preparation has included a lot of market research, as well as taking in a broad spectrum of feedback from our Deli teams in our company-owned SPAR stores, and those of our independent SPAR retailers.
“We now believe have a comprehensive offer that is best in convenience, delivering customers value for money without compromising on quality, at a time when it has never been more important.
“The upgrades have been supported by a complete marketing campaign and the brand new in-store print marketing and digital screen assets are really placing Meal Deals front and centre of our customers when they come into store.”
James Hall & Co. Ltd is a fifth-generation family business which serves a network of independent SPAR retailers and company-owned SPAR stores across Northern England six days a week from its base at Bowland View in Preston.