James Bayley

1 week ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | James Bayley

Global drinks giant Diageo is facing a new legal challenge over the purity of two of its most celebrated tequila brands, Casamigos and Don Julio. A class-action lawsuit filed May 5 in the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York alleges that Diageo has been deceptively labelling these tequilas as “100% agave” when they allegedly contain significant amounts of alcohol from other sources.

1 week ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | James Bayley

Wine industry veteran Robin Copestick steps into a strategic role at Packamama as the climate tech company scales up. His appointment signals a fresh chapter for sustainable innovation in wine packaging. Robin Copestick (pictured) has joined the board of Packamama as non-executive director, bringing more than 30 years of experience in building global wine brands and championing sustainable change.

1 week ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | James Bayley

Fever-Tree’s chief executive Tim Warrillow received a £1.1 million remuneration package in 2024, reflecting a year of strategic transformation for the business. A new long-term partnership with Molson Coors in the US is expected to unlock scale, efficiency and growth in Fever-Tree’s largest market. Tim Warrillow, co-founder and CEO of Fever-Tree, was paid £1,090,000 in the company’s 2024 financial year, up from £619,000 in 2023, as disclosed on page 91 of its annual report.

1 week ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | James Bayley

We all know this is a tough trade. But when Startups.co.uk’s 2025 Workforce Report revealed hospitality leaders are more likely than anyone else in business to be struggling with their mental health, the scale of the problem became impossible to ignore. Among all industries surveyed, it is hospitality leaders who are faring the worst. 14% now rate their mental health as “poor,” more than double the national average of 6%. Consulting came next at 9%, followed by finance and the creative industries.

2 weeks ago | thedrinksbusiness.com | James Bayley

Taylor’s Port is raising the bar for wine professionals with a new competition designed to celebrate expertise in one of the world’s most storied wine styles. The Taylor’s Port Vintage Years, UK Sommelier Challenge will invite the country’s top sommeliers to put their palates to the test in a competition focused entirely on Vintage Port.