James Beeson

1 day ago | thegrocer.co.uk | James Beeson

Aldi is to switch some 20 million still wines to ultra-lightweight bottles. The retailer has worked with its wine suppliers and bottling partner Greencroft to move wines including its Grapevine Sauvignon Blanc and Grapevine Merlot over to the new lightweight bottles. It takes the average weight of wine bottles sold in Aldi from 409g down to 371g. The move forms part of a broader initiative, which has seen the supermarket gradually reduce bottle weights since 2022.

1 day ago | thegrocer.co.uk | James Beeson

A storm is forecast for Britain’s top booze brands. Input costs, duty changes, tariffs, EPR and National Insurance rises are all hiking expenses as the market declinesBooze brands love great summer weather. Remember how the heatwaves of 2018 and 2022 drove stratospheric sales? Another scorcher is expected this year. But no matter sunny how it is, dark clouds will continue to gather over Britain’s makers of beer, wine and spirits (BWS).

1 day ago | thegrocer.co.uk | James Beeson

Volumes of Johnnie Walker have fallen by nearly a quarter after owner Diageo delisted a one-litre bottle of its Red Label blended whisky. The brand’s sales have tumbled by £8.2m to £44.9m on volumes down 24%, driven by a collapse in sales of Johnnie Walker Red Label [NIQ 52 w/e 19 April 2025. The whisky has lost £9.0m after volumes crashed by 39.3%.

2 days ago | thegrocer.co.uk | James Beeson

Vocation Brewery has reversed a decision to continue shipping beer to Israel after consumer backlash. After initially defending its right to export to Israel, Vocation Brewery subsequently u-turned and said it would cease exports to the country “with immediate effect”. “We value the feedback we receive and have decided to cease exports of our beer to Israel with immediate effect,” the brewery said on social media.

2 days ago | thegrocer.co.uk | James Beeson

Cawston Press is to make its television debut as part of a summer push for its sparkling sodas. A new 10-second spot will appear in advert breaks during Channel 4’s Great British Bake Off: The Professionals next week, with further exposure across BVOD until 17 August. Its creative would spotlight “the simplicity and premium quality of Cawston Press’s drinks, made with pressed fruit, sparkling water and nothing else”, said the brand.