So Heineken has planted its flag in Belize, a small Caribbean country lodged between Mexico in the north and Guatemala in the west. On 11 May 2018 the Dutch brewer announced that it has acquired a minority stake in Belize Brewing Company, best known for its Belikin beers.

It has never been more important to stand out from the crowd than in today's competitive beverage market. Labels are key components of any brand marketing mix, allowing manufacturers to differentiate their products and give end consumers the information they need and increasingly expect.

Publicity stunt or right-on surplus food upcycling? The UK’s retailer M&S has launched a range of beers and ales made with surplus sandwich bread.

Bavarian brewers are still sticking to the old tradition of the “house drink”. Each brewery employee receives a certain beer allocation per month free of all charges and taxes. The amount is even specified in the industry’s collective agreements. In Bavaria, it has been 36 litres beer per month per person for years, although some brewers are far more generous.

British craft brewers are reviving the tradition of brewery taprooms as an antidote to the national trend of pub closures and the dominance of Big Brewers.

Where to announce a transaction these days? On Facebook! On 18 April 2018 AB-InBev’s ZX Ventures acquired the Atom Group, a UK-based e-commerce company and spirits producer and distributor, for an undisclosed sum.

The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) reports a growing membership globally and of the Asia Pacific (AP) Section, with unprecedented levels of female participation. For example, women represent between 19 percent and 24 percent of people sitting IBD examinations.

Sugar may be bad for you, but why is it the soft drinks industry that has to bear the brunt of a crackdown?

The prospect of thousands of thirsty soccer fans flocking to Russia for this summer’s World Cup should boost beer sales, yet brewers see little reason to be optimistic.

Global consumption of energy drinks is growing and, guess what, is producing a new crop of billionaires. Red Bull alone has created twelve billionaires, including Austrian marketing guru Dietrich Mateschitz, 73, and the eleven Thai heirs of his late partner, Chaleo Yoovidhya. On the latest Forbes Rich List, published in March 2018, Mr Mateschitz ranked 37th. With an estimated wealth of USD 27 billion (11 April 2018), he must be one of the richest Austrians.