Hard-To-Track News For Business Professionals

Asahi Clears Regulatory Hurdles For East Africa Brewery Deal

Asahi Group Holdings received regulatory exemptions from capital markets authorities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to proceed with its acquisition of a majority stake in East African Breweries, without making a mandatory takeover offer to minority shareholders. Asahi plans to acquire 100% of Diageo Kenya Limited, which will give it approximately 65% of EABL's issued share capital. Competition authority approvals remain outstanding in all three markets. A Kenyan High Court petition from logistics company Bia Tosha, which had sought to halt the deal over distribution disputes, was dismissed.

Jimmy’s Iced Coffee Adds Vietnamese And Cookie Butter Variants

Carlsberg Britvic-owned Jimmy’s Iced Coffee is launching two new products: a Vietnamese Inspired Iced Coffee and a limited-edition Cookie Butter variant. Vietnamese Inspired Iced Coffee is made with whole milk and positioned as a richer, creamier take on the brand’s existing recipe, drawing on the popularity of Vietnamese coffee. Cookie Butter is a cookie dough and buttery-flavored option. Vietnamese Inspired launched in Waitrose in a 250ml SlimCan at £1.70 RRP; Cookie Butter is rolling out in Morrisons in a 380ml BottleCan at £2.75 and in a 250ml SlimCan at £1.70, with the smaller format also available at Waitrose, Asda and Sainsbury’s.

Suntory BOSS Coffee Cafe Campaign Targets Mainstream Iced Coffee Buyers

Suntory BOSS Coffee’s new campaign in Australia and New Zealand for its new BOSS Coffee Café range is built around the platform “Less Milkshake. More Real Coffee”. It aims to distinguish BOSS Coffee Café from competitors described as milk-heavy and to encourage switching among habitual iced coffee drinkers. A central element is a “Milkshake Helpline” concept inviting consumers to question whether their current iced coffee qualifies as real coffee. Suntory BOSS Coffee Café is positioned as a lighter, café-quality product using the same brewed-hot, chilled-fast process as the brand’s canned range. Activity is rolling out across video, out-of-home, retail and social media.

Carlsberg Malaysia Locally Brews ChongQing Beer For National Launch

Carlsberg Malaysia began brewing ChongQing beer locally at its Shah Alam facility, making the brand available nationwide in Malaysia for the first time. Originally brewed in Chongqing, China since 1958, the lager has an ABV of 3.8% and is sold in 490ml cans. Growing Malaysian consumer interest in Chinese brands and culture underpins the launch. Distribution through 99 Speedmart outlets nationwide is set to begin in June.

Carlsberg Malaysia Backs Premiumization Despite Sales Declines

Carlsberg Malaysia’s latest results showed revenue declines across its portfolio, including a 4% drop in mainstream Carlsberg beer sales, a 7% fall in premium brands such as Kronenbourg 1664 and Somersby and a 47% decline in alcohol-free Carlsberg 0.0. Despite this, company leadership reaffirmed premiumization and innovation as core strategic priorities. Sapporo was cited as the best-performing premium brand. Management flagged excise duty increases in Malaysia, weak consumer sentiment and broader macroeconomic pressures as ongoing challenges.

Carlsberg Britvic Adds Three Dessert-Inspired Zero Sugar Pepsi Flavors

Carlsberg Britvic’s three new ice cream-inspired, zero sugar Pepsi variants are Cherry & Vanilla, Raspberry Ripple and Salted Caramel Ice Cream. Following the 2025 launch of Strawberries ’N’ Cream and Cream Soda variants, described by the company as Pepsi’s most successful cola NPD launch in five years, the new range targets younger shoppers around what the company calls “intentional treating” occasions. Cherry & Vanilla and Raspberry Ripple will roll out nationally from July 14, with initial availability at Tesco from May 18. Products will be sold in 500ml bottles, price-marked packs, 330ml cans and eight-can multipacks.

Suntory Builds Global Consumer Data Platform To Guide Product Development

Suntory Beverage & Food’s new product development platform, Future Adventure Map, is designed to standardize analysis of consumer lifestyles and beverage preferences across its eight key international markets. Built through surveys and workshops involving 100 employees, the database captures 30 indicators covering lifestyle trends, health consciousness and flavor preferences. Its first product, Suntory Hy! Water Lock, launched in Thailand in March, targeting workers in heavily air-conditioned offices, and reached 1.8 times its projected shipment volume after a trial listing at Seven-Eleven stores.

Carlsberg Launches Rounded-Corner Cardboard Multipack

Developed with DS Smith and KHS using Arcwise technology, Carlsberg’s new cardboard bottle multipack with rounded corners launched first in Poland. Known as DS Smith Round Wrap, the format uses curved edges rather than conventional square corners. According to the companies, the pack offers improved shelf visibility, uses less material, has a reduced carbon footprint and is less prone to transit damage. It can run on existing packaging equipment without major capital investment.

Suntory Oceania Opens $13 Million Warehouse at Auckland Facility

Suntory Oceania opened a $13 million warehouse at its Wiri, Auckland manufacturing site, expanding on-site pallet storage capacity from approximately 1,000 to over 4,300 spaces. An electronic warehouse management system has been installed to improve inventory handling. Suntory’s Chief Supply Chain Officer Ian Roberts linked the Wiri expansion to the company’s broader Australian and New Zealand manufacturing strategy, including a carbon-neutral production facility in Queensland.

Premium Beer Drives Ambev Q1 Growth

Ambev reported Q1 net profit 2.1% higher than Q1 last year, with net revenue rising 8.1% organically. Carnival activations in Brazil boosted premium beer volumes. Higher costs per hectoliter, driven by foreign exchange and commodity factors, were partially offset by the top-line performance. Looking ahead, Ambev cited the coming FIFA World Cup as a demand driver.

Vietnam Regulator Fines Carlsberg for Misleading Product Claims

Vietnam’s Competition Commission fined Carlsberg Vietnam Breweries 200 million Vietnamese dong for providing misleading product information intended to attract customers away from a competitor, following a complaint from Heineken Vietnam. Under the ruling, Carlsberg Vietnam must publicly correct the misleading information on its official website and social media channels, and remove it from packaging for Huda, Huda Gold and Halida beers.

South Korean Drinks Makers Downsize Formats To Attract Younger Buyers

South Korean beverages companies are responding to declining alcohol consumption and shifting consumer preferences by introducing smaller pack formats, lower-alcohol products and alcohol-free lines. Lotte Chilsung launched a 200ml plastic carton version of its Saero soju, the smallest in its lineup, designed for portability and outdoor occasions, and also relaunched Cloud beer as Cloud Crush, reducing ABV by 0.5 percentage points to 4.0% and cutting calories by more than 30%. HiteJinro launched a limited-edition flavored soju for university campuses and an alcohol-free beer.

Lotte Chilsung Launches Low-Caffeine Zero-Sugar Hot6 Glow

Lotte Chilsung Beverage’s Hot6 Glow is a new energy drink line in two flavors: Apple & Pomelo, which blends green tea with apple and pomelo aromas, and Peach & Apricot, which brings hibiscus tea together with peach and apricot notes. Each contains 80mg of plant-derived caffeine from green coffee beans, along with tea catechins, green tea concentrate and lemon balm extract. Both are zero sugar and zero calorie. Lotte Chilsung says the product is differentiated from conventional energy drinks by its use of plant-derived caffeine and lower overall stimulant, sugar and calorie content. It targets consumers seeking a lighter everyday energy option.

Matcha Expands From Cafes To Korean RTD And Alcohol Markets

Matcha is expanding rapidly beyond Korean cafes and bakeries into the RTD and alcoholic beverage categories, with industry observers expecting the trend to continue at least until 2030. Lotte Well Food entered the matcha RTD market with Pasture Jeju Matcha Latte in a 300ml format, while Lotte Chilsung launched Cilonti Matcha Latte under its existing tea brand. Seoul Milk extended its King Matcha line with a strawberry variant, and Shenyang Soju introduced Matcha Soju. Industry sources attribute growth to health perceptions, visual appeal on social media, as well as demand from younger consumers seeking a caffeine alternative to coffee.

Varun Beverages Extends PepsiCo India License

Varun Beverages extended its exclusive bottling and trademark license with PepsiCo in India by 10 years, to April 2049. Under the revised agreement, the clause stopping Varun Beverages from seeking non-PepsiCo business was removed. Varun Beverages is expanding in Africa, including a March agreement to acquire South Africa-based Crickley Dairy, a December deal for South African soft drinks producer Twizza, and the November 2024 acquisition of PepsiCo’s bottling operations in Ghana and Tanzania.

Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Repositions TEA+ Brand For Younger Consumers

Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam launched a campaign for its RTD brand TEA+, developed around the platform “Add More”. It seeks to position TEA+ as part of a deliberate daily routine rather than simply a refreshment, drawing on what the companies describe as growing Vietnamese consumer demand for balance and calm in modern life. A campaign film directed by Japanese filmmaker Takafumi Tsuchiya features an action-comedy sequence involving a tea connoisseur. According to the companies, the campaign reflects a broader cultural shift in Vietnam from utilitarian to more intentional consumption. Activity is rolling out across film, digital, experiential and social platforms.

Suntory Beverage And Food Reports 11% Q1 Revenue Growth

Suntory Beverage & Food reported first-quarter 2026 revenue of ¥406.9 billion, up 11.2% year on year. Operating income was flat as higher costs weighed on margins. It maintained full-year 2026 guidance of 6.4% revenue growth.

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