Coca-Cola Great Britain becomes a sponsor of the London 2012 Olympic torch relay.
In Sweden, PepsiCo launches an additive- and sweetener-free version of its Gatorade sports drink, initially available in blackcurrant, lemon and orange flavours.
Britvic completes the acquisition of French soft drinks company Fruité Enterprises.
UK soft drinks company AG Barr posts a 17.9% increase in revenue for the 31 January to 29 May 2010 period, with strong performances by the Irn-Bru and Rubicon brands.
Britvic launches a £2.5m summer advertising campaign for the Tango brand, including the re-launch of a limited edition 440ml can featuring an on-pack music download promotion.
Fresh Trading, the parent company of Innocent Drinks, reports that Innocent sees FY 2009 sales decline 2.4% to £96.5m, with profit falling 47.7% to £5.7m.
Tea company Twinings appoints Sean Summers, former PepsiCo Marketing Director for the Tropicana and Quaker brands, as Marketing Director effective August 2010.
Welsh spring water company Ty Nant announces it is to sponsor the 2010 Ryder Cup golf tournament.
Aspartame producer Ajinomoto wins its appeal against the 2009 High Court decision in regards to Asda’s publicity for its ‘Good for you’ range which claimed its sweetener aspartame was ‘nasty’.
Britvic reformulates its Robinsons Fruit Shoot H2O brand with a crisper, more refreshing taste and launches a TV advertising campaign to raise brand awareness.
In the UK, PepsiCo appoints Patrick Kalotis, current Danone Waters UK Marketing Director, as Marketing Director for the Tropicana and Quaker brands.
British Soft Drinks Association elects AG Barr Chief Executive Roger White as its new President, replacing Paul Moody.
In France, Nestlé files lawsuit against Sara Lee Corporation over claims the company’s L’Or Espresso capsules infringes patents on the Nespresso home coffee brewing system.
Nestlé appoints Vernon Bradley to the newly created position of Group Marketing Director for the UK & Ireland.
In the US, International Bottled Water Association endorses the establishment of the Material Recovery Program to increase locally run, community specific recycling programmes.
Danone secures a multi-year deal with tennis player Maria Sharapova to advertise the Evian brand.
Zenith International Chairman Richard Hall to be Series Consultant for three one hour BBC Money Programme documentaries scheduled for autumn 2010. With the working title of “The Brands That Feed Us”, they will chart the changes in the British diet and food industry since the end of the Second World War.
In the UK, Britvic trials a new range of environmentally friendly hydrocarbon chillers which can generate CO2 emissions savings of up to 32%.
Coca-Cola India signs deal to become the official beverage sponsor of the Commonwealth Games 2010.
UK fruit juice firm Multiple Marketing launches advertising campaign for its Sunmagic brand, highlighting the health benefits of the range
US food group General Mills posts a 1% increase in FY 2010 net sales to US$14.8bn, with Yoplait net sales growing 2% .
Sanitation supply company Ecolab partners with DuPont to commercialise and market new antimicrobial coating technologies for the food and beverage industries.
In Hong Kong, China Resources Enterprise is to acquire an 80% stake in coffee shop chain Pacific Coffee Group for HK$326.6m.
US organic beverage manufacturer Honest Tea launches Passion Fruit Green Tea with Maqui Berry, claimed to be the first RTD organic tea sweetened with organic stevia.
Heineken sells its UK-based wholesale drinks supplier WaverleyTBS to investment firm Manfield Partners for an undisclosed sum.
In Germany, Tetra Pak plans to sell 3.3bn Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified beverage cartons, representing approximately 50% of the company’s yearly carton production in the country.
Packaging company Rexam announces it will expand its operations in Hot Springs, Arkansas, creating more than 150 jobs by the end of 2010.
UK-based Tate & Lyle is to sell its EU Sugar Refining operations to American Sugar Refining for £211m.
Irish Dairy Board announces its Kerrygold Company and North Downs Dairy subsidiaries are to merge, creating a new group to be named Adams Foods, effective 3 October 2010.
MillerCoors publishes its 2010 Sustainable Development report, highlighting a 20% elimination of waste sent to landfill, and a 3.6% reduction in total energy consumption.
