AB InBev, the world’s leading brewer, has extended its nearly 40-year partnership with FIFA to include the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 taking place in the US from 15 June to 13 July.
AB InBev is also a sponsor of FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the US.
The brewer said the expanded partnership reinforces its megabrand and mega platform strategy by connecting beer with global events that consumers love. Megabrands Budweiser and Michelob ULTRA will lead the partnership complemented with local brands in select markets.
“AB InBev has been an iconic sponsor of our events for almost 40 years, and today we are excited to see them come on board as a partner of the new FIFA Club World Cup.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.
“We are embarking on a journey that will redefine club football and create a new global tournament. With AB InBev’s brands, we are creating unforgettable moments for football fans around the world.”
Michel Doukeris, AB InBev chief executive, said: “This partnership with the FIFA Club World Cup continues our legacy of bringing beer and sports together for fans around the world, creating more moments of celebration and cheers. We look forward to activating this first-of-its-kind tournament next summer in partnership with FIFA.”
The upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will gather 32 of the world’s best football clubs for a month-long celebration across 11 US host cities. As part of the multi-faceted agreement, AB InBev will create unique brand experiences across participating countries, and deliver the ‘Player of the Match Award’.
Café Solo has announced the global launch of a world-first Pedro Ximénez Sherry (PX) Cask Finished Coffee Liqueur.
Café Solo PX is the first in a range of cask-finished coffee liqueurs to be released by the brand and the third expression that has launched this year in the Café Solo range, which includes the debut expression, Café Solo Original and Café Solo Espresso Martini Cans.
Café Solo said the latest launch adds to their mission to shake up the UK’s coffee cocktail market and offers interest and complexity for mixologists shaking up cocktails in bars and at home.
Ground with exceptional coffee, Café Solo is crafted with premium SOLO Cold Brew Coffee, which boasts a full-bodied flavour profile, rich acidity, and a refreshingly clean finish. Café Solo is matured in PX Sherry casks which impart residual sweetness and rich, dried-fruit notes.
Café Solo PX Cask Finished Coffee Liqueur is indulgent and dessert-like, with the PX Sherry Cask adding layers of sweetness, depth, and complexity. Café Solo PX offers notes of rich toffee, fig, walnut and lemon.
Made from the sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes (in Jerez, Spain) PX Sherry is intensely sweet and rich, and Jerez’s unique terroir and tradition make PX sherry one-of-a-kind. PX casks are often repurposed to age or "finish" whiskies and other spirits, imparting their residual sweetness and rich, dried-fruit notes. These casks are prized for the intense flavours they impart, transforming the profiles of other liquids.
"We are delighted to launch our first Café Solo cask edition, which was inspired by an evening of enjoying delicious Espresso Martinis with added PX Sherry! We sourced our casks from Jerez, Spain, and I was lucky enough to witness the incredible craftsmanship at the Antonio Páez Lobato cooperage,” Café Solo brand manager Holly Harwood said.
“PX sherry offers a wonderfully rich profile, and the combination of coffee with notes of dried fruit and caramel is truly something you need to try!"
Café Solo PX is available to the UK trade via Fortitude Drinks.
Dolin, a historic family-owned spirits company established in 1821 in the Alpine region of Savoie, France, is set to expand its UK presence through a new distribution partnership with Mangrove Global.
With a legacy spanning over two centuries, Dolin has distinguished itself through authentically sourced local ingredients and traditional production methods that create premium spirits to be enjoyed worldwide. The company's first international Vermouth award in 1876 marked the beginning of its enduring reputation in Parisian cafes and European cocktail culture.
“Aperitifs like Vermouth have enjoyed a renaissance in the last few decades, and Dolin represents the quintessential French classic,” said Nick Gillett Managing Director of Mangrove Global. “The Mangrove team have long admired the range, and we’re excited to showcase these exceptional, provenance-driven spirits.
“We’re all about exceptional brands that celebrate the heritage and craftsmanship behind their liquids, and Dolin fits the bill perfectly. We’re ready to get started, building upon all the wonderful work that’s been done so far.”
The partnership arrives at a pivotal moment, as contemporary drinkers increasingly seek spirits with strong heritage, authenticity, and provenance. Dolin Vermouths embody these qualities in abundance, with their lighter, more delicate flavours making them a perfect choice for a wide range of cocktails, such as the classic martini, or even enjoyed neat.
Each Vermouth is crafted through the maceration of at least 30 Alpine botanicals in white wine, offering a complex flavour profile that has consistently ranked Dolin among the top five global Vermouth brands since 2020.
Joining the Mangrove portfolio will be Dolin Vermouth Dry, Dolin Vermouth Rouge, Dolin Vermouth Blanc, and Dolin Chamberyzette, the latter of which is a delicate cocktail made from Dolin’s white Vermouth Blanc and its much-loved Liqueur Framboise – strawberry liqueur. Each variety of Dolin’s Vermouth uses a unique selection of herbs and plants, blended with quality wine to achieve the resulting flavour – a flavour which, as noted by Drinks International, has kept Dolin amongst the top five best-selling Vermouth brands, since 2020.
Pierre-Olivier Rousseaux President Owner of Dolin said: “We are delighted with this new partnership. Mangrove will bring its distribution expertise and its solid presence in the spirits sector to promote the authenticity of Dolin products in the UK, while respecting the heritage and artisanal know-how for which our brand is renowned since 1821.”
Foster’s, Australia’s most iconic brew, has announced an exciting new sponsorship deal with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
The fun kicks off with the World Darts Championship, which begins on December 15 at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace.
This bonza partnership is set to bring even more buzz to one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, while giving darts fans a real taste of Aussie spirit. The partnership makes Foster’s, part of the HEINEKEN UK portfolio, the official beer partner of the PDC. Putting it front and centre at massive events like the legendary World Darts Championship and the Premier League Darts series.
With both brands built on, passion, camaraderie and unforgettable moments, it’s a match made in heaven. Over the next few years, Foster’s will be making its mark with unmissable event branding, epic fan experiences, and plenty of cold ones to keep the good times rolling, whether fans are at the venue, down the pub, or tuning in from home.
Rajeev Sathyesh, Marketing Director, HEINEKEN UK commented: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the PDC to bring some of that Aussie spirit to such an iconic sport. Darts is all about sociable, high-energy fun – which is a perfect match for Foster’s. We can’t wait to bring a slice of Aussie good times to darts fans around the world!”
Eddie Hearn, Chairman of the PDC, reckons this is a bullseye partnership too: “This is a cracking partnership for the PDC. Foster’s is a household name that’s all about bringing people together, and that’s exactly what we do with darts. With their support, we’ll be taking the sport to a whole new level and giving fans even more to cheer about. It’s time to raise a glass and get ready for some unmissable action!”
What Fans Can Expect Foster’s will be bringing Aussie vibes to PDC events with pop-up fan experiences giveaways, and plenty of ice-cold lager. From VIP darts experiences to limited-edition merch, fans will have the chance to get their hands on some top prizes whether in store or down the pub.
Whether it’s the Foster’s logo shining bright or a cheeky nod to Australia, fans can expect a little extra flair during their favourite tournaments.
Barefoot, the #1 U.S. wine brand in the UK, has continued its momentum in 2024, showing a value growth of +4.3 per cent compared to the overall wine category’s +0.2 per cent, with an even stronger previous three months, where growth reached +6.6 per cent against a category decline of -1.1 per cent.
The continued success of the established varietals and the introduction of the new Barefoot Zinfandel in the late summer, coupled with Barefoot’s distinctive branding, have helped fuel this success.
The UK’s four most popular wines…
Barefoot holds the #1 spot for Merlot, Pinot Grigio, White Zinfandel and Pink Moscato, cementing its place as a trusted choice among consumers.
Approachable and adaptable, Barefoot Merlot is a go-to for any occasion. It offers flavours of blackberry, raspberry and chocolate, pairing perfectly with meat dishes and cheese
Crisp and refreshing, Barefoot Pinot Grigio is a dry and light-bodied white wine, with flavours of tart green apple and notes of citrus and peach. The perfect sip to pair with spicy pasta, a Thai green curry or a bowl of mussels.
Barefoot White Zinfandel is fun, refreshing and a definite crowd-pleaser. It’s bursting with tropical aromas of pineapple and strawberries. This fruity wine pairs well with chicken and seafood.
The Barefoot Pink Moscato is a juicy and refreshing wine with ripe nectarine aromas and flavours. With layers of raspberry and pomegranate, it’s best enjoyed with spicy Asian cuisine or a fruity dessert.
Smelling of rosés
Barefoot has maintained its position as the UK’s #1 rosé brand, with a year-on-year value growth of +11.7per cent – outpacing the rosé category’s +1.2 per cent increase by +10.5pts. With a portfolio including Barefoot Rosé, White Zinfandel and Pink Moscato, there is a rosé for every taste.
New Barefoot Zinfandel…
Launched in the UK August 2024, Barefoot Zinfandel is the latest edition to the brand’s award-winning portfolio, this fruit-forward red wine offers a bold, layered profile with vibrant notes of black cherry and juicy raspberry. The fourth most planted grape variety in California, Zinfandel is particularly tolerant to increasingly warm summers, promising a hopeful future for the variety.
“Barefoot has experienced exceptional success since we launched it in the UK in 2009 to become the UK’s most popular US wine brand. Its unique and approachable fruit-forward styles, combined with eye-catching and familiar branding, resonate with a broad range of consumers – whether it’s new drinkers or loyal fans. We hope to continue this growth over the coming year,” says Mark Stammers, Senior Sales Director EMEA at Gallo.
Leading hard seltzer brand White Claw has launched what could potentially be the world’s smallest house party pop-up.
The mini house structure, measuring just three metres tall, two metres wide, and two metres deep, is coming to London, Manchester and Liverpool through November and December.
The campaign follows new research by the brand which revealed that new-age partying is all about connecting with others, socialising and smaller, more intimate settings.
A third (35%) consider a house party to be their preferred way of socialising with friends, while a third see them as an attractive prospect due to the cost-of-living crisis. It also emerged 48 per cent prefer more intimate surroundings.
The poll of 2,000 UK adults aged 18 to 45, conducted by OnePoll, unveiled that our newfound love of house parties is down to them feeling ‘cosy and safe’ (58%), the ease of having meaningful conversations (58%), and their affordability (52%).
Plus, nearly half (47%) love knowing most, if not all, of the guests, and no one’s complaining about skipping the drink lines (43%)!
The average adult has hosted two house parties in the last 12 months and has attended three at others’ houses, and half of those polled would like to attend more than they currently do.
However, four in 10 Brits are put off hosting their own house party due to the clean up afterwards, while others are deterred by potential damages (25%) and neighbours complaining about noise (23%).
23 per cent said hosting a house party is too stressful and time consuming, and 21 per cent went as far as to say they feel the social pressure of hosting a party outweighs the fun of it.
The White Claw pop-up looks to deliver the nation exactly what they want: intimate house parties with no strings attached.
The space squeezes just 6 people and is kitted out with a button to kickstart a mini-disco, photobooth, mock fireplace, leather armchair and homely décor, creating the ultimate mini house party hotspot.
Sarah, 26, of Croydon, who got to experience the set-up, said: "I love going to house parties but hate hosting them, they can be such a faff and I’m always worried about my neighbours.
“It was so great when this party turned out to be something completely different. I could actually talk to people and get to know them, without shouting over loud music.
“It felt like so much more of a community, like everyone was there to connect. Honestly it was such a refreshing experience!”
The nation’s shifting attitudes brings with it a new era of house-party rules, as revealed by the OnePoll survey. The modern rules that should be followed including not entering bedrooms without permission (40%), not bringing uninvited guests (38%) and not pinching other people’s drinks (31%).
Other essential etiquette tips were to bring your own alcohol (32%), dress for comfort, not for show (29%) and help to tidy up before you leave (27%).
Michael Dean, spokesperson for White Claw, added: “We always knew we’re a nation of house party lovers, but it’s interesting to see that Brits are now really interested in making connections with others when partying.
“While it’s fun to attend a house party, we know they can be stressful to host if people don’t follow all the rules.
“After bringing Brits the coolest party-stop corner shop last year, the Claw-ner Shop, this year we’re answering the nation’s prayers and offering another once-in-a-lifetime experience: the World’s Smallest House Party. From your hard seltzer or vodka, right down to your party location, we’ve got your night covered.”