Global spirits major Diageo said it has on Thursday completed the sale of Cacique to Bardinet S.A., one of the leading Spanish spirits players.
Cacique is an authentic rum brand from Venezuela with a 65-year hertitage, popular amongst consumers in Spain and Venezuela.
âThe sale of Cacique reflects Diageoâs strategy of maintaining a sharp focus on effective portfolio management,â John Kennedy, Diageoâs president, Europe, said.
âWe are confident that Bardinet is the right owner for Cacique, maintaining the brandâs authenticity and prominent position in Spain and Venezuela, as well as building its position in Continental Europe.â
Jean-Paul Bouyat, chief executive of Bardinet S.A., added: âThis is a strategic addition to our portfolio which will help us to increase our rum market share in Spain and beyond. We are looking forward to integrating this brand into our family, continuing to strengthen our offering, whilst always ensuring exceptional taste and quality.â
Bardinet has a wide portfolio of spirits but also of Cava and Rioja wines, and non-alcoholic beverages. Rum is at the heart of the companyâs history, with NEGRITA ranking No.3 rum brand in Spain and a renowned expertise for aging rums.
Bardinet has grown significantly over the years, taking over the distribution of Marie Brizard Liqueurs and Cutty Sark Scotch Whisky.
Since 1993, Bardinet has been part of the group La Martiniquaise-Bardinet, an independent French wines and spirits group founded in 1934. La Martiniquaise-Bardinet is a leading spirits group in France and features in the worldâs top 10. The group has a turnover of âŹ1.5 billion, operating in 180 countries with a large portfolio of international brands.
Children in Year Four at Ashton Primary School in Preston have baked heart-shaped shortbreads dipped in chocolate and have donated them to residents at Abraham House, Marina View, and Swansea Terrace.
The tasty treats were well received by residents and the project has supported the children to develop new skills and broaden their awareness of the community around them.
Ingredients were supplied by James Hall & Co. Ltd, together with a SPAR recipe card, which was put together with help from the University of Central Lancashireâs Dietetics department.
The initiative is part of a longer-term project with multiple partners working together across the academic year which is aiming to support Ashton Primary School in a range of areas.
These including knowledge development with children and families, supporting the school to become more self-sufficient with food supply, and increasing the connection between the school and the community around them.
âBaking shortbread has been a labour of love," said Michelle Harrison-Baines, Year Four teacher at Ashton Primary School. "The children adored the process of donning aprons and getting out the mixing bowls and rolling pins to produce the heart shaped biscuits.
âIt was a lovely opportunity to coincide with Valentineâs Day, and it was brilliant for the children to see the smiles on the faces of the residents when we arrived at each of the homes.â
Katie Atherton, Trading Manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: âWe have enjoyed every one of the opportunities we have done supporting Ashton Primary School this academic year, but I think the Valentineâs Day baking session has been the most heart-warming yet.
âAs a proud Preston-based family business with family values, we are pleased to be supporting skills development within children and helping the school build a connection with the community, which is what we do at SPAR.â
A good majority of Brits likes to support small businesses all the year round, shows a recent survey, suggesting affection for the UKâs small businesses remains strong.
According to a recent from American Express based on the survey of 2,000 adults, two-thirds (63 per cent) of consumers believe it is important to support small independent businesses all year round, and not just during seasonal peaks like Small Business Saturday, which in 2024 saw a collective ÂŁ634m spent in-store and online.
Consumers highlighted various reasons why they would continue shopping small, including how these businesses boost the appeal of their local high street (53 per cent); the personalised experience they enjoy when shopping (50 per cent); and a desire to support their local community (43 per cent).
Brits will be taking an increasingly savvy approach to their spending, the research found.
Half (50 per cent) of all respondents say they will buy from alternative retailers if they feel they can get a better deal elsewhere, with a third (33 per cent) stating they would be encouraged to do so by specific offers.
Shoppers plan to lean into ways of achieving greater value for money this year, compared to last; buying pre-loved items, maximising seasonal sales, and using payment cards that offer rewards and points on their purchases were among the top ranked tactics.
Furthermore, Gen Z and Millennial shoppers ranked as the most thorough when it comes to their research before spending, particularly if planning to purchase big ticket items like furniture. Almost three quarters (73 per cent) of this age group said they either always or sometimes seek recommendations in advance.
Dan Edelman, UK general manager, merchant services at American Express, said, âThe one guarantee with retail is that it never stands still, and itâs the retailers who best meet ever-evolving customer expectations that will succeed.
"Our research identifies some distinct priorities that are likely to influence consumer spending behaviour in the months ahead.
âFor small businesses, itâs hugely positive to see continued recognition of, and affinity for, shopping small highlighted by the research.
"Small businesses pride themselves on the unique experiences and service they offer, something that clearly appeals to consumers.â
Plants, a UK-based health-food brand and business set up by Deliciously Ella founder Ella Mills, has acquired the Allplants assets from administration.
According to a statement signed off my Mills and her husband Matthew, Plants has bought Allplants âname and associated brand assetsâ.
London-based Allplants was put into the hands of advisory firm Interpath in November, resulting in 65 staff losing their jobs.
At the time, Interpath said, âIn common with a number of other companies across the plant-based food sector, the company had faced trading headwinds in recent years, including rising food, transport and energy costs and the impact of fragile consumer confidence in the wake of the cost-of-living crisis.
âAfter a period of sustained losses, the directors sought to explore their strategic options, including exploring the possibility of a sale or refinancing. However, when a solvent solution could not be found, they took the difficult decision to seek the appointment of administrators.â
Financial terms of the asset transfer to Plants have not been disclosed.
In the same statement, Natasha Harbinson, a director at Interpath who led the transaction, said, âThe Allplants brand had grown to become synonymous with ethically-produced, healthy, plant-based nutrition, so weâre pleased to have concluded this transaction which will enable it to continue under the direction of the experienced Plantsâ team.â
Founded in 2016 by Jonathan Petrides, Allplants produced frozen vegan meals, mainly sold online but also in select independent retailers.
Plants, meanwhile, offers pasta, pasta sauces and salad dressings, which are selectively sold in Waitrose and online with Ocado..
âWe will bring together Plants and Allplants to create something truly special - a new, natural, plant-based powerhouse,â the Mills duo said.
âWe have long admired the Allplants brand, and the brand name has remarkable consumer awareness across the UK.
âWe are pleased to have signed an agreement to specifically acquire the brand name and associated brand assets, and weâre so excited to build an exciting future for this brand with such enormous promise.â
The Mills family no longer owns Deliciously Ella. It was sold in September to the Hero Group, a Swiss manufacturer of health-focused baby foods, snack bars and spreads, for an undisclosed sum, but Mills remains its CEO.
Regulators have proposed sweeping changes for the baby formula industry after finding that parents could save about ÂŁ300 a year by switching to lower-priced products.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today (14) said issues such as high prices and branding in the industry were leading to âpoor outcomesâ.
Some brands cost more than the weekly value of family benefits, leading to claims that some parents opted to forgo food to buy the product.
Baby formula should be placed in standardised packaging in hospitals while parents should be allowed to use gift vouchers and loyalty card points to buy formula milk, added CMA.
Labelling of infant formula in hospitals or other healthcare locations should be standardised.
Proposing five measures, CMA stated these will improve outcomes for parents and could allow them to save ÂŁ300 a year by switching to a lower-priced brand, after a year-long study into the infant formula market.
However, the regulator has decided against recommending regulations such as a price cap on baby formula or a profit-margin cap, saying such a move would âinvolve significant risksâ and could push up the prices of cheaper formula products to reach the ceiling, leading to some parents âmissing out on cheaper options on the marketâ.
Sarah Cardell, the chief executive of the CMA, said many parents who âneed, or choose, to formula feed, pick a brand at a vulnerable moment, based on incomplete information, often believing that higher prices must mean better qualityâ.
She added: âThis is despite NHS advice stating that all brands will meet your babyâs nutritional needs, regardless of brand or price.â
Regulators have previously pointed to prices rising by 25 per cent over the past two years while consumers have borne the brunt of rising factory costs.
Buying group Unitas Wholesale has welcomed the announcement made by its wholesale member Parfetts over its expansion in south of England with the opening of a new depot in Southampton.
As announced today (13), Parfetts is set to open a new 113,000 sq ft depot that will enable it to deliver across the south coast and into Greater London while also serving as cash and carry depot for retailers across the region.
Parfetts' new depot will be opened later this year. It is expected to provide independent retailers across the South with access to a wide range of regular promotions, from weekly managerâs specials to Big Ticket promotions and quarterly showcases.
Welcoming the news, Unitas Wholesale managing director John Kinney said, "âUnitas member Parfettsâ second new depot in three years demonstrates the incredible strength of their retail cash and carry and delivery model.
"Retailers love to visit the new generation of state-of-the art depots like Parfetts Birmingham. They are perfect showrooms for suppliersâ innovative and ingenious merchandising displays and Parfetts is leading the way.
âWe are delighted that one of our biggest members is expanding into national coverage with its excellent Go Local proposition.
"We look forward to supporting the whole Parfetts team as they bring their fantastic independent wholesale and symbol model to thousands more retailers in the south of England.â
Guy Swindell, joint managing director of Parfetts, said, âThe launch of our ninth depot underlines our commitment to serving a national customer base.
"We are determined to bring our employee-owned model to as many retailers as possible to ensure they can benefit from the industry-leading support we offer.
âWe are on track to reach ÂŁ1bn turnover and 2,000 symbol group retailers. Our relentless focus on supporting retailer margins has accelerated our growth over the last few years.â
Currently, Parfetts has depots in Aintree, Anfield, Birmingham, Halifax, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Somercotes and Stockport.
Parfetts has also launched a new forecourt and transient customers symbol format recently.
The new format Shop & Go offers a bespoke product range and dedicated promotions designed for specific shopper missions, emphasising impulse, confectionery, snacks, and soft drinks. It also provides food-to-go, beers, wines, spirits, and specialist ranges, including car care and maintenance.