The independent distributor Mangrove’s world whisky portfolio recently cleared up at the World Whiskies Awards 2024, with no less than six products winning global recognition. Included in the series of awards was the naming of the World’s Best Single Malt 2024, which was granted to The English Sherry Cask Matured, distilled in Norfolk. The wider portfolio brings together the best the world has to offer of independent spirits production, and this latest series of awards for the world whisky category acknowledges the high-quality of Mangrove’s particular collection.
Beginning with the biggest of the Awards, is the recently launched Sherry Cask Matured whisky produced by The English Distillery. Not only is this testament to the producers, but also puts English Whisky back as a courageous challenger of its Scotch and Irish counterparts. A family business in every sense of the word, The English Distillery is about to enter its 18th year of production – a wonderful year to celebrate winning World’sBest Single Malt above the world’s most well-known, premium, and beloved whiskies. Upon its opening in 2006, The English became England’s first whisky distillery to open in over 100 years. With the brand’s apt strapline, ‘Pioneers of English Whisky’, this latest win puts the region back on the map for whisky lovers across the globe.
“After recently visiting The English Distillery and chatting with the team about the range, it became crystal clear what a special whisky the Sherry Cask Matured is," said Stef Holt, Curator of Mangrove’s World Whisky portfolio commented on the big win. "The care and attention that’s gone into this liquid is incredible – down to the team seasoning their own PX Casks to hone the flavour.
"This is a coming-of-age tale, and whilst, at Mangrove, we all knew that these whiskies were amongst the best in the world – The English Distillery now has the title to prove it.”
The next winner, picking up the World’s Best Canadian Corn award, was Bearface Elementally Aged Triple Oak, a testament to the producer’s unique and careful ageing process, which involves no less than three types of oak cask and exposure to the extreme elements of the Canadian wilderness. A spirit that appeals to ‘explorers’ of world whisky, and purists alike – its wide appeal has no doubt played a part in it being critically acclaimed.
In the category of World’s Best Tennessee Whisky, Mangrove brand Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whisky came out on top. Already one of the world’s most awarded whiskies, racking up almost 2,000 awards since its release in 2017, the brand honours the first known African American Master Distiller, Nathan Green. Known as “Uncle Nearest” to his friends and family, he imparted his knowledge to a young Jack Daniel, and by doing so undoubtedly changed the world of whisky for generations to come. The spirit itself is bottled at 100% proof, 50% ABV, and hits the palate with notes of caramelised nuts, oat cookies, brown sugar, sandalwood, with hints of corn and cut grass.
Moving through to recognition for other regions of the world, Denmark’s Stauning distillery won Best Danish Rye, 12 years and under for its Single Rye Maple Syrup Cask Finish. Founded by nine friends from a variety of backgrounds, in a remote village in the West of Denmark, Stauning began as a passion project and has become one of the most exciting and daring whisky brands in the world. The team aren’t afraid to do things differently and have received praise for their use of local grains, traditional techniques like floor-malting and a focus on flavour and craft, over age. The distillery itself features exquisite Scandinavian design and has become a tourist attraction in its own right, as well as a source of regeneration for the surrounding area.
Mangrove brand, Milk & Honey won the best-in-class award for Best Israeli, 12 years and under for its spectacular Apex: Dead Sea. And this accolade comes fresh off the back of last year’s big win – where the distillery’s Elements Sherry Cask walked away with the title of World’s Best Single Malt. One of a small batch series that explores different innovations and creative approaches to distilling, this year’s winning whisky is aged in the lowest place on earth – The Dead Sea. Israel’s first whisky producer, the distillery has mastered hot-climate maturation with the help of Dr. Jim Swan, meaning an exceptional level of depth and complexity can be achieved, with less aging. For world whisky lovers, Milk & Honey’s exploration of place, casks, techniques and terroirs presents a wonderful opportunity to take a trip across the world – bottle by bottle.
The final winner from Mangrove’s stellar portfolio, is Balcones Distilling who walked away with the title of World’s Best Craft Producer. Based in their Texan hometown of Waco, the Balcones team focus on creating deliciously authentic spirits that remain true to the ingredients they’re made with. Their copper-stills were designed and built by Scottish artisans, and the small team is dedicated to creating drinkable spirits that retain the delectable flavours of the raw ingredients that gave them life.
“World whisky is more than a movement, it’s a broadening and diversification of the category and one that takes whisky drinkers on a journey across the globe," said Nick Gillett, Managing Director of Mangrove Global.
"Over the years we’ve carefully curated a selection of delicious and exceptional liquids. And the number of brands within our portfolio that have won at this year’s World Whiskies Awards is testament to what a truly exceptional collection it is.”
Snacking giant pladis has announced David Murray, currently leader of its UK and Ireland enterprise, will transition to the newly created position of global chief commercial officer.
After five years at the helm of pladis UK&I, Murray’s new role will see him take ownership of the company’s global platform and brand strategy along with its commercial transformation.
Mete Buyurgan will become the new managing director of pladis across Britain and Ireland effective 6 April.
Buyurgan, a pladis veteran of eight years, joins the Anglo-Irish division of the company from its Turkish, Eastern Europe and Central Asian operations which he ran since 2016.
Under his stewardship, pladis Türkiye, Eastern Europe and Central Asia grew revenue and profit despite significant headwinds and positioned itself at the forefront of the sustainability debate.
“While our brands like McVitie’s and Ülker have been part of peoples’ lives for decades, pladis is still a young business having started life nine years ago,” Geraldine Fraser, chief human resources officer, said.
“We have made tremendous progress together on our mission to build one of the world’s fastest growing snacks companies. Today, we take another step on that journey to evolve our business and position us for continued growth in an ever-changing retail and consumer landscape.”
Founded in 2016, pladis’ 16,000-strong team makes food across 27 bakeries and factories in 11 countries with its brands, like McVitie’s, Ülker and Flipz sold in more than 110 nations. pladis group revenue topped £2.7 billion in its most recent financial year ending 2023.
More than £20,000 worth of illicit tobacco and vapes were seized from multiple premises in an one-day operation in Meir by Trading Standards team along with officers from Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire Police.
The operation is the latest across the city that resulted in 13 shops being closed in the last 12 months, and forms part of Operation Cece, which is a National Trading Standards initiative in Partnership with HMRC to tackle illegal tobacco.
Under the latest one day action, officers raided three shops in the area after reports of underage sales of illegal vapes and tobacco to children as young as 12.
The significant operation seized 1,084 packets of cigarettes, over 1,500 vapes and 165 large pouches of rolling tobacco.
The retail value was estimated at more than £20,000, plus more than £12,000 in evaded duty. Officers also seized 12 key rings that were either unsafe or had trademark issues.
Several people with no right to work in the UK, and other immigration issues, were found and their cases passed to the Home Office.
Councillor Amjid Wazir OBE, Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability - said, “We will not tolerate the sale of illegal tobacco and vapes, which put residents at risk and cheat the taxpayer out of public money.
“Our Trading Standards teams are working round the clock to get illegal tobacco and vapes off the streets, and out of the hands of children. All forming part of corporate strategy and specifically helping to reclaim our streets.
Inspector Rebecca Price, from the Stoke South local policing team, said, “We’re working closely with the city council and wider partners in Stoke-on-Trent to tackle issues affecting local communities as part of our ongoing Making Great Places initiative.
“Retailers not complying with the law and putting local people at risk of harm are being targeted robustly on a proactive basis as part of this commitment, and I can assure local communities that similar enforcement alongside our colleagues will continue.”
The premises are now under investigation, and are facing possible criminal prosecutions including under the Licensing Act.
The Trading Standards work forms part of the city council mission to be a cleaner, greener and safer city for all who live, work and visit Stoke-on-Trent.
Keep ReadingShow less
Don Julio Tequila, owned by Diageo. The spirits giant sells billions of dollars worth of tequila and Canadian whisky in the US.
Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for Flipper's Boogie Palace
Spirits giant Diageo has suggested the US government consider tougher rules of origin requirements in trade agreements as an alternative to tariffs, a letter to the US Trade Representative showed.
In the March 11 letter, Diageo, the world's top spirits maker caught in the crossfire of US president Donald Trump's effort to remake global trade, argued that new rules of origin could support his aims and benefit the industry.
Such rules could give preference to goods, including alcoholic drinks, in which all ingredients and subcomponents are substantially sourced within the US or via its key trading partners, Alden Schacher, vice president of government relations at Diageo North America wrote.
This would deepen US supply chains, prevent "foreign adversaries" from using US trade partners to circumvent tariffs and support the administration's policy objectives such as growing the US economy, said the letter, one of hundreds published by the USTR from firms and trade associations about tariffs.
Diageo's proposed rules of origin would require that plants or grains used in the production of imported alcohol come from the US or the territory of a strategic trade partner - any country that has a trade agreement with the US, such as Mexico and Canada.
The company also suggested that the rules ensure the distillation also occurs in the US or the territory of the same partner, with any barrels used in ageing also sourced from one of those places.
Diageo sells billions of dollars worth of tequila and Canadian whisky in the United States. Executives have warned Trump's threatened 25 per cent tariffs on Mexico and Canada could deal a $200 million hit to operating profit in the company's second half alone, before mitigation measures.
In the letter, Schacher wrote that trade in distilled spirits is largely reciprocal and therefore actions to address imbalances are not necessary.
Schacher pointed out that Diageo employs thousands of US workers, has 11 US manufacturing sites, and spends $650 million every year on US inputs including barrels, glass and cans.
(Reuters)
Keep ReadingShow less
Asda Express stores offset sales dip at the supermarket
Asda on Friday reported a decline in its annual sales for the 2024 financial year, but the retailer has seen profits rising on margin gains.
The supermarket chain said its total revenue for the year to 31 December 2024 declined by 0.8 per cent to £21.7 billion, while like-for-like sales (excluding fuel) were lower by 3.4 per cent.
Asda grew adjusted EBITDA after rent by 5.8 per cent to £1.14bn during the year, driven by improved gross margins, particularly in non-food reflecting the strength and scale of its George business, as well as a full year of profit from the 356 Asda Express convenience stores and forecourt sites acquired from EG Group.
“Everyone is focused on making Asda the number one choice again for busy hard-working families who demand value. This is what’s driving all of our actions across pricing, ranging, merchandising and every part of the business,” Allan Leighton, Asda’s executive chairman, said.
Since the year end, Asda stepped up its investment in value by bringing back its Rollback to Asda Price proposition. Launched at the end of January, with an average reduction of 25 per cent across 4,000 popular products, Rollback has now been expanded to roughly a quarter of Asda’s entire range.
Asda said it will add thousands more products to Rollback at regular intervals during the year as part of its strategic shift to move its entire product range to a new low ‘Asda Price’ by the end of 2026.
Asda delivered £0.6bn in free cashflow during FY24, which helped reduce net leverage to 2.9x (FY23: 3.0x). The retailer said this enables it to invest in new value propositions like Rollback and Asda Price.
During the year Asda refinanced the vast majority of its 2025 and 2026 maturities of £3.2bn, including paying down £0.3bn from cash. This pushed out all the remaining maturities into the next decade.
“Looking ahead we still have plenty of work to get our business firing on all cylinders again,” Leighton said.
“While regaining customers’ trust will take time, we will undertake a substantive and well backed programme of investment in price, availability and the shopping experience to deliver this. This will materially reduce our profitability this year, which we expect to reverse as our market share recovers and improves over time.”
Keep ReadingShow less
Henry Westons Vintage 500ml is the number one cider SKU in the convenience channel
The unstoppable rise of crafted apple cider is setting the benchmark for success in the UK’s £1.1 billion off-trade cider market, according to the latest Westons Cider Report.
The leading cider producer advises that convenience retailers who prioritise premium products and strategic ranging will be best placed to drive sales in 2025.
Despite crafted cider thriving across the broader market, its share in convenience still lags slightly behind (20% vs. 24%). This gap presents an exciting opportunity for convenience retailers to tap into the premium crafted cider trend and unlock significant revenue.
Westons Cider’s milestone report reveals that, while total cider sales have edged up by just 0.1 per cent YOY, crafted cider is experiencing remarkable growth with a significant 14.6 per cent surge in convenience alone.
As consumers increasingly seek authenticity, quality, and heritage, premium crafted ciders are becoming essential for retailers eager to drive long-term success.
A decade of transformation in cider
Westons Cider predicted the rise of crafted cider in 2018 and, seven years on, the numbers prove just how transformative this shift has been. Back then, crafted cider made up just 9 per cent of apple cider sales — today, it accounts for nearly a quarter of the total cider market, adding an impressive £26.3 million to the category in the past year alone.
While the overall cider category has edged forward (+0.1%), crafted cider has surged ahead, growing at ten times (11.1%) the rate of the total market. This unwavering momentum cements crafted cider’s place as the fastest-growing segment in the industry.
This shift reflects a fundamental change in consumer preferences. A decade ago, cider was a broader, more fragmented category, featuring more brands and greater variety. Today, the focus has shifted — fewer brands, stronger premium offerings, and an emphasis on quality over quantity.
Crafted cider: A major untapped opportunity in convenience
Despite commanding a premium price of £4.32 per litre in convenience, compared to £2.76 for the total category, crafted cider remains underrepresented in this channel, with distribution at 95.4 per cent compared to 98.4 per cent across the total market. Bridging this gap could unlock an impressive £3.7m in value sales.
Even with limited shelf space, crafted cider continues to show a solid 5.8 per cent YOY growth, highlighting a strong and growing consumer appetite for high-quality options.
“Shoppers are looking for premium cider options in convenience, and retailers who give crafted cider the prominence it deserves will reap the rewards,” said Tim Williams, insight and innovation manager at Westons Cider.
“With crafted cider delivering strong margins and demonstrating double-digit growth, giving it prime position in chillers and on shelves will drive greater profits. The demand is already there – retailers just need to back the right brands.”
Key growth opportunities for 2025
The opportunity to recruit younger drinkers is ripe for the taking. While cider remains a household staple, penetration has slipped to 40.9 per cent, down from 43.9 per cent in 2022, showing that the category must evolve to stay relevant.
However, younger shoppers, particularly those under 45, are actively trading up to premium drinks, making crafted cider an aspirational yet accessible choice. Crafted cider is already gaining traction with affluent consumers, with ABC1 shoppers now accounting for 65.8 per cent of spend — up from 61 per cent last year.
Notably, crafted cider has the highest proportion of younger shoppers, with under-45s making up a larger share of spend compared to any other cider segment. This clear shift towards quality and authenticity presents a huge opportunity for convenience retailers to refresh their cider range and attract a new wave of consumers.
Apple cider remains the core of the category
Apple cider remains the core of the category. Accounting for nearly two-thirds (63.7%) of market value, apple cider continues to dominate. While pear cider’s overall share remains small at 4 per cent, premium crafted pear ciders are seeing renewed interest. Henry Westons Vintage Pear has added £550,000 in sales over the last year, alongside growth in other premium pear offerings. This suggests a clear opportunity for retailers to premiumise the pear cider segment, tapping into the same consumer demand that has propelled crafted apple ciders to success.
With limited chiller space in convenience, ensuring crafted apple cider has adequate facings is crucial to maximising sales. Stocking the right mix of single-serve formats for impulse purchases and larger multipacks for planned consumption will help capitalise on both shopper missions.
Shoppers are trading up across the drinks aisle, and cider is no exception. The crafted cider segment’s growth of over 10 per cent highlights the increasing willingness of consumers to pay more for quality, taste, and heritage. Convenience retailers who prioritise premium SKUs stand to gain the most from this trend.
Convenience category spotlights:
Crafted cider’s Southern stronghold: Crafted cider is particularly strong in the South, accounting for 73 per cent of volume in the five most southern TV regions. Convenience retailers in these areas should allocate more shelf space to premium crafted options to maximise sales.
British weather may be unpredictable, but cider sales don’t have to be: While summer remains cider’s peak season, unpredictable British weather has led to inconsistent sales patterns in recent years. June 2024 was unseasonably cool, leading to a 20.5 per cent drop in cider volume sales YOY, while August saw more rainfall than previous years, pushing volume down 12.5 per cent versus 2022. However, sales rebounded slightly compared to August 2023, which had particularly poor weather. Given this volatility, retailers should double down on major selling moments — like bank holidays and sporting events — where demand remains strong regardless of weather conditions.
No & low is pouring into the mainstream: The segment has grown 8.4 per cent YOY, highlighting increasing moderation trends. Stocking low/no alcohol apple and fruit ciders ensures a complete range to meet evolving consumer needs.
Independent retailers are outperforming the market: While total convenience cider value is up 2.1 per cent YOY, independent retailers are growing even faster, at 4.4 per cent YOY. This shows a particularly strong opportunity for crafted cider, which still holds only 17 per cent share in independents versus 20 per cent across total convenience. There is clear potential for independent retailers to expand their crafted cider offering and close this gap.
“As Westons celebrates 145 years of cider-making, it’s remarkable to reflect on how much the category has evolved,” Darryl Hinksman, head of business development at Westons Cider, said.
“What’s also clear is that authenticity and provenance matter more than ever. The past decade has seen major brewers attempt to capitalise on cider’s popularity with brand extensions, yet these failed to resonate with consumers in the long term. This reinforces a key lesson — shoppers are looking for genuine cider brands with real heritage, not just big names entering the category.
“Looking ahead to the next decade, we expect this refinement to continue, with cider becoming even more premium-driven. Shoppers are actively seeking authentic, high-quality options, and convenience retailers who align their ranges with these consumer trends and prioritise best-selling premium ciders, like Henry Westons and Stowford Press, will be the ones to unlock growth and maximise their cider sales.”
Top ten cider SKUs in the convenience channelWestons Cider Report
Henry Westons Vintage 500ml is the number one SKU in the convenience channel, more than twice the size of the second-placed product and in strong growth (+8.2%). Thatchers Gold 500mlx4 was ranked eighth last year and has risen to second. Inch’s is new to the top ten this year in eighth place.
Pack sizes are smaller in this channel with singles and four packs dominating the top ten. Larger packs have a role, however, as Strongbow Dark Fruit 10 pack is the third highest ranked pack.
The full report – including impartial stocking advice for retailers – is also available for digital download here.
All data Westons Cider Report 2025, Circana 52 w/e 28 December 2024 and Kantar, 24 December 2024.