In this issue

Welcome to the latest edition of Just Drinks’ digital magazine.

It’s the supply chain, stupid. 

In the three years since the emergence of Covid-19, FMCG companies have faced significant disruption to logistics and distribution. Even as the worst of the pandemic eased, myriad problems remained and were compounded by the invasion of Ukraine, which roiled commodity markets and fuelled energy prices. 

The drinks industry has not been immune to these challenges and manufacturers large and small have been working hard simply to get their products on shelves and in bars – and at a reasonable cost to consumers facing decades-high inflation. 

In this issue, Just Drinks sat down with Ewan Andrew, Diageo’s president for global supply chain and procurement, to hear how the spirits giant has sought to make its supply chain more resilient – and more sustainable. 

Elsewhere, we dug deep into beverage brands’ use of smart packaging, explored the importance of labelling amid consumer demand for more premium and more sustainable drinks and looked at the rise of two buoyant categories – functional soda and alcohol-free.

Dean Best, managing editor