In numbers

ZAR10bn

Heineken agrees to invest more than ZAR10bn (US$558m) in its business in South Africa over a period of five years as part of a deal to get competition clearance for its takeover of local wine-and-spirits group Distell.

EUR25m

Dutch spirits companies Lucas Bols and De Kuyper agreed to sell manufacturer Avandis to beverage group Refresco in a deal worth EUR25m (US$24.9m).

US$200bn

Kroger and Albertsons confirmed market speculation of a merger between the major US food retailers. They have combined sales of more than US$200bn.

CHF1bn

Nestlé plans to spend CHF1bn (US$1bn) by 2030 to make its coffee business more sustainable, including encouraging farmers to use regenerative agriculture.

US$244m

Indian authorities demanded US$244m from Pernod Ricard’s domestic unit for allegedly undervaluing concentrate imports for more than a decade to avoid its full tax obligations.

In Brief

Refresco enters Australia with Tru Blu Beverages buy

Refresco has bought Australia’s Tru Blu Beverages, opening a new continent for the Dutch group, which operates in Europe and North America.

Les Grands Chais de France continues global push with Neethlingshof

Les Grands Chais de France has entered South Africa, snapping up Stellenbosch winery Neethlingshof.

Heineken set to launch soft drinks in Russia

Heineken is going to produce and launch a range of carbonated soft drinks in Russia, where both The Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo have halted operations.

China Resources Beer to buy majority of baijiu distiller Guizhou Jinsha

China Resources Beer (Holdings) Co. buys into baijiu distiller Guizhou Jinsha Jiaojiu Winery Industry Co. as part of moves to diversify its portfolio.

Further reading from around the GlobalData network

Has China finally lost its appeal to investors?

As far as investors are concerned, China has been the undisputed king of Asia-Pacific for decades. However, some signs point towards the country losing its appeal.

The drinks industry briefing