Australian Vintage Limited (AVL) has increased its half year net profits by 0.4 million, reporting half year net profits after tax at $4.4 million versus $4.0 million in the prior period. The wine company also reports total revenue growth, by 16 per cent, as well as increased sales of the McGuigan, Tempus Two and Nepenthe brands, by 19 per cent. AVL Chief Executive Neil McGuigan says the growth of its ...

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has reported declines across its total earnings, trading revenue and volume, as announced yesterday when the company presented its 2014 financial results. Most significantly, CCA reported a decline of 21.3 per cent in total earnings; a result of the company’s loss of a number of high margin operational accounts, as well as increased pricing and marketing spend on NPD and Coke’s Colour Your Summer campaign last year. ...

Yalumba has announced today that Greg Pullen, NSW General Manager of its fine wine business, Samuel Smith & Son (SS&S), will retire on 30 June. Mr. Pullen has worked for the company for over 29 years, having joined as Sales Manager in 1986 before working his way up the business’ ladder into senior roles. The announcement was made to staff of SS&S on Friday by owner, Robert Hill-Smith. “Greg has ...

Andreas Clark, current Acting CEO of the Australian Grape and Wine Authority (AGWA), has been permanently appointed to the role, effective immediately. AGWA Chair Brian Walsh, who announced the appointment, said: “We’re pleased Andreas has agreed to continue in this key leadership role. Andreas’ professional background, deep knowledge and experience in the organisation and the sector make him well qualified to lead AGWA and its activities. “Andreas has done an ...

Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) has appointed J. Walter Thompson Company, a marketing communications company, as its new global marketing services provider. J. Walter Thompson will provide TWE with marketing communications, creative strategy, trade marketing, shopper marketing, digital marketing, and consumer and lifestyle public relations services for every TWE brand in every geography around the world. The new appointment does however exclude Penfolds advertising and related creative development. TWE says the ...

Laura Hay, previously Chivas Brothers Whisky Ambassador at Pernod Ricard Australia, has moved across to William Grant & Sons (WG&S) as the company’s new Whisky Specialist for NSW and QLD. The role became available after James Buntin was promoted to UK Ambassador for The Balvenie late last year. Miss. Hay will be looking after the William Grant single malts, Glenfiddich and The Balvenie, as well as whiskies – Hudson, Grants ...

NSW is now the biggest-selling beer market in Australia for Coopers Brewery. For the last 153 years, South Australia has been the company’s biggest state for sales, where Coopers Brewery is currently based. Recent figures however now show NSW accounting for 26.3 per cent of total Coopers beer sales, in comparison to 24.8 per cent in SA for the financial year to date. Coopers Managing Director, Tim Cooper, said NSW ...

Major changes to staffing at Australia’s oldest family owned winery, the Yalumba Wine Company, were announced this week. Most significantly is the announcement of the change in CEO, which sees proprietor and current CEO of Yalumba, Robert Hill-Smith, step down from the role, instead assuming the role of Chair. Mr. Hill-Smith joined the company 30 years ago and has during his role, evolved the company into a highly regarded leading ...

Pernod Ricard Winemakers announced the successful Graduate Wine Ambassadors from its 2014 program this week. The Ambassadors are the first ever to come from its Graduate Wine Ambassador Program and had to take part in a competitive international recruitment process to be selected. The Graduate Wine Ambassadors hail from Australia, New Zealand and Japan, each chosen for their natural business acumen and passion for wine, and are Jenny Rothenberg, Wojtek ...

Associate Distiller Eddie Russell has been promoted to Master Distiller at Wild Turkey. Eddie will work along side current Master Distiller Jimmy Russell, who he will also share the title with. Commenting on Eddie’s promotion, his father Jimmy said: “After 34 years, I think he’s finally earned it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to go any easier on him - or that I’m going anywhere anytime soon. Eddie and ...