DEO - Diageo plc
| Previous Close | 166.86 |
| Open | 168.19 |
| Bid | 0.00 x 900 |
| Ask | 166.91 x 800 |
| Day's Range | 166.52 - 168.38 |
| 52 Week Range | 131.43 - 176.07 |
| Volume | 443,843 |
| Avg. Volume | 323,282 |
| Market Cap | 99.1B |
| Beta (3Y Monthly) | 0.41 |
| PE Ratio (TTM) | 26.03 |
| EPS (TTM) | 6.40 |
| Earnings Date | N/A |
| Forward Dividend & Yield | 4.24 (2.54%) |
| Ex-Dividend Date | 2019-08-08 |
| 1y Target Est | 172.74 |
- Yahoo Finance Video
Bourbon exec: Tariffs have had a ‘significant impact’ on business
Old Forester's president says tariffs are bad for his business.
- InvestorPlace
Why I’m Still Bullish on Canopy Growth Stock for the Cannabis Long Term
There's no sugarcoating the truth here. It has been an awful few weeks for pot stocks, particularly the cannabis market leader, Canopy Growth (NYSE:CGC). At the end of April, CGC stock was flying high above $50 - up 90% year-to-date, as investors were getting excited about Canopy's potential entry into the what-will-be-huge U.S. cannabis market. Two bad earnings reports later, the stock has come crashing down.Source: Shutterstock Today, CGC stock trades hands below $30 - nearly 50% off its late April highs, and up just 5% year-to-date, versus a 90% year-to-date gain back in April.If that's not a crash, I don't know what is. Indeed, the crash has been so bad that some bulls have thrown in the towel.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading TipsI get it. Stomaching a 50% crash over four months is not an easy thing to do. It does leave one feeling somewhat hopeless, dejected, and unwilling to double down.But, that's exactly what I'm doing here -- doubling down. Investors have to see the forest for the trees here. All this near-term volatility is just noise. Who really cares if Canopy grew sales by 200% or 250% last quarter? Or if gross margins were 20% or 25%? All that really matters is that Canopy continues to position itself as the profitable leader in what will one day be a multi-hundred billion dollar global cannabis market.Canopy is doing just that, and because they are, there is still visibility for Canopy to one day be a $50 to 100 billion company. CGC stock has a market cap of under $10 billion today. Thus, the long-term investment implication is simple: buy on weakness and hold for the long haul. Early Innings for Pot's Global GrowthWhen it comes to CGC stock, investors need to see the big picture here and if they don't want to do that, they probably shouldn't even be looking at the cannabis space at all. * 10 Stocks Under $5 to Buy for Fall The big picture here is that you have a cannabis industry that is in the top of the first inning of a multi-year, global growth narrative. Only one major developed economy has fully legalized cannabis (Canada), where it has been fully legal for less than a year, and that economy is considered one of the smaller fish in the global market. Judging the long-term fate of a cannabis company because they missed sales or earnings estimates last quarter seems … foolish.Doing so would be focusing on a tree. Instead, investors need to take a step back, and look at the forest. Here's what the cannabis forest looks like. There is an overwhelming amount of data out there which implies that cannabis consumption is: on a secular uptrend; nearly as pervasive as alcohol and tobacco consumption; and, in many instances, preferred to alcohol consumption among younger consumers.At the same time, governments around the world are becoming open to consideration of cannabis as a "safe drug" and are gradually progressing toward full legalization. Combining those two observations, the implication is clear: the global cannabis market will be fully legal one day, and when that happens, it will be huge -- like global alcohol and tobacco markets huge. Canopy Growth Stock Still Projects as a Long-Term WinnerThe global alcohol and tobacco markets are several hundred billion dollar to trillion dollar markets. The cannabis market will be that big one day.Each of those markets has also produced several $50 billion to $100 billion-plus companies. See Anheuser-Busch (NYSE:BUD), Diageo (NYSE:DEO), or Heineken (OTCQX:HEINY) in the alcohol world. See Altria (NYSE:MO) and Philip Morris (NYSE:PM) in the tobacco world.The cannabis market will similarly produce several $50 to $100 billion-plus companies at scale. Canopy Growth will be one of them.Even the company's former CEO, Bruce Linton, unceremoniously booted out last month as Canopy's co-CEO and board chair, told BNN Bloomberg he was a buyer of CGC stock after the shares fell on August 15.Right now, Canopy is the biggest cannabis company in the fully legal Canadian market. It also has the largest balance sheet, with the most cash firepower to increase production capacity, expand global distribution, penetrate other cannabis markets, and invest in next-gen product R&D -- overall, sustaining and expanding its leadership position.Canopy is doing all of those things. The company's harvest amounted to more than 40,000 kilograms last quarter -- no one else in this space even comes close to touching that number. Canopy has a deal to acquire Acreage once the U.S. market becomes fully legal, giving the company a clear pathway to penetrating the U.S. market. They also poured over C$8 billion into R&D last quarter. Competitor Tilray (NASDAQ:TLRY) spent less than $2 billion CAD ($1.5 billion) on R&D in the overlapping quarter.In other words, Canopy is doing everything it needs to do in order to be the Anheuser-Bush or Altria of the cannabis world. Big picture, that means CGC stock remains on track to have a $50 billion to $100 billion-plus market cap one day. The market cap today? Under $10 billion. For long-term investors who are willing to ride out the volatility, the implication is clear: buy on weakness and hold for the long haul. Bottom Line on CGC StockWhen it comes to CGC stock, investors need to see the forest for the trees.True, it has a caretaker CEO after Linton fell out with shareholder Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ), but there are indications that Canopy is looking at candidates from the consumer, pharmaceutical, alcohol and even technology sectors, according to BNN Bloomberg. * 10 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for the Rest of 2019 and Beyond But put that aside for a minute. As well, forget today's depressed gross margins. They are depressed because Canopy is spending an arm and a leg to lay the foundation for long-term growth. Forget today's slowing growth trends. Growth is slowing because Canopy is more focused on maximizing long-term growth, not supercharging near-term improvements.Instead, understand that Canopy is laying the groundwork to become a $50 billion to $100 billion-plus company one day.I get that it's tough to do that on the heels of a 50% sell-off over the past four months. But, CGC stock is still up 5% since January 2019, 20% since January 2018, and 300% since January 2017. So, again, the best thing here is to zoom out and contextualize everything.When you do that, it becomes clear that Canopy is still a winning company, and that CGC stock still has tremendous long term potential.As of this writing, Luke Lango was long CGC. More From InvestorPlace * 2 Toxic Pot Stocks You Should Avoid * 10 Cheap Dividend Stocks to Load Up On * The 10 Biggest Losers from Q2 Earnings * 5 Dependable Dividend Stocks to Buy The post Why I'm Still Bullish on Canopy Growth Stock for the Cannabis Long Term appeared first on InvestorPlace.
- PR Newswire
Johnnie Walker Announces Two New Limited Edition Whiskies Celebrating The Enduring Legacy of Game of Thrones®
NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnnie Walker and HBO Licensing & Retail are introducing two new Scotch Whiskies to the realm in honor of the enduring legacy of the critically acclaimed HBO® series Game of Thrones. A continued collaboration with HBO, these limited edition whisky blends are inspired by the iconic and powerful houses of Westeros – House Stark and House Targaryen – and are successors to the White Walker by Johnnie Walker limited edition blend launched in 2018.
- Simply Wall St.
Here's Why Diageo (LON:DGE) Can Manage Its Debt Responsibly
David Iben put it well when he said, 'Volatility is not a risk we care about. What we care about is avoiding the...
- Reuters
UPDATE 1-Diageo Scottish union threatens to go on strike in September
Members of one of Diageo Plc's biggest Scottish unions are set to go on strike, days after talks over pay raise fell through, threatening the production of some the region's most popular whiskies. Scotland's Unite union said that 500 workers at Diageo's Cameron Bridge, Leven and Shieldhall sites have voted in support of industrial action, with strikes at the company's distilling and bottling plants now likely to begin in September and go on till November. Members of the union were balloted for strike action after a 2.8% pay raise offer by Diageo was rejected by the union last month.
- Financial Times
How drinking habits are changing worldwide
Worldwide, in 2016, 57 per cent of those aged 15 or over had not drunk alcohol in the previous 12 months, according to World Health Organization figures. Among 25- to 44-year-olds, non-drinkers rose from 15.5 per cent in 2005 to 20.6 per cent in 2017.
- Reuters
PRESS DIGEST- British Business - Aug 8
The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government needs to loosen regulations and automatically authorise tens of thousands of companies to trade with the European Union to minimise disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit, industry leaders have warned. The executive chairman of Debenhams will step down next month as the owners of the department stores chain appoint Stefaan Vansteenkiste, a so-called "company doctor", as its next chief executive.
- Financial Times
Diageo buys majority stake in non-alcoholic spirit brand Seedlip
Diageo, the world’s largest spirits maker, has increased its holding in “game-changing” non-alcoholic spirit brand Seedlip to a majority stake, as it seeks to cater to the growing number of teetotallers. Seedlip is a premium-priced, non-alcoholic spirit that is often sold as an alternative to gin. Since then, Seedlip has launched in more than 25 countries and is served in more than 300 Michelin-starred restaurants.
- Bloomberg
Diageo Buys Seedlip Spirits to Tap Into Teetotalling Trend
(Bloomberg) -- Diageo Plc, the world’s largest distiller, has noticed that people are drinking less than they used to. To tap into the trend, the company behind bar staples such as Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky is increasing its stake in nonalcoholic distilled spirit brand Seedlip to majority ownership.Seedlip produces clear liquids with a similar mouth feel and complexity to high-end gin -- along with a comparable $35-a-bottle price. The brand was founded by teetotaler Ben Branson to address the challenge of what to drink when laying off the booze.Read this: These Mocktails Are No Shirley TemplesDiageo is keeping Branson onboard “to grow what we believe will be a global drinks giant of the future,” John Kennedy, who runs Diageo’s business in Europe, Turkey and India, said in a statement.The company is making the acquisition via its Distill Ventures arm, which invests in beverage startups, after buying a minority stake in 2016. Financial details were not disclosed.To contact the reporter on this story: Thomas Buckley in London at tbuckley25@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Eric Pfanner at epfanner1@bloomberg.net, John LauermanFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
- PR Newswire
Diageo Honors Drinks Distributor Partners at 16th Annual Golden Bar Awards
NORWALK, Conn. , Aug. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, honored spirits distributor partners at the 16 th Annual Golden Bar Awards, which took place this week in Chicago ...
- InvestorPlace
10 Buy-and-Hold Stocks to Own Forever
[Editor's note: This story was previously published in June 2019. It has since been updated and republished.]Investing to "buy and hold" is trickier than it looks. The increasing pace of technological change means even the most successful, dominant companies have to continually adapt to keep up. Industries like energy, real estate and even consumer products are facing potentially significant long-term changes going forward.In any era, amassing a collection of retirement stocks simply by buying the best companies and holding them for years can be a risky endeavor.InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice & Trading Tips * 10 Generation Z Stocks to Buy Long General Motors (NYSE:GM) was a classic "widows and orphans" stock until the last decade when GM wound up going bankrupt. GM shares basically haven't moved in a quarter of a century. United States Steel (NYSE:X) once was a pillar of corporate America and a buy-and-hold stock. Polaroid and Eastman Kodak were once blue-chip stocks. Both went bankrupt as cameras changed from film to digital.But there still are stocks to buy and hold out there that can last forever, while offering dividend income along the way.Here are ten such retirement stocks to buy and hold forever. Bank of America (BAC)Dividend Yield: 2.45%It might seem strange to open the list with Bank of America (NYSE:BAC). After all, we're only a bit more than a decade on from the financial crisis.Source: Shutterstock During that crisis, BofA acquisition Countrywide Financial blew up in spectacular fashion, after pioneering many of the risky tactics that led to the bubble and subsequent bust.But this is a different BofA.Net consumer charge-offs hit a decade-long low last year. Its performance on credit metrics is strong. Government regulations have been criticized as slowing growth -- but they've undoubtedly lowered risk as well, even if observers might argue that a better balance is needed. * 8 of the Most Shorted Stocks in the Markets Right Now No less than Warren Buffett is now BofA's largest shareholder, through his Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK.A, NYSE:BRK.B). And the Oracle of Omaha is fond of saying that his favorite holding period is "forever."That seems likely true for BAC stock as well. Diageo (DEO)Dividend Yield: 2.09%Change has come to the alcohol industry, with the number of breweries exploding worldwide and new distilleries popping up as well. The brands owned by Diageo (NYSE:DEO) are well-positioned to adapt to shifting tastes.Diageo owns classic brands like Johnnie Walker whiskey, Tanqueray gin, Smirnoff vodka, and Harp and Guinness beer, among many others. What most have in common is a timeless quality and worldwide brand recognition.As a result, while beverage giants like Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and Anheuser Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD) have struggled with earnings growth, Diageo grew net income by 13.5% in fiscal 2018 and expects consistent growth going forward.Yet with a trailing multiple of 26.5, and with a dividend yield of 2%, Diageo stock isn't all that dearly valued. Long-term investors would do well to own DEO and perhaps use the dividends to buy a bottle or two of fine whisky. Medtronic (MDT)Dividend Yield: 2.11%In this day and age, the U.S. healthcare market, in particular, seems potentially volatile. Concerns about increased spending and political battles over the Affordable Care Act create more questions than answers.Source: U.S. Embassy Kyiv Ukraine via Flickr (Modified)But even with that uncertainty, Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) isn't going anywhere. The company's devices are an integral part of modern medicine, ranging from pacemakers to stents to bone grafts to imaging systems.Even the risks involved in the sector look priced into MDT. Medtronic's days of double-digit annual growth may well be behind it, but it's not finished increasing earnings or dividends. MDT stock likely isn't finished rising, either. * 7 A-Rated Stocks to Buy Under $10 NextEra Energy (NEE)Dividend Yield: 2.37%Utility stocks are among the most common safe, buy-and-hold stocks. NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) is now the largest electric utility in the U.S. by market capitalization. That might actually be the only problem with NEE stock.Source: Shutterstock NextEra shares gained 24% year-to-date, and trades just off record highs. Potential valuation concerns aside, NextEra looks like a winner. It serves customers in the southern Florida region, still one of the nation's fastest-growing areas.A 22.6 forward P/E multiple is high for the space but not outlandishly so. And a 2.37% dividend yield provides income along the way.Investors looking for value in the space might look for a smaller play like cheaper Dominion Energy (NYSE:D). But it's usually worth paying for quality, and NextEra Energy looks like one of the best utility stocks out there. McCormick & Company (MKC)Dividend Yield: 1.43%McCormick & Company (NYSE:MKC) is another quality company whose valuation might spook some investors. But MKC stock very rarely is offered cheaply.Source: Shutterstock The company's market leadership in spices and seasonings provides both an impressive moat and protection against economic downturns. MKC stock did dip after the company acquired French's mustard and Frank's RedHot sauce from Reckitt Benckiser (OTCMKTS:RBGLY) at a price that looked a bit high to many investors. But MKC has recovered those gains and then some.Top-line growth for McCormick likely isn't going to be explosive, but it will be steady. The same has been true of MKC stock, which has returned an average of 13% a year over the past decade, including dividends. * 7 Semiconductor Stocks to Buy for Your Inner Geek With continuous cost-cutting initiatives, the contribution from the acquired brands and organic growth (and growth in organic products), MKC still should be able to provide double-digit annual returns going forward as well. Allstate (ALL)Dividend Yield: 1.91%Allstate Corp (NYSE:ALL) long has used the tagline, "You're in good hands," and it's true for Allstate investors as well.Source: Shutterstock ALL stock has almost quadrupled from late-2011 lows. And there could be more upside to come. After all, Allstate isn't particularly expensive, trading at a 14 P/E.Once any short-term worries subside, ALL should resume its march upward. International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF)Dividend Yield: 2.03%International Flavors & Fragrances (NYSE:IFF) is a company most consumers encounter every day without knowing it and many investors aren't exactly hip to it, either.Source: Shutterstock As its name suggests, the company develops flavors & fragrances across 13 categories, including cosmetics, perfumes, beverages and sweet flavors. Sales and earnings have increased consistently and so has IFF's share price. At a 53 P/E, IFF does look a bit pricey. But, as with McCormick and other stocks on this list, investors should pay for quality. * 7 Stocks to Buy With Over 20% Upside From Current Levels IFF's hidden, but key role, in so many industries, gives it a great deal of protection against both competition and macro factors. Acquisitions and a growing cosmetic additive business both provide room for growth.Consumers may not know IFF, but investors should. Lamb Weston (LW)Dividend Yield: 1.19%Lamb Weston (NYSE:LW) was spun off from Conagra Brands (NYSE:CAG) last year. Lamb Weston is the No. 1 potato producer in the United States. In fact, it manufactures the well-known fries at McDonald's (NYSE:MCD), among other restaurant chains.Source: Shutterstock Lamb Weston also has a consumer business (including a small segment that manufactures frozen vegetables), while serving restaurants of all sizes. Health concerns might seem a long-term headwind against the business, but growth has been steady for years, and margins continue to improve.LW is targeting international markets for growth, as French fries have much more limited penetration, while international audiences generally are intrigued by Americanized products.Despite growth and leading market share, LW stock isn't particularly cheap, trading at about 19 times next year's earnings. The company did pick up a fair amount of debt in the CAG spinoff. But it's paying that debt down, which should lower interest expense and boost cash flow going forward.With many similar stocks trading at much higher multiples, LW seems to have room for upside. And international growth should offset any health-related concerns in the U.S., should they arise. America's love affair with French fries isn't going to suddenly end, and that should ensure years of stability for Lamb Weston at least. Fortune Brands (FBHS)Dividend Yield: 1.7%Investors are commonly advised to diversify their portfolio. Fortune Brands Home & Security (NYSE:FBHS) has done just that.Source: Shutterstock The company operates in four segments: Cabinets, Plumbing, Doors, and Security. Among its well-known brands are Moen in plumbing, and MasterLock in security.FBHS is more of a cyclical stock than most on this list, and the company no doubt has benefited from the steady if slow, housing recovery in the U.S.But the company's products also generate relatively stable replacement demand, and a 1.6% dividend yield provides modest, but growing, income. * 7 Oversold Stocks To Buy Right Now Fortune Brands has been an impressive company since its founding and a solid stock since its 2011 IPO. There may be a bit more volatility here, but that's a worthwhile price to pay for long-term investors. There's enough value in Fortune Brands to ride out any market jitters. Republic Services (RSG)Dividend Yield: 1.83%Republic Services (NYSE:RSG) is a bit smaller and likely a lot less well-known than rival Waste Management (NYSE:WM). But in this case, that's not necessarily a bad thing.Source: Shutterstock Republic Services has outgrown its larger competitor in both sales and earnings over the past five years. RSG stock has modestly outperformed WM over the same period as well. Investors appear to believe that will continue, as Republic Services is valued a bit higher than Waste Management, at least based on forward earnings multiples.Both RSG and WM are solid long-term plays. Contracted revenue and steady demand should support both companies for years to come. There's room for further acquisitions in a relatively fragmented space. Republic Services gets the nod here due to slightly better growth and more room for margin improvement.But investors looking for safe, stable growth can't go wrong with either RSG or WM.As of this writing, Vince Martin was long MKC. More From InvestorPlace * 4 Top American Penny Pot Stocks (Buy Before June 21) * 7 Value Stocks to Buy for the Second Half * 7 Hot Stocks to Buy for a Seemingly Sleepy Summer * 6 Chip Stocks Staring At Big Headwinds in 2019 The post 10 Buy-and-Hold Stocks to Own Forever appeared first on InvestorPlace.
- Simply Wall St.
Diageo plc (LON:DGE) Will Pay A 1.2% Dividend In 2 Days
Readers hoping to buy Diageo plc (LON:DGE) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is...
- Motley Fool
Diageo Benefits From Rising Spirit Prices
Growth was broad based, but tequila was the star once again.
- PR Newswire
A Year Of Beer: Guinness Open Gate Brewery In Baltimore Celebrates First Anniversary
BALTIMORE, July 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- From the signing of a 9,000 year lease for a brewery on – what was then – the outskirts of Dublin, to a 62-acre facility more than 3,000 miles away in Baltimore, the last 260 years have been nothing short of historic for Guinness. On August 3rd, the storied Irish brewer will celebrate the first anniversary of its Open Gate Brewery in Baltimore, which serves as the home of Guinness in the U.S. and the center for all of its experimental beers on this side of the Atlantic. While the Dublin-brewed classics – like Guinness Draught – are always available at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery, what's been most special in year one is the more than 80 unique beers that have already been brewed at the new brewery.
- Simply Wall St.
Diageo plc (LON:DGE): Commentary On Fundamentals
Diageo plc (LON:DGE) is a company with exceptional fundamental characteristics. Upon building up an investment case...
- Zacks
Diageo (DEO) FY19 Earnings Gain, Soft Sales View Hurts Stock
Diageo (DEO) posts earnings and sales growth for fiscal 2019 on strength across all operations and solid organic operating profit growth. However, its sales view for fiscal 2020 disappoints.
- Bloomberg
Premium Spenders Are Rescuing Companies From the Mass-Market Squeeze
(Bloomberg) -- From yogurt to beer to the humble diaper, consumer companies are reaping the benefits of pushing premium products that command higher margins and give consumers a greater sense of reward.The strategy was on display this past week, among the busiest in the quarterly earnings calendar, with bellwethers from Nestle SA to Anheuser-Busch InBev NV to Starbucks Corp. releasing their numbers. The overarching theme: sales of higher-end products are outpacing their more utilitarian siblings, and companies are adjusting their portfolios accordingly to join in the rush toward what the industry calls premiumization.“The premiumization trend is very strong and the fastest growth is happening at the higher price points,” said Ivan Menezes, the chief executive officer of drinks giant Diageo Plc, which disposed of more than a dozen of its lower-priced labels like Seagram’s VO whiskey and Myers rum last year to focus on higher-end categories. “Our strategy is all about building our brands and portfolio around this trend of people drinking better, which is very broad based and sustained across geographies.”L’Oreal SA’s proposition that consumers should reach for the top shelf because they’re worth it has long set the tone of self-fulfillment through shopping. But only recently have companies across all industries embraced that mantra, realizing that younger, savvier clients demand more from a product than its immediate utilitarian purpose. Instead, environmentally sound items with a design edge and a product story that resonates with the buyer are moving into focus, and staid lines with little buzz are headed for disposal.Discounting CompetitionPart of the move is born out of pure necessity. Aside from consumer preference for more specialized products, the shift to e-commerce and the rise of discounters has made prices more transparent, making it harder to raise them. Supermarkets, particularly in battleground markets like the U.K. where Brexit is adding extra duress, have also become more aggressive in negotiating with manufacturers and competition has intensified.That pressure is largely absent at the higher end, especially in growth markets like China where consumption comes with an aspirational twist. Diageo’s most premium brands jumped almost 20% over the last year in Asia as Chinese consumers snapped up more deluxe spirits. Anheuser-Busch joined its peers to say premium is a critical component of its strategy amid surging growth at its high-end lines, which includes Stella Artois and Hoegaarden beers.Starbucks has also received a boost from higher prices, including in its two key markets: the U.S. and China. In the most recent quarter, same-stores sales jumped 7% in the U.S. coffee chain’s home market, fueled by an increase in the average amount customers paid.Companies are focusing on higher-end products at a time when economies in Europe are showing signs of sputtering, hoping that the lines’ more stable pricing power will insulate them from a probable downturn. In Germany -- Europe’s biggest economy -- the business outlook for companies tumbled to the lowest level in a decade as the Bundesbank said Europe’s largest economy shrank in the second quarter, adding to signs that the country may be inching toward a recession.‘Very Crowded’“When you look at the mass market, whatever category it is, it’s very crowded and it’s highly promotional and deflationary,” said Robert Waldschmidt, an analyst at Liberum. “It’s going to be difficult in a mass-market big-bucket category to get pricing that’s anything short of inflation matching.”And there’s no product too basic to escape the glare of premiumization. Kimberly-Clark Corp. has come up with Huggies Special Delivery, sold in a striking black box and aimed at millennial moms, in what it calls a "super-premium diaper" that’s softer, made with plant-based materials, and free of parabens and other harsh chemicals."The only way to make premiumization work is if you make products worth more and worth paying that premium for, and that’s what we’re trying to do," CEO Michael Hsu said on the company’s earnings call.The move upmarket means that some products in companies’ portfolios no longer make the cut. While there’s always a market for cheap, simple and basic products, being stuck between budget and premium is a place that consumer companies want to avoid, according Alan Jope, the CEO of Unilever. The company has sold its struggling spreads unit and added fast-growing businesses such as Pukka Herbs tea to its roster of brands to accelerate growth. Other moves include buying Sir Kensington’s, a brand of upmarket ketchup and other dressings, as well as premium ice-creams such the Grom and Talenti lines of gelato.Chinese Demand“In almost every country in the world, we see a bifurcation,” Jope said. “We see a growth at the value-end, and we see growth at the top end.”China, in particular, is a consumer market that’s responding well to the upmarket shift. While food giant Nestle SA noted a slowdown in the broader Chinese food and beverage market in China, premium products like infant nutrition performed well, the Swiss company said. Such lines now make up more than a fifth of total sales, a number that will continue to go rise, the company predicted.“The consumer population out there has very high expectations when it comes to quality, sustainability and taste,” said Nestle CEO Mark Schneider. “And at the same time, they’re also willing to pay for it. That side we feel very good about.”\--With assistance from Craig Giammona and Tiffany Kary.To contact the reporters on this story: Corinne Gretler in Zurich at cgretler1@bloomberg.net;Thomas Buckley in London at tbuckley25@bloomberg.net;Ellen Milligan in London at emilligan11@bloomberg.netTo contact the editors responsible for this story: Eric Pfanner at epfanner1@bloomberg.net, Benedikt KammelFor more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
- MarketWatch
Americans ditch fizzy drinks causing rum and coke sales to slump, says Captain Morgan maker Diageo
Drinks giant Diageo has warned a shift away from carbonated drinks has caused sales of Captain Morgan rum to shrink as health conscious Americans drink less rum and coke.
- Reuters
Game of Thrones inspired scotch boosts Diageo's sales
Diageo reported pre-exceptional earnings per share of 130.8 pence, beating company supplied estimates of 128.8 pence, saying results were also helped by an improved price mix and cost controls. Diageo has been restructuring in recent years to improve performance and streamline its portfolio, while trying to bulk up on newer, hipper brands. The maker of Johnnie Walker scotch whisky, Smirnoff vodka and Guinness stout said operating profit rose 10% to 4 billion pounds ($5 billion) for the year ended June 30.
- Reuters
Diageo fails to reach pay deal with Scottish unions, faces strikes
Talks over pay between Diageo Plc and two of its biggest Scottish unions fell apart on Wednesday, threatening the production of some the region's most popular whiskies. Members of Scotland's Unite and GMB unions, who make up more than half of Diageo's 3,500 Scottish workforce, will ballot workers for strike action after rejecting on Wednesday an offer to increase pay by 2.8%. Last week, the unions rejected a 2.5% pay raise.
- PR Newswire
Score One For The Morgans: Captain Morgan To Give Major League Soccer All-Star Game Tickets To Fellow 'Morgans'
ORLANDO, Fla., July 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2019 Major League Soccer All-Star Game is still a week away, but there's already a clear winner: adults in the Orlando area named Morgan. Captain Morgan – the newest partner and official spiced rum of Major League Soccer (MLS) and 2019 All-Star Game sponsor – is promising up to 10 'Morgans' free tickets for them and up to two friends (21 or over) to the star-studded match between MLS All-Stars and Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, July 31st.
