Bartender’s Briefing - WC 23.06.25
Bartender’s Briefing - Your weekly news round up
Recent developments in global hospitality and spirits highlight structural shifts and emerging trends: Pernod Ricard’s “Tomorrow 2” restructuring, Diageo India’s acquisition of NAO Spirits, and the Hugo Spritz summer surge. These factual updates raise questions about supply chains, market positioning, and consumer preferences across the bartending community and hospitality sector.
Pernod Ricard restructures under “Tomorrow 2”
On June 18, 2025, Pernod Ricard unveiled “Tomorrow 2”, consolidating its brands into two divisions—Gold (e.g., Martell cognac, Jameson Irish whiskey) and Crystal (e.g., Absolut vodka, Havana Club)—with a target of €1 billion in cost savings by fiscal 2029. Job reductions have begun in tariff-impacted markets such as China, with further departures planned in late 2025 reuters.com. This move follows peers like Diageo scaling back growth targets amid economic headwinds. For the bartending community, the consolidation prompts questions: will distribution shifts affect availability of niche expressions? Could streamlined operations free resources for marketing, or might it tighten listings for smaller-volume SKUs? Monitoring portfolio adjustments may reveal openings for independent distillers if larger players refocus core brands.
Diageo India acquires NAO Spirits craft gins
United Spirits (Diageo India) acquired NAO Spirits on June 19, 2025, for 1.3 billion rupees, adding ‘Greater Than’ (India’s first craft gin) and ‘Hapusa’ (Himalayan juniper gin) to its premium lineup. Premium products drove a 17% profit increase in the latest quarter reuters.com. This factual development highlights growing consumer appetite for regionally inspired spirits. Bartenders might ask: how can menus incorporate local botanical narratives? For small distillers, what benchmarks must be met to attract such acquisitions? The deal underscores consolidation trends but also points to opportunities: establishing distinctive brand stories, demonstrating consistent quality, and leveraging local sourcing could position distillers for collaboration or acquisition.
Hugo Spritz summer trend
Data in June 2025 indicate Hugo Spritz sales spiking in the UK and Europe, with elderflower liqueur up 107% year-on-year and related mixers also rising thetimes.co.uk. Social media influencers have shared videos spotlighting its floral, lighter profile versus traditional bitter spritzes. This fact prompts considerations: How can bars integrate a Hugo Spritz variant or develop seasonal riffs using local herbs? What non-alcoholic or low-ABV options align with this pattern? Tracking retailer data and guest feedback can guide menu development and inventory planning to match demand cycles.
Industry relevance and balanced questions
These factual items—corporate restructuring, strategic acquisitions, and shifting cocktail preferences—signal areas for professional attention. For hospitality operators and bartenders: What adjustments in supplier agreements, inventory strategies, and menu curation are needed as large groups refine portfolios? How can independent distillers demonstrate resilience and differentiation? In cocktail programming: which trends merit experimentation, and how to measure guest response objectively? For hospitality consultants: how to advise venues on leveraging such news—e.g., promotional tie-ins when a craft gin acquisition occurs, or thematic events around a spritz trend?
Conclusion
The latest global hospitality news offers factual insights without assigning subjective judgments. Pernod Ricard’s “Tomorrow 2”, Diageo India’s NAO Spirits deal, and the Hugo Spritz phenomenon each carry concrete metrics and outcomes. The key for bartending professionals and small distillers is to translate these facts into strategic questions: Where do supply chain changes open or restrict access? How to harness consumer trends in cocktail innovation? By focusing on evidence-based observations and probing implications, the industry can adapt nimbly. Maintaining a curious, entrepreneurial mindset—in Jack’s straight-shooting, cheeky style—means asking the right questions of these developments and positioning accordingly, without leaping to unverified conclusions.