Section two includes a review of significant acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures in the beverage industry during 2000 and 2001. Substantial consolidation has taken place in every section: beers, wines and spirits.

Peter Crean, Business Manager, AC Nielsen states in his forward "the tragic events of September 11th 2001 will be remembered forever. Undoubtedly the world will be a different place from now on. At this stage we can only speculate on the political, economic and social changes that will inevitably occur

Already the global drinks industry has been affected. The sharp downturn in air travel, both business and leisure, is reducing expenditure in those channels as well as costing thousands of jobs. Furthermore the administration for the sale of the Seagram drinks empire was being handled within the World Trade Centre, consequently there may well be a delay before the sale is completed.

The drinks industry overall has proved itself to be very resilient to economic downturns in the past and perhaps much of what is lost in one channel of trade will be made up for by another.

The last year has seen another period of acquisitions and disposals as the industry consolidates further." (Source: World Advertising Research Center 2002)

The vast accumulation of data in a book which is only pocket size is a remarkable achievement, essential reading for anyone who needs to understand the maze of the drinks industry. NTC Publications PO Box 69, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 1GB, UK. Tel: +44 (0)191411000, fax:+44 (0) 191 418 600. Email: info@ntc.co.uk.