NewsDigest

Scottish & Newcastle (S&N) and Carlsberg have restated warnings that beer prices will rise. In its full-year results, Carlsberg said raw material prices "are necessitating price increases for beer in all markets". Overall beer volumes were up 11% in 2007. Volumes dropped in the on-trade but grew in the off-trade. Announcing a 7.9% year-on-year increase in revenue for 2007, S&N warned of a "substantial price increases" to mitigate a 8.5% rise in input costs.

Portman Group has ordered a probe to check that its drinks brands are marketed responsibly. The drinks watchdog has hired management consultants PIPC to audit 500 beer, wine and spirit brands, chosen at random. It's the first time Portman has pro-actively gauged commitment to its Code of Practice on the naming, packaging and promotion of alcoholic drinks. The group also announced it is recruiting an independent chairman.

Five more operators have joined the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR). The new members are: Ever So Sensible Bars, Merchant Inns, Metropolitan Drinking & Dining, the Pub People Company and Weston Castle. ALMR also announced four new supplier associates: Imagesounds, IMI Cornelius, Sceptre Leisure Solutions and Titcheners Chartered Accountants.

Richard Evans has left his post as president of InBev Uk & Ireland. He has been replaced by Stuart MacFarlane, formerly global director of customer standards. MacFarlane joined InBev in 1992 and has held senior roles in finance, sales, marketing and general management. He also worked for Scottish & Newcastle and Whitbread.

Food & Drink Group, the listed bar operator, has appointed advisors to help it assess its strategic options. The move is a precursor to a possible sale, M&C Report understands. The group is understood to have called in McQueen, the corporate finance house, to sounds out potential buyers. It is thought that a sale would attract interest from Novus Leisure, Premium Bars & Restaurants and possibly Inventive Leisure.