Seagram: will Captain Morgan's mutiny scupper the ship?

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Reebok: from sportswear to New Age drinks

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Brazilian drinks: AmBev bubbling up with the beer

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Starbucks: taking coffee back to its roots

Starbucks' internationalization continues apace: it will open its first store in Mexico this year, followed by ambitious expansion throughout the Latin American region. But while coffee shop culture is said to be sweeping Latin America, it remains to be seen whether Starbucks' premium strategy can succeed while economic hardship is rife.

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Bacardi: running for the border

The acquisition of Tequila Cazadores, Mexico's leading premium tequila, is another step in Bacardi's efforts to expand beyond its core rum business. Bacardi gains access to the fast-growing tequila market, and compared to previous acquisitions - it paid almost $2 billion for Diageo brands Dewar's and Bombay Sapphire in 1998 - the Cazadores deal is a bargain.

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Kraft: down Mexico way

Kraft looks set to succeed where Coke and Pepsi failed, taking over Mexican juice giant Jugos del Valle. The Mexican economy is on the rise, Kraft has a strong history of targeting Spanish speakers in the US, and Jugos del Valle will significantly improve the company's distribution network south of the border. In short, es muy buena.

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Bacardi: welcome to the Latin quarrel

If Bacardi's management has its way, Bacardi will undergo an initial public offering. This would enable the company to expand its product portfolio, but may also open it up to a takeover from Allied Domecq. Whatever the future may hold, Bacardi's management will have quite a job persuading the company's family heirs to relinquish control.

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Parmalat: Brazilian fallout

As the true scale of Italy's largest corporate scandal becomes apparent, farmers and cooperatives in Brazil are paying the price for Parmalat's [PRF.MI] inability to pay its bills. This highlights a growing realization that many Latin American countries are over dependent on foreign multinationals. Consumer concern over such issues is driving increased demand for Fairtrade goods.

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Starbucks: coffee conscience

Starbucks [SBUX] is launching the Starbucks Coffee Agronomy Company in Costa Rica in a bid to guarantee the quality and even supply of its coffee. The company also aims to support sustainable farming in the country - a move that will improve its ethical standing in the eyes of many consumers.

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Brazil set to be the next Mexico for food and beverage makers

Americans are already very familiar with Mexican foods and beverages. Salsa, tortillas and tacos for example have become woven into the fabric of America. But the quest for exotic ethnic food is one that thrives on novelty. Given the familiarity with Mexican products, flavors and tastes, is there an opening for other types of ethnic food?

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