Diageo workforce falls by almost 2,000 as company starts restructuring plan

FSSAI issued 150 notices to food companies, including Nestle India, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola India, for misleading ads, false claims, and labeling violations. The regulator also took action against e-commerce platforms and food service establishments, suspending five Domino's licenses and canceling one Amazon warehouse license.

FSSAI lifted its ban on select Diageo products, including those from United Spirits' Baramati site and a third-party Madhya Pradesh plant. The regulator found compliance issues but revoked bans after engagement. Diageo denies misconduct and agrees to reformulate some products. FSSAI also confiscated 18,000 cases of Diageo's vodka and whisky over packaging concerns.

Diageo will reformulate whisky and rum brands in India after regulators banned products with added flavorings. The company agreed to remove added flavorings and clarify labeling. Affected brands include Royal Challenge and McDowell's No. 1 Celebration Matured XXX Rum. Diageo views India as a key growth market, with Royal Challenge selling 4.5 million cases annually.

Diageo, owner of brands like Guinness and Johnnie Walker, cut 2,000 jobs amid restructuring, with staff costs rising to $2.55bn. CEO Debra Lewis aims to reduce costs by $1bn over three years. Sales fell 2% to £19.6bn, with operating profit down 27.2% to $3.2bn. Guinness sales grew 12% globally, with plans to double production capacity.

Diageo, the world's largest alcoholic beverage company, is restructuring, cutting 2,000 employees and aiming for $1 billion in cost savings over three years. CEO Dave Lewis plans further job cuts, with analysts predicting 3,000-5,000 layoffs. The company reported a 27% drop in operating profit to $3.156 billion and a 3% decline in net sales to $19.643 billion for fiscal 2026. Investments will focus on mass-market brands and faster-growing markets like RTD canned cocktails.

Diageo's headcount fell 6% year-over-year to 27,938 by June 2026, as new CEO Dave Lewis leads a restructuring. The company plans $1 billion in savings, including job cuts and price reductions. Meanwhile, Kenya's competition regulator proposes a 15 billion shillings reserve for Diageo's sale of its EABL stake to Asahi, which Diageo disputes.