Cold Stone Creamery and Golden Corral both have selected Pepsi as their exclusive beverage supplier. Cold Stone will carry carbonated and non-carbonated Pepsi products in 20-ounce single-serve bottles. The agreement with Golden Corral includes fountain pouring rights as well as bottle sales.  

Jones Soda Co., Seattle, has signed a five-year distribution and manufacturing agreement with National Beverage Corp., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The deal includes 12-ounce cans of Jones Soda and 16-ounce energy drinks for the entire U.S. market.

Spirit Airlines, based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., plans to offer only Coca-Cola-branded products on its flights after signing a three-year agreement with The Coca-Cola Co. The deal includes carbonated soft drinks, juice and water products.

Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Woodinville, Wash., will distribute La Braccesca Italian wines in the United States, beginning in April 2007. This year, Ste. Michelle became the exclusive U.S. distributor of the Antinori Super Tuscan wines, Solaia, Tignanello and its luxury Chianti Classico wines, as well as other Antinori properties, including Guado al Tasso, Santa Cristina and Villa Antinori.

Go Fast Energy Drink is launching in the United Kingdom, the Denver-based company announced. It will operated Go Fast Sports & Beverage Co. U.K. from a division in Edinburgh, Scotland.

England’s Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, joined members of the Scottish and American spirits industry to dedicate the restored George Washington Distillery at Mount Vernon. The Duke cut the ribbon at the event, which also was attended by Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell, Distilled Spirits Council President Peter Cressy, and Scotch Whisky Association Chief Executive Officer Gavin Hewitt.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau reached an agreement with Black Prince Distillery Inc., Clifton, N.J., over allegations of bottling, sale and distribution of distilled spirits that were labeled as tequila while not meeting the standard of identity for tequila. The agreement includes a $50,000 offer-in-compromise, and Black Prince has taken steps to ensure that future products will comply with the standard.

Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai inaugurated the new, state-of-the-art Coca-Cola bottling plant in Kabul. The plant is located on a 60,000-square-meter site, and represents an investment of $25 million. Karzai described this investment as “an important step forward to economic growth, self sufficiency and better future of Afghanistan.”

Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc., Deerfield, Ill., has selected the Licensing Co. of North America as its leading brand licensing agency of record. The agreement covers all countries but Australia and New Zealand, which will continue to be represented by Newman International.

Information Resources Inc., Chicago, has teamed up with TiVo Inc., Alviso, Calif., to launch the IRI TiVo Consumer Insights Suite, designed to help advertisers and brand marketers understand the impact digital video recorder (DVR) technology has on consumer viewing patterns and product sales. The companies also have expanded their existing relationship to provide viewer and consumer insights from a new national DVR research panel that will allow the companies to use second-by-second analysis and track it to consumer purchasing decisions.

Pernod Ricard USA has sold its Rich & Rare and Royal Canadian Whisky brands to the Sazerac Co., New Orleans. The company also reached an agreement with Corby Distilleries Ltd., which will continue to represent Pernod Ricard brands such as Ballantine's Scotch, Beefeater Gin, Malibu Rum, Kahlúa and Mumm Champagne. Corby also will represent Chivas Regal and The Glenlivet Scotches, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Havana Club Rum, Jacob’s Creek and Wyndham Estate wines.