RTD forecast growth slows

24 October, 2023

IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has released its RTDs Strategic Study 2023, which revealed the RTD category is expected to grow by 12% in volume between 2022 and 2027, achieving $40bn by 2027 across 10 key markets.

While they put a focus on the spirit, some experts believe the explosion of brands backed by famous faces does the category and quality expectations no favours.

The IWSR Drinks Market Analysis reported that the global spirits category grew 5% in volume in 2022, driven by whisky, rum and brandy. 

Singapore’s Atlas bar has launched its 'Simple Pleasures' drinking menu, designed and developed by head bartender Lidiyanah' Yana' K and the Atlas team.

Spiribam-UK, owners of Rhum J.M and Clement, has announced the launch of ‘AgriSchool’, an in-person, category education event for bartenders interested in rhum agricole.

The no- and low-alcohol categories grew by more than 7% in volume across 10 key global markets in 2022 to surpass a market value of $11bn, a new report from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has revealed.

Spanish Brandy ups appeal

31 October, 2022

Innovation in the category is aimed at attracting younger consumers, especially through cocktails.

The Negroni Sbagliato has become the darling of millennials thanks to a TikTok clip. Shay Waterworth says it’s opening new doors for vermouth producers.

Penfolds is launching a new accessible AUD$50 range within the travel retail exclusive Cellar Reserve portfolio, aimed at recruiting wine drinkers into the premium wine category. 

In September, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto celebrated the anniversary of its sixth year. To mark the occasion, the brand announced the release of a new book outlining the first five years of Italicus. Drinks International caught up with founder Giuseppe Gallo to talk about the evolution of the brand.

A spirit historically bound to the South Korean market, soju consumption is rapidly increasing in key global markets.

Japanese whisky continues to go from strength to strength as shochu producers turn to the category to make their mark in international markets.

Flavours, packaging and a concentration on cocktails in the on-trade could be the way to a new audience for the Italian liqueur.

Spain’s most famous alcoholic export is on the cusp of some major changes. Millie Milliken takes a look at the incoming regulations in sherry and what the future could hold for the category.

Brands Report 2022: Brandy

11 January, 2022

Our brandy category takes into account any brandy outside the Cognac region and embraces a hugely diverse collection of spirits.

Demand for ready-to-drink (RTD) products continues to grow amongst consumers, with the category expected to account for 8% of total beverage alcohol by 2025 according to a new report from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

For many drinkers outside of its native Brazil, cachaça is a largely mysterious category, perhaps known as the star of a Caipirinha and nothing more. In its homeland, however, cachaça’s popularity borders on religious.

It has been a sobering quarter for hard seltzers. Sales of the canned RTD that disrupted the US alcohol market when it burst on to the scene in 2016 have finally stalled.

Foursquare Distillery icon Richard Seale talks about his career and recent achiements with Oli Dodd.

Amaretto in a nutshell

22 July, 2021

There’s a buzz about Italian spirits in many markets. Campari and Aperol are kicking up a storm in aperitif drinking occasions through spritz and other mixer serves, while amaro is getting some love on the back of the wider trend for herbal, digestif-style liqueurs.

Online retailer Master of Malt has unveiled three key trends that could define the spirits industry during the next year.

Global alcohol consumption is expected to increase by 2.9% this year, according to new IWSR projections. Martin Green reports.

The International Spirits Challenge 2021 will reveal trophy winners and the overall Supreme Champion via an online awards presentation on Thursday, July 8.

Drinks international catches up with the founder of The Emissary Prosecco, Ed Smith, to find out whether talk of a Rosé Prosecco shortage is cause for concern.

Stars continue to flock to give their endorsement to 100% agave brands, but sustainability has become an issue as consumer demand has risen.

In 2020, beverage alcohol consumption in the US saw the largest volume gain in nearly 20 years.

Pernod Ricard has claimed two double gold medals in the gin category at the International Spirits Challenge 2021.

An ambitious start-up aims to turn hard seltzers into a hot summer drinks trend within the UK market.

Havana Club has launched a Cuban Spiced variant in a bid to bring more millennial and Generation Z consumers into the rum category.

JW Filshill, the Glasgow-based wholesaler, has acquired Eldorado Tonic Wine as part of its purchase of KB Agencies for an undisclosed sum.

Pernod Ricard has ramped up its focus on the low-alcohol category by launching 20% abv variants of Ballantine’s Scotch whisky and Beefeater gin.

The alcoholic drinks category led the charge as UK supermarkets enjoyed their strongest ever Christmas trading period, according to Nielsen till scan data.

Ed Gerard has left his role of head of wines and spirits at upmarket retailer Harrods to join Mocktail Beverages as global business development director.

The beer, wine and spirits category remained the star performer in the UK retail sector as it enjoyed 17% growth in the four weeks to October 3.

Some of the world’s leading drinks brands are celebrating after securing trophies and gold medals at the 2020 Travel Retail Awards.

Judges at the International Spirits Challenge hailed the overall quality standards on display within the whisky category after issuing a remarkable medal tally.

The language of rum

23 July, 2020

Language has immense power. It can start wars and broker peace; it can convey truth and espouse lies; it can lead to both understanding and misunderstanding. For rum, semantics is a particularly sore subject.

A vermouth lover aims to bring finesse and balance to the category with the launch of his small-batch Agora Vermouth.

While amaretto may have a long and somewhat idyllic history, it has done little to capture consumers’ imaginations in recent times. But cocktail culture could be key to changing all that, finds Angel Brown

Brands Report: Irish Whiskey

08 January, 2018

The growing Irish Whiskey category gets its first page to itself this year. Hamish Smith explains why

With convenience at its heart, the pre–mixed drink is always going to involve an element of compromise – the category will probably never be one for the purist. But that doesn’t mean it should be spared our scrutiny. 

Absinthe

09 July, 2012

With all the bans on absinthe now lifted, the traditional French and Swiss producers are now free to re-invent the category for the 21st century. Hamish Smith investigates

Maxxium Travel Retail (MTR) is raising the profile of Courvoisier and aiming to demystify the cognac category with its multi-sensory experience, ‘Le Nez de Courvoisier’ in the World Duty Free store at London Heathrow Terminal 5. 

UK: Diageo GB is re-positioning its Bell’s blended scotch whisky brand via a £1.35m TV ad campaign.

Beam Global has appointed Debora Boyda to the role of general manager of the Mixables Category Business Team (CBT). 

Accolade Wines has launched a low alcohol wine under the Stowells brand. Stowells Light is 5.5% abv and a 125ml glass contains one unit of alcohol and 56 calories.

The Restaurant and Bar Design Awards recognised "excellence" in design and architecture in the global hospitality industry yesterday, at a ceremony in Canary Wharf, London.

Drinks International has announced the category winners of the 18th annual Cocktail Challenge.

Brazilians are increasingly turning to wine as their beverage of choice, according to consumer research published by Wine Intelligence.

Diageo has announced changes to its global marketing department following a review of its structure.

Digital Edition

Drinks International digital edition is available ahead of the printed magazine. Don’t miss out, make sure you subscribe today to access the digital edition and all archived editions of Drinks International as part of your subscription.

Comment

Ben Branson

Ben Branson on the future of non-alc spirits

In his inaugural column for Drinks International, Branson takes a wider look at the overall non-alcoholic spirits sector to identify which brands will thrive and which won’t survive.

Instagram

Facebook