Tak Niinami’s Post

The rise of dark spirits on DUSK. The annual Bacardi Cocktail Trends Report for 2024 identified dark spirits as a key area of innovation and growth globally, seen in the increase of new drinkers to the category and existing drinkers increasingly diversifying their palette. In the final quarter of 2023, dark spirits categories on DUSK have seen some outstanding results. 🥃 We’re serving 32,000 whisky and rum cocktails in Q4 alone, with users heavily engaged and converted for our clients. DUSK benchmarks across both categories have seen an average: ✨ 88% of users saying they intend to re-purchase the next time they’re out ✨ 76% of users trying the category for the first time ✨ 96% recommending their drink to friends With thanks to our client partners Diageo, Bacardi, Proximo Spirits and Brown-Forman.

  🍹 Campari and its IP (Intellectual Property) Secrets! Holiday time is here, but before you settle down to a cocktail in the sunset, spare a quick thought for one of the drink industry’s trade secret success stories. 🔮 Campari's Bitter Elixir: Campari, the ruby-red Italian aperitif, has been tantalizing taste buds for over 150 years. But did you know that its signature bitter-sweet flavour comes from a secret blend of around 68 herbs and spices? 🌿 This carefully preserved trade secret has not only maintained the drink's unique identity but also created an aura of mystery around it and, more importantly, prevented competitors from copying it. Campari protects its ingredient list from public knowledge by using measures like those adopted by Coca-Cola. The identities of the people who know the list of ingredients are kept secret and only one person is charged with overseeing the final process of making the drink. The quantities of the ingredients are carefully locked away in a vault and are not revealed. Campari's trade secret has not only preserved its unique flavour but has also contributed to its allure, turning it into a global sensation. The secrecy surrounding Campari's recipe is a testament to the importance of preserving culinary secrets. As we raise our glasses to toast to the summer, let's also raise a toast to the guardians of trade secrets that continue to captivate us. Happy Summer! 🥂🍹🥂 #TradeSecrets #CampariSecrets #CraftedPerfection #SummerSips #CulinaryMysteries  

As a fan of innovative beverages, I'm thrilled to see the explosive growth and evolution of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails, particularly among millennials and Gen Z. Here’s what’s mixing up the market: Flavor Innovation: Brands are heavily investing in getting RTD cocktails to taste as close as possible to what a mixologist would create. Whether it’s a margarita, cosmopolitan, or Negroni, companies are pushing the boundaries of flavor. RTD cocktails grew by an impressive 27% last year, making it the fastest-growing spirits category by revenue. 🍹 Diverse Offerings: RTD makers are betting on unique flavors like turmeric and hibiscus. Diversification is key as consumers seek a wider range of taste experiences. 🌺 Authenticity: There's a strong shift towards RTDs made with real spirits like vodka or tequila, moving away from hard seltzers and malt-based drinks. Authenticity in flavor is more important than ever. 🍸 Health-Conscious Choices: Brands are balancing great taste with healthier options, offering lower-calorie and reduced-sugar alternatives without compromising flavor. 🍃 Global Expansion: Suntory’s -196 RTD, made using whole fruits and vodka, is expanding globally, emphasizing transparency and quality ingredients. 🌍 Established Brands: Major players like Diageo are leveraging their iconic brands to introduce new RTDs, from Captain Morgan’s cocktail-inspired drinks to Smirnoff’s fruity concoctions. Diageo’s RTDs, including the newly launched flavors, aim to cater to health-conscious consumers with lower calorie and sugar options. 🍹 Consumer Education: Tastings and consumer engagement are crucial as brands strive to raise awareness and drive trial. The Finnish Long Drink spends about 40% of its budget on tastings to increase brand awareness. It’s an exciting time for RTD cocktails as brands innovate to meet the evolving preferences of younger consumers. Here’s to sipping on convenience, flavor, and innovation! 🚀 Source: Fast Company #RTDCocktails #BeverageInnovation #Suntory #Diageo #FinnishLongDrink #Millennials #GenZ #FlavorInnovation #DrinkTrends #OnTheRocks #WhiteClaw #Truly #Smirnoff #CaptainMorgan Suntory Global Spirits Diageo The Boston Beer Company AB InBev Pernod Ricard Brown-Forman Molson Coors Beverage Company Bacardi The HEINEKEN Company

Beverage Brands get their landing pages in the London Competitions. London Spirits, Wine and Beer Competition releases its new feature this December where companies and brands that won gold, silver and bronze medals will get their landing pages. UKIYO JAPANESE RICE VODKA which won the vodka of the year, best in show in Japan, best package and a gold medal is shown here as an example. London Spirits Competition’s new initiative is its new step to empower brands and companies to have more information about themselves that is relevant for trade. The pages will also have where consumers can purchase the product online links which will help drive direct consumer sales. The landing pages will also be connected to a trade portal that will be coming soon where judges and trade buyers will be able to make inquiries to brands for samples and pricing. London Spirits Competition website has become an international source for trade buyers and consumers to discover top products and providing in-depth information on the website will help the readers connect with brands in a better way. You can check the London Spirits competition brand pages here: https://lnkd.in/dVu7P5wh

𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗼 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗧𝗗 𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 👊 😍 Ketel One owner Diageo has added a sixth product to its line of ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails. Astral joins Tanqueray and Ketel One in The Cocktail Collection The Cocktail Collection officially launched last year with an Espresso Martini, a Cosmopolitan and a Negroni, joining two Bulleit Bourbon cocktails that launched in 2022. The Astral Margarita is made using Astral Tequila, which uses ‘a traditional, time-intensive process to achieve a smooth, bright profile with bursts of citrus and notes of agave’. Diageo acquired the Tequila brand in 2020 when it bought Davos Brands. “We are committed to bringing bartender-quality cocktails straight to our consumers’ fingertips, so hosts can focus on enjoying moments with their guests, worry-free,” said Nikhil Shah, brand director at Diageo. “We are thrilled with the reception of The Cocktail Collection so far and, with the Margarita’s enduring appeal, it is our hope that we will reach even more cocktail enthusiasts with our newest offering.” The 20% ABV Astral Margarita comes in 350ml and 750ml bottles, with RRPs of US$13.99 and US$25.99 respectively. This week, Diageo revealed that its sales for the first half of fiscal 2024 were down, blaming its sales drop in Latin America on a “worse than expected” consumer environment and high inventory levels. In January, behavioural research platform Veylinx revealed that consumer demand for alcoholic RTDs has grown by 20% year on year.

Looking for a fruity cocktail this summer? 🍹🥥🌴 A month of summer has already passed, and even though the sun has been quite shy, it’s still interesting to examine the early trends recorded in the wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, and coffee aisles and draw lessons for the end of summer, which promises to be eventful. Discover the insights gathered through our Matcha Advisor solution! How do you think these trends will evolve? Let’s dive into the details! 👓 Spoiler alert: You’ll find La Martiniquaise-Bardinet, Pernod Ricard, and Campari Group among these highlights 👀 #retailtech #ia #matcha #trends #insights

2022: The Year of Premium Spirits in the USA 🥃🍸 Tequila led the charge in 2022, showcasing remarkable growth in both volume and value. This surge was powered by a successful premiumization trend, with US consumers embracing sipping tequilas like never before. Celebrity endorsements, such as Kendall Jenner's 818, played a significant role in attracting new aficionados to higher-priced options. But it wasn't just tequila. Premiumization was a key trend across various spirit categories. Whiskies (Irish, Scotch, and Japanese) and cognac also saw a notable shift towards higher-end products, indicating a broader consumer movement towards premium spirits. Interestingly, consumers are not just sticking to one category. They're exploring different spirits, and finding value in premium segments across the board. For instance, switching from tequila to bourbon offers a different experience without compromising quality. Recognizing this trend, major companies are investing heavily in premium spirits. Pernod Ricard formed the “American Whiskey Collective” and Campari invested in a flavoured bourbon “Howler Head” which are prime examples of corporate strategies aligning with consumer preferences. However, not all spirits are enjoying the same success. Despite attempts to replicate tequila's triumph, premium rum remains a niche with limited consumer awareness. Vodka, too, faces challenges, struggling to keep pace with evolving consumer tastes. 2022 was a fascinating year for the spirits industry in the USA, marked by a clear shift towards premiumization and exploration. What trends do you think we'll see in 2023? Share your thoughts below! 🥂 Source: Euromonitor, 2024 #tequila #usa #premium #trend #whiskey #premiumization

USA Spirits Ratings (USA Ratings) is on track and will take place in San Francisco, California this July. For brands looking to gain wider recognition within the U.S. marketplace, the USA Spirits Rating event is a fantastic opportunity to get in front of the industry’s most influential tastemakers & trade buyers. Spirits entries will be judged by their Quality, Value, and Packaging. To help promote the winners and the competition to the public the Beverage Trade Network has set up the Los Angeles Drinks Guide, New York Drinks Guide, Chicago Drinks Guide and San Francisco Drinks Guide to keep those consumers interested in the latest drinks news, trends, products, and award winners. This emphasis on three different judging criteria rather than just one (e.g. quality or taste) is what sets the USA Spirits Ratings apart from other competitions. The goal is to identify the spirits that consumers actually want to buy on a retail shelf or order from a restaurant menu, and not just those spirits that are made with tremendous expertise and craftsmanship but without the end consumer in mind. Get assessed by top spirits buyers and experts and grow your brand awareness. The submission deadline Is June 20, 2023. Enter your spirits today. https://lnkd.in/dYNmU8pu

Big news for the drink aisle! Diageo's rolling out fancy ready-to-drink cocktails. Think Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, and Cîroc in a can. This is huge. It means more people will be eyeing the cocktail section. And that's brilliant for the challenger brands we love to root for, like: MOTH Drinks Tapp'd Cocktails Ltd FUNKIN COCKTAILS | B Corp™ NIO Cocktails Served Drinks Diageo stepping in? It's not just competition. It's proof our favourite underdogs are on to something big. So, to the challenger brands out there, keep shaking things up. Your unique twists, your bold flavours, they're what make this space exciting. At North Star, we're all about helping you get your drinks out there, and grow. Because when one of us shines, we all do. https://lnkd.in/easywjqy #FMCG #ChallengerBrands #NorthStar