Analysis: Blurring boundaries

Crossover products are challenging the traditional roles of drinks, offering producers opportunities to attract new consumers. James Bayley reports.

Nick Gillett: Competitive socialising – novelty or here to stay?

Friday read: Tequila overload and the celeb-driven bottleneck

Just as 818, the new tequila brand from Kardashian scion, Kendall Jenner, lands in the UK, Michael Goldstein, drinks entrepreneur behind Prosecco Ventures asks, ‘Can tequila’s fiery spirits brands continue their ascent, or will they fade into obscurity?’

Nick Gillett: How independent brands can influence customer behaviour

Influencing consumers is something that all spirits brands try to do but it’s harder than you think.

Nick Gillett: Wholesale at a crossroads – which way now?

We’re now at a crossroads in the UK. I don’t mean economically or politically. I will leave others to comment on that. Having worked previously for a wholesaler and now as a distributor, it’s the changing wholesale drinks market I want to discuss.

Viticulture in focus: What are the major trends?

Jo Gilbert catches up with some of the UK’s top agents, distributors and producers taking the lead on sustainability issues.

Soapbox: Battling the behemoths

Nick Gillett, MD of Mangrove UK, on the uphill battle smaller brands face with ever more powerful players dominating the industry.

Friday read: The big spending squeeze – are your brands ready?

Yvette Flower, strategic planner at ZEAL Creative, looks at the future of premium beer, wine and spirits sales, and how brands can insulate against the rising tide of inflation.  

Squeezed shoppers sticking to brands over private label

The latest NielsenIQ Scantrack data reveals a complex but interesting picture with regard to BWS sales in multiples, at odds with the broader shift among shoppers from brands to private label.

Demand for super-premium wine and spirits heading for potential slump in US

A new report issued by Rabobank, the multinational banking and financial services company, has examined the potential for a looming US recession to shrink the hitherto booming market for luxury brands.

Long Read: The new language of spirits

As the spirits sector negotiates new drinking habits and different generational needs, there’s been much talk about how brand design has had to change. But what about the words? Jamie Thorp, writer at verbal branding agency Reed Words, looks at how the language of spirits is evolving, too.

Chris Frederick and Damola Timeyin, Spearhead Spirits

Having launched their all-African Bayab gin range and Vusa vodka – and with more to come – Spearhead Spirits founders and friends Chris Frederick and Damola Timeyin talk Andrew Catchpole through their mission to put African spirits at the top table

Quintessential Brands unveils 'industry-first' Spirit Centre

International spirits business Quintessential Brands has launched a first-of-its-kind Spirit Centre, designed to “take customer collaboration to new heights to drive better, insight-driven innovation within spirits”.

UK importer launches distribution service for canned wines

Propeller, the hybrid importer founded by Jamie Wynne-Griffiths in 2020, is embracing new formats with the launch of The Can Collective.

Ex-Accolade alumni Ade McKeon joins Blackfish Brands

Blackfish brands have welcome former Accolade Wines boss, Ade McKeon, into their governing board as non-executive director.

Long read: Chasing formats isn't enough for the Instagram generation

In the past decade, regular wine consumption among 18-34 year olds has fallen by 10% (Wine Intelligence), which could indicate trouble for the sector in the future. Alex Green, co-founded wine distributor Beyond Wines after working with business partner Matt Johnson at Copestick Murray where they worked on i heart and Freixenet. Here, he explores why wine brands are failing to engage the younger demographic and where they stand to make the biggest wins.

Christmas 2021: An optimistic appraisal

The British tabloids have spoken: Christmas 2021 is unlikely to yield much festive cheer. Unfortunately, this isn’t simply press hyperbole – the UK’s food industry is under enormous pressure, while retail supply chains continue to be stymied by a lack of HGV drivers.

Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released a set of data in September which confirmed that the on-trade staffing crisis has not abated. “Sourcing staff has been one of our biggest challenges since we reopened,” says Avinash Shashidhara, head chef at Pali Hill restaurant in London.

UK in ‘good growth’ for Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard has revealed it has seen a very ‘dynamic start’ in all regions for the first quarter of FY22, with robust demand and strong shipments ahead of the festive season.

UK brands soar in value but still trail global giants

The UK’s leading brands are showing positive signs of recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, leaping in value by 22% to reach a new record high of $278.8 (£207 billion), according to Kantar’s BrandZTM Most Valuable UK Brands 2021 ranking. However, growth rates show they are lagging behind the biggest global brands.

Long read: Are hard seltzers over before they really began?

Richard Horwell, owner of specialist food and drink marketing and branding company Brand Relations, anticipates a hard year ahead for a fledgling drinks trend.