Spirits – Keep It Overproof!

Gambrinus Takes Texan Mindset to “Domestic” Space

Dear Client: Gambrinus’ Spoetzl Brewery (makers of Shiner Beer) is entering the “classic” beer space with a classic of its own: Texas Special. Indeed, the company is digging deep into its vault to revive the heritage brand, believing it has found white space in the increasingly crowded space of domestic, er American lagers with a decidedly Texan approach. It plans to compete in the space this year with Texas Special at a “fair” price point and sizable investment, all while keeping a healthy distance from the notable Shiner brand. We’ll dive deeper...

Drinks Revolution: Spiritrade shakes up the drinks industry

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Spiritrade boss Jimmy Metta tells db about the firm smashing its first-year growth expectations by 300%, and shaking things up in the industry with the launch of the secure global drinks marketplace LAUNCHED IN March 2019, new kid on the block, Spiritrade, has proved to be adept at shaking up the drinks marketplace. This was a key aim of founder Jimmy Metta, whose previous successes include luxury drinks wholesaler Vanquish and online drinks retailer 31Dover.com. The global drinks trading platform for spirits, beer, Champagne and non- alcoholic beverages now boasts a membership of...

Many More Mandatory On-Premise Closings; The Rise of the Neo-Speakeasy?

Posted in Beer, Industry.

Dear Client: By now, over 20 states have all announced the closure of bars and restaurants in wake of COVID-19, while still allowing carryout and delivery. That list includes: California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Illinois Indiana Kentucky Louisiana Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota New Hampshire New Jersey New York Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Washington And D.C. Notably, some of those states mentioned above are offering up solutions to these on-premise establishments during this temporary shutdown. As Wine & Spirits Daily reported yesterday, the Distilled...

The show goes on: New products that would’ve launched at ProWein

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

Despite ProWein’s cancellation due to the ongoing threat posed by coronavirus (Covid-19), business in the trade goes on, even though the show on this occasion has not. Here’s db’s rundown of products that were due to be launched at ProWein this week and the alternative plans producers are having to make to showcase them. Digital seems to be the way forward, as producers scamble to get their new launches in front of customers and clients, but as one exhibitor said, “We’re working with our clients as best we can – by video conference and email – to try...

Budget live: Chancellor freezes alcohol duties and abolishes business rates for small retailers

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

The UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer has frozen alcohol duties for spirit, wine and beer, and abolished business rates for the year for hundreds of thousands of small retailers and businesses in the hospitality sector. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who only took on the role last month, has cut a planned increase in duty across spirits, wine and beer, noting it was only the second time in 20 years that all alcohol duties had been frozen and reiterated the upcoming review of UK alcohol taxation that was unveiled during the Queen’s speech. He also singled out the value of Scotch to the...

Optimism as UK on-trade closures slow down

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

There were optimistic signs on the high street as the closure of UK pubs, restaurants and bars slowed to their lowest year-on-year rate in two years, a new report has said – with managed restaurants showed to be in growth. (Photo: iStock) The Market Growth Monitor from CGA and AlixPartners, which monitors news opening and closures in the out-of-home sectors, said closure in the sector had fallen by 1.8% in the 12 months to December, the slowest pace of since March 2018. However there had still be the equivalent of around six sites closing a day in the last 12 months,...

International Women’s Day: How the drinks industry is supporting women in 2020

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

With International Women’s Day right around the corner, brands are racing to launch initiatives that empower women in the workplace. In recent years, the day, which has been celebrated for well over a century, became an excuse for businesses to offer promotions and boost their sales, while winning over consumers. Brewdog faced heavy backlash after launching an ironic “Punk for Girls” IPA in 2018 and offering discounts at its on-trade sites, despite also donating proceeds of the sales to support women in STEM research. It’s no longer enough to offer women a discount...

The Three Tiers of the Alcohol Industry

Posted in Industry.

If you are interested in entering the alcohol industry, you will have to understand the workings of the alcohol industry’s three-tier system. The three-tier system in the alcohol industry follows a chain of production, distribution and sales that is not unusual across industries. What sets the three-tier system apart in the alcohol industry is that, in many states, the system is required by law. It was established post-prohibition, as an attempt to separate alcohol producers and retailers and break up the saloon-based system that was credited at the time with many social ills. Today,...

Entering the U.S. Market with a New Alcohol Brand

Posted in Beer, Industry, Spirits, Wine.

While the final numbers are not in, alcohol sales in the U.S. are expected to hit $166.4 billion for 2019. This makes the U.S. a lucrative market, but also a competitive one. There is an endless list of companies looking to secure their share of the market, but without a unique product and excellent promotion efforts, it is all too easy to get lost in the shuffle. Use these tips to develop a strategy that will help your new beverage alcohol brand successfully enter and take hold in a crowded industry. Understand the market landscape One key to successfully introducing a new brand...

London Wine Fair ‘going ahead as planned’ as coronavirus disrupts global trade show calendar

Posted in Beer, Spirits, Wine.

The London Wine Fair will still go ahead “as planned” in May as trade shows around the world have been pushed back to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus). (Photo: Anthony Upton) The London Wine Fair is set to attract thousands of professionals from the wine, spirits, beer and cider industries to London’s Kensington Olympia exhibition hall between 18 and 20 May. The organisers said they are working closely with the venue, Olympia, and we will “continue to follow advice from the Government, the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England”,...

Tag: Spirits