BACARDI ROCK COCONUT Flavored Rum Debuts
BACARDI has introduced the first coconut rum infused with rock melon and coconut water, BACARDI ROCK COCONUT. “BACARDI Flavored Rums is committed to providing consumers with new and exciting flavor combinations that consist of unique ingredients with dynamic tastes,” said Gordon Chisholm, Brand Director, BACARDI Flavored Rums. “We continue to lead the flavored spirits market by infusing popular flavors with those more exotic. We are the first flavored spirits brand to capitalize on the extreme popularity of coconut water and offer our consumers this exclusive flavor experience.” Premium and distinctive packaging and displays communicate the look and taste of these unique tropical ingredients. The launch will be supported with on and off-premise POS.
Displays Showcase Tequila Herradura’s New Look
To celebrate its 140th Anniversary, Casa Herradura has introduced new primary packaging. The new packaging was conceptualized to include key design elements featuring a new angular, square cut-glass bottle. “To commemorate our 140th Anniversary, we are introducing Tequila Herradura with a new bottle that accentuates our premium tequilas and unifies the brand under one global and streamlined image,” said John Hayes, managing director for Brown-Forman Tequilas.
To support the Herradura new bottle launch, an advertising campaign was developed by Draftfcb-Chicago that includes print, point-of-sale and digital properties. A message that communicates, “Never Compromise,” will help convey the brand’s commitment to quality and establish Casa Herradura as an upscale leader in the ultra-premium category.
Diageo Features Bar Rail Display
Diageo is using this clear Acrylic napkin/swizzzle stick holder which features an interchangeable slide-in graphic feature.
This display allows the changeable graphics to promote new drinks, recipes, food and other bar activities and events. It promotes brand and event awareness. This Diageo Bar Rail Display was created for Diaby Practical Retail Merchandising Inc., (www.practicalretailmerch.com), an Evanston, IL-based point-of-purchase display firm.
Tea Forte Launches In Duty Free Stores
Tea Forte, the global luxury tea brand, has opened its duty free stores at the DFS Galleria in Waikiki, the luxury retailer catering to the traveling public. Company founder Peter Hewitt, said, “The store reflects the quality of our tea collections as well as the premium positioning of our brand.”
Known for the variety and unparalleled quality of handcrafted teas, design-driven accessories, and exquisite packaging, Tea Forte re-imagines and re-defines the tea experience.
Coca-Cola Introduces Consumer Recycling Center
As part Coca-Cola’s commitment to increase recycling of its used packaging material, Coca-Cola Recycling LLC will introduce a new consumer recycling center that accepts and processes aluminum cans and #1 PET plastic beverage bottles. The unit, Reimagine Beverage Containers, is the result of collaboration with Environmental Products Corp. (Envipco) and uses breakthrough, proprietary technology developed by Envipco.
Reimagine is designed to offer free and convenient access to beverage container recycling for those who don't currently recycle. The first Reimagine unit was recently unveiled at a shopping center in Arlington, TX, anchored by Kroger.
Alcohol Sales At Restaurants & Bars To Increase By 2% In 2011, Says Technomic
Consumers are expected to increase their purchases of alcohol in bars and restaurants in 2011, with a forecasted uptick of 1.9%, according to Technomic. Citing an improving sales climate at the nation’s eating and drinking establishments, Technomic notes that consumers are beginning to order more drinks as they entertain away from home.
“The past several years were brutal for the alcohol category in bars and restaurants. Consumers were trading down to value offerings or simply not ordering alcohol at all,” said David Henkes, VP, Technomic and head of the firm’s On-Premise Practice. “As conditions improve, we expect to see positive sales growth in 2011.”
Spirits-based drinks will see the highest rate of growth in 2011 at 2.3%, with some return to more expensive cocktails and premium brands. Wine sales will increase by 1.4% but are being depressed by a move toward more wines-by-the-glass and lower-priced value wines. Beer sales are expected to grow 1.6% and will be supported by continued strength in the craft/microbrew beer category.
Craft Beers Bubble Over In Popularity, Reports Mintel
While spirits barely edged out beer as the most popular alcoholic beverage enjoyed by consumers between 2009-2010, the market has hardly fallen flat. According to latest research from Mintel, domestic beer is the clear favorite, followed by imported varieties; but 33% of all beer drinkers aged 21 and up are drinking less imported beer because they’re drinking more domestic craft beer instead.
Only a modest percentage of beer drinkers (13%) say they prefer domestic craft or microbrew beers (compared to 43% for domestic and 22% for imported), but an impressive 59% say they like to try them, and 51% would try more craft or microbrew beers if they knew more about them.
“Craft beers have increased in popularity in the past five years, and enjoyed a boost in their consumer base,” said Garima Goel Lal, senior analyst at Mintel. “Craft beer is most popular with the 25-34-year-old crowd, so manufacturers would be wise to target this demographic and educate them more about artisan beers.”
Samuel Adams Launches Infinium
Infinium™ is a new champagne-like beer that sets a new standard in brewing. The sparkling brew is the culmination of a two-year collaboration between Samuel Adams and Germany’s Weihenstephan Brewery. This innovative new beer style adheres to the rigorous standards of the historic German beer purity law that states all beer must be brewed using only four ingredients: malt, hops, water and yeast.
7-Eleven Launches Cherrywood Cellars
7-Eleven has added Cherrywood Cellars to its best-selling line-up of proprietary wines. The mid-tier-priced wine ($7.99 - $8.99 per bottle) is available in three varietals - chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. “We are targeting millennials because they like convenience and want to try new products, especially if we offer a quality product at a great price,”said Jesus Delgado-Jenkins, 7-Eleven Sr. VP Merchandising.
Tropicana Introduces Tropicana Tropolis
Tropicana Products is testing a new portable kids snack called Tropicana Tropolis™ - a smooth blend of real squeezable fruit, packed with nutrition, designed for kids. Tropicana created this new food line to help moms squeeze the goodness of fruit into kids’ diets.
“Moms have fond memories of Tropicana from their own childhoods, and our hope is that this new nutritious snack will give them yet another way to give their children fruit goodness,” said Memo Maquivar, Tropicana VP Marketing.
Seattle’s Best Coffee Introduces 'Level' System For Packaged Coffee
Seattle’s Best Coffee, part of Starbucks Corp., has launched a simplified packaged coffee line designed to change the conventions of the coffee category. With the new Seattle’s Best Coffee “Level” System, consumers will be able to easily find and choose from a selection of Seattle’s Best Coffee blends that span the entire range of coffee, from a mild, light, crisp Level 1 to a bold, dark and intense Level 5.
Wine Master Cellars, Denver, CO, creators of the VintageView® label-forward wine storage system, is expanding into the grocery channel to meet product demand. VintageView, which was initially designed as a wall mounted wine rack, can now be adapted to fit with most gondola systems to provide label-forward wine storage to showcase today’s colorful labels. For more information, contact Wine Master Cellars, (Tel) 866-650-1500, (Web site) www.vintageview.com
FacesMe is a new, patent-pending, illumination technology with an exciting visual effect. When the viewers move around the device, a 3D face is produced in vivid detail, following them around the room. The illusion commands the attention of its viewers at the point-of-sale. This is a new real 3D technology that is non-lenticular, non-digital and has a fun and interactive effect. It is modular so easy insert replacements allow users to enjoy several different designs. For more information, contact FacesMe, (Tel) 1-855-322-3763, (Web site) www.facesme.com
Merchandising Inventives offers The Tri-View Three Sided Clear Acrylic Literature and Sign Display. The 9"w x 10"h display is a cost-effective three sided literature holder solution for counter top or table top advertising. The model BL3-0910 is a top loading clear acrylic literature and brochure display that measures - 9"w x 10"h. For more informaition, contact Merchandising Inventives, 1177 Corporate Grove Drive, Buffalo Grove, IL, 60089; (Tel) 847-499-3000; (Web site) www.merchandisinginventives.com
Coors Light Runs ‘Snap, Send, Score’ Super Bowl Promo.
Coors Light, official beer sponsor of the NFL & Super Bowl XLV, recently conducted a “Snap, Send, Score” promotion. Using SnapTag™ technology, any adult with a Smartphone could Snap a photo of the Coors Light SnapTag logo on packaging and promotional materials and send it in for a chance to Score a variety of unique prizes: The “Super Bowl Insider” grand prize; a trip to Super Bowl XLV including roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations, tickets to the game, a stadium tour, a picture holding the Lombardi Trophy, and tickets to the Coors Light Super Bowl Party at the “world’s largest honky tonk,” Billy Bob’s Texas.
“Coors Light was excited to give fans a chance to win prizes they would never expect, in celebration of Super Bowl XLV,” said Rick Gomez, VP, Marketing, Coors. Coors Light partnered with Razorfish, the brand’s digital agency, and SpyderLynk to produce the SnapTag promotion.
Glenrothes Promo Offers Unique Experience
Berry Brothers & Rudd, makers of Glenrothes® single malt Scotch whisky, is offering a one-of-a-kind experience whereby four passionate, Scotch aficionados will have the chance to work as an official Glenrothes Whisky Maker, spending a week at the distillery in Scotland. Each of the winners will produce their own selection of The Glenrothes labeled with their own hand-written tasting notes. The fledgling whisky makers will stay at Rothes House, the brand’s accommodation for visiting friends, a short walk from the distillery.
Skyy Spirits Launches ‘SKYY Sexy’ Campaign
SKYY Vodka has unveiled a sexy new ad campaign featuring bold, vibrant imagery that is both provocative and engaging. Shot by renowned photographer Raymond Meier, the campaign consists of five different executions; “Sexy Legs,” “Unzipped,” “The Package,” “Lip Service” and “Iced Down,” each showcasing a different interpretation of SKYY sexy. Andrea Conzonato, Skyy Chief Marketing Officer, said, “Our new ads are suggestive, asking consumers to look beneath the surface of the graphics and interpret what SKYY sexy is for themselves.”
Constellation Wines Runs Mobile Mktg Promo.
Constellation Wines recently worked with Augme Technologies, a New York City-based mobile marketing firm, to conduct a mobile phone promotion.
Free-standing inserts (FSIs) in newspapers directed customers to an interactive experience via SMS keywords and QR codes (two-dimensional codes readable by smartphones). Retailers include these “mobile calls to action” via bottleneck hangers and case cards. Texting the key words “HOST,” “WINE,” “CHEERS” or “PARTY” to 30333 or scanning the 2D barcode directed consumers to a mobile site powered by the AD LIFE™ platform.
Customers accessing the mobile site found: Party Planning Calculator: customized results recommending the amount of wine needed based on length of party and number of guests. Food and Wine Pairings: recommendations for wines based on a customer’s party menu. Promotions: Consumers could opt-in to receive promotions from Constellation Wines.
NY Giants Receiver Steve Smith To Endorse New Leaf Brands
New Leaf Brands has formed an agreement with Steve Smith, Pro Bowl wide receiver for the New York Giants, for a multi-season endorsement agreement. “Steve Smith is exactly the type of athlete we want endorsing New Leaf. He excels on the field and is relatable off the field, where he is extremely active with his fans in Social Media and heavily involved in charitable organizations,” said New Leaf CEO, Eric Skae.
Good Earth Tea Runs ‘Bold Taste, Bold Sounds’ Promotion
Good Earth Tea recently teamed up with EMI Music to offer consumers free music with every purchase of specially marked boxes of Good Earth Tea. Good Earth Tea consumers could download a free song from EMI’s long list of well-known artists. With over 25 different varieties of Good Earth Tea and more than two hundred thousand songs to choose from, consumers could enjoy both tea and music to suit any taste.
“At Good Earth Tea, we are all about creativity and imagination. That’s what inspired our connection with creative, one-of-a-kind artists,” said Deborah Glasser, Marketing Director for Tata Global Beverages, which owns Good Earth Tea. “Music offers yet another way to celebrate the uniqueness of our customers, and EMI’s musical line-up is as distinctive as our teas.”
Consumers could download one song for each purchase, with no purchase limit. The “Bold Taste - Bold Sounds” promotion was supported via point-of-purchase displays.
BURGER KING Restaurants Host Free Coffee Fridays
Burger King Restaurants recently offered a 12 ounce cup of Seattle’s Best Coffee free of charge with no purchase necessary, on Fridays. During breakfast hours, BURGER KING restaurants hosted Free Coffee Fridays, offering guests the chance to start their day off right.
“Our new breakfast lineup offers guests great taste, quality and variety, and Seattle’s Best Coffee is at the heart of it,” said Mike Kappitt, CMO, Burger King. “By offering free high-quality coffee, we gave customers another reason to bite into breakfast at BURGER KING.”
United Food In-Store Dispensers Feature Wireless Video Ads
United Food Group, Inc., maker of dry powdered beverages and proprietary dispensing equipment, has launched an updated version of its in-store dispenser that includes an integrated audio-video screen. The system plays short 5-30 second commercials targeted to convenience store customers.
“This is a breakthrough technology that allows advertisers to connect with consumers as they add sugar, cream, flavored creamers and sweeteners to their coffee,” said Bryan Real, President of United Food Group. “Our business model provides ad revenue sharing with our Convenience Store customers, while saving money through controlled dispensing of powdered flavorings.” United Food Group wirelessly uploads media content to the in-store dispensers.
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