Dear Drinks Executive,
Welcome to the March issue of Global Drinks Intel Magazine.
We cover a lot of ground in this issue. One of the changes within the drinks industry in recent years has been the tendency by the major drinks groups to look at the market as much by drinking occasion as category. We have started to do the same and this issue we look at the revival of the high-energy drinking occasion. With the post-pandemic reopening of the on-premise, Jaq Bayles draws a parallel with the original Roaring Twenties, when we were coming out of the period marked by the Spanish Flu and World War One. Drawing on a recent Bacardi report, she says: “Pent-up demand will be unleashed into a hyper-accelerated landscape by consumers with evolved needs, values and mindsets. For cocktail consumption and the spirits business in 2022, this will transform everything from drinks desired, flavour expectations and drinking occasions through to ethical action and ways of creating cocktails.” Jaq details these potential changes, and it is certainly worth a read.
The US on-premise faces a very different problem. Thirty-three million Americans quit their jobs between spring 2021 and the end of the year, prompting many to term the second half of 2021 as the Great Resignation or the Big Quit. The on-premise has arguably suffered more than most sectors, with many staff members taking the opportunity to seek alternative careers during the enforced closures of the sector over the past two years. Our regular on-premise expert, CGA’s Charlie Mitchell, explores the consequences of this Big Quit and finds that it isn’t necessarily all bad.
We aren’t abandoning our regular category coverage and this month look at some of the real heavyweights – Blended Scotch, rum, vodka and liqueurs. All are performing well, led by strong premiumisation trends. Whisky has been one of the star performers of the spirits market. Patrick Bannon, CGA client director Americas, shares some of the very latest sales and consumer trends in the category and examines how suppliers and operators can capitalise on the growing interest in the US on-premise.
Our emerging market and travel-retail expert, Tim Young, formerly of Brown-Forman, outlines the ingredients brand owners need to add to their plans to build a successful long-term business in developing markets.
There is much more. We hope that you enjoy it.
Best regards
Alexander Smith
Editor-in-Chief
