Canadian craft distiller Duvernois Creative Spirits has switched the distribution of its alcohol-free extension in Quebec to Anheuser-Busch InBev’s subsidiary in the country.
The 13-year-old company, which started out as a gin and vodka producer, will switch the 0%-ABV Bockale beer and Romeo’s Gin RTD portfolios to Labatt Breweries of Canada this week. Both Bockale and the no-alcohol extension of Romeo’s Gin were first released by Montreal-based Duvernois in 2016.
When contacted by Global Drinks Intel, a spokesperson for the business said the move to Labatt brings the brands’ distribution operations together. “The ex-distributors for Bockale were DRB Distribution and JPG Distribution,” the spokesperson added, “and for Romeo’s Gin was I-D Foods.
“This is a major breakthrough in the industry as Labatt will help retailers build the category and make it more accessible and clearer to consumers.”
According to Labatt’s VP of Quebec sales, Marc-Olivier Bourgeois, the pair will be available through A-B InBev’s BEES mobile ordering app in the region. “The non-alcoholic beverage category is on the rise as more consumers are adopting a sober curious lifestyle and incorporating non-alcoholic beverages in their social occasions,” Bourgeois said. “This addition to our portfolio, which already includes Corona Sunbrew 0.0% and Budweiser Zero, will … please consumers seeking to discover non-alcoholic beverage options.”
Back in January, the Canadian authorities revised the public guidelines for alcohol consumption, leaning into “recent evidence” to back their claim that consumption of alcohol, however small, is not a protection against heart diseases.
