Industry briefing
The latest news, trends, and data you need to know about this month
In numbers
The festive sales opportunity
The Coca-Cola Co reveals first Christmas campaign under ‘Real Magic’ strapline
The Coca-Cola Co has released its Christmas advert for 2021. “Real Magic at Christmas” centres around a two-and-a-half-minute spot that will air across TV, cinema screens and Social Media platforms in about 90 countries from 15 November. The activity is the first from the Coke brand owner under its Real Magic global brand platform, which launched in September.
Ian McLeod Distillers prepares ‘drinkable’ Edinburgh Gin Christmas wreath
Ian McLeod Distillers is readying the launch of a Christmas gift package from its Edinburgh Gin brand. Included in the set are a 70cl bottle of Edinburgh Gin Christmas, a 43% abv limited-edition iteration flavoured with frankincense and myrrh, and a Christmas wreath. The wreath features different garnish options that can be used in gin-based cocktails.
Bacardi rolls out worldwide festive push for Grey Goose – video
Bacardi has revealed a marketing campaign for its Grey Goose vodka brand ahead of the festive season. ‘Vive La Vodka’ comprises six-, 15- and 30-second pieces of video content that promotes Grey Goose as the central ingredient in the martini cocktail. The spots will air globally across a selection of TV channels and via the brand’s Social Media channels.
Gosnells launches bag-in-box mulled mead
Gosnells has unveiled a pair of packaging formats for its mulled mead for the UK on-premise channel. The five- and ten-litre bag-in-box formats target the “growing numbers of pubs and bars intrigued by the potential of mead” ahead of the Christmas period, according to the London-based company.
Product launches
Pernod Ricard’s The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old Licensed Dram
Category: Spirits, whisky, Scotch, single malt, 48% abv
Available: From this week
Location: The UK, exclusively via Amazon
Price: GBP50 (US$67.77) per 70cl bottle
Pernod Ricard has released another aged expression from its The Glenlivet Scotch whisky brand. The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old Licensed Dram, the bottle design for which is based on the oldest Glenlivet expression, is the second from the single malt’s ‘Original Stories’ series, following the launch of 12-Year-Old Illicit Still last year.
Piper-Heidsieck’s Hors-Série 1971 Champagne
Category: Champagne
Available: From this month
Location: Available worldwide
Price: In the UK, SRP of GBP400 (US$540) per 70cl bottle
Piper-Heidsieck has released the first in a new series of special-issue cuvees. Hors-Série 1971, a 50-year-old blend of Champagne that was disgorged in February this year, is a “reinterpretation” of a vintage blend dating from 50 years ago.
Anheuser-Busch InBev’s wine-cask-aged Camden Town Beer 2021
Category: Lager, 10% abv
Available: From this month
Location: The UK, selected retailers
Price: SRP of GBP8.50 (US$11.60) per 50cl bottle
Anheuser-Busch InBev’s London brewery, Camden Town, has launched the latest in a line of annual cask-aged beer releases. Camden Town Brewery’s Beer 21, which was aged in ex-Brandy and Sauternes wine barrels, is the fifth in Camden’s annual barrel-aged series.
PepsiCo’s Mtn Dew’s Fruit Candy Chews, Gingerbread Snap’d
Category: Soft drinks
Available: From this month
Location: US
Price: In line with other Mtn Dew flavours; available in 12oz (34cl) cans and 20oz (60cl) PET bottles
PepsiCo has released two new limited edition flavours from its Mtn Dew soft drinks brand. Mtn Dew Fruit Candy Chews is the brand’s “mystery” Halloween flavour, a practise PepsiCo rolls out annually to mark the celebration on 31 October. Gingerbread Snap’d, meanwhile, focuses on the festive season in December.
