Portobello Road Gin has expanded its core range with the launch of a Navy Strength variant made with English sea salt. The newcomer, which is available now, is described as a “mightier and more flavourful” variation of its original London Dry Gin. The 57.1% abv gin is distilled with English-grown wheat and the producer’s signature recipe of nine botanicals. English sea salt is added at…

VK has launched a Christmas jumper giveaway campaign across social media, to tap into its core student audience. The interactive campaign has the help of celebrity social media influencers, and it aims to drive awareness of the RTD brand with its core 18 to 25 year-old audience in the run up to the party season. Abigaile McCabe, VK brand manager, said: “VK has a loyal…

Vinita Italia is ready to tap into the UK’s Italian wine market with the launch of a new UK base. Vinita Wines UK is the distribution arm of Vinita Italia, a Verona-based network of Italian wineries. The parent company was established five years ago to help drive exports worldwide. The network currently represents five core family-owned wineries, with an extended group of 12. The company…

Lidl is focusing on Spanish and Portuguese wine for its next Wine Cellar promotion, which goes into stores on 4 August. The Summer Wine Cellar Collection, which will be its largest range of Iberian wines it has ever had in one Wine Cellar, will also include some new parcels of French and Italian wines. Lidl’s UK wine buying manager Anna Krettmann told OLN that Spanish…

John Smith’s has revealed details of a campaign to drive awareness of its Golden Ale among its target audience. Former footballer, Robbie Savage, is partnering with the brand to promote the campaign: A Golden Ale for the Modern Male. To celebrate the partnership, the brand opened the John Smith’s Golden Tanning Pub on 27th April, to coincide with the launch of a nationwide campaign. The…

Edinburgh Gin is expanding its core range as a result of “soaring customer demand”. The distiller is adding the 43% abv Seaside Gin to its permanent portfolio, to sit alongside Edinburgh Gin Original and the 57% abv Navy Strength Cannonball. Seaside Gin was first launched last summer as a limited edition – a sell-out run of 2,500 bottles. This month the gin will return with…

Drinks companies are fighting hard to keep their products on supermarket shelves as grocers refocus on brands that are core to consumers in the BWS aisle. Alcohol is the latest category to come under scrutiny as supermarkets implement a fundamental range review across their stores to fight back against the discounters. Tesco boss Dave Lewis feels shoppers are a little confused by having up to…