Retailers and brewers fear that new Portman Group guidance around single-serve cans could damage the momentum of craft beer. The industry watchdog published the sixth version of its code of practice this month. It says that “single-serve, non-resealable containers shouldn’t be more than four units” of alcohol so as to “establish a credible definition for assessing complaints about irresponsible sampling promotions or packaging”. It adds…

Diageo Reserve has launched an “innovative new spirit” under its Ketel One vodka brand name which will be pitched as a rival to spritz-style drinks and low alcohol cocktails. Ketel One Botanical is described as a new spirit distilled with botanicals and infused with natural fruit essences. The drink has a lower abv of 30% and only 82 calories per serve. The producer said…

JP Chenet is launching its latest marketing campaign across five UK cities this month. The campaign, which aims to reinforce JP Chenet’s position as market leader for the single serve 18.7cl format, will have a potential to reach more than 1.7million people via outdoor digital media. The advertising drive will run for six weeks in two-week bursts until the end of December. The timing is…

Jacob’s Creek is releasing a premium sparkling drink into the thriving pre-mixed drink sector. Jacob’s Creek Aperitivo Spritz is designed to tap into the popularity of bitter orange aperitifs as well as consumer demand for light and fresh ‘spritz’ offerings that are simple to serve and refreshing to drink, according to the company. The wine-based drink has a flavour profile of blood oranges and selected…

Retailers sold alcohol to nearly one in six teenage mystery shoppers in 2016 without asking for proof of age, according to new data from Serve Legal.  The retail age check auditor said its testers, all of whom are young-looking 18 and 19-year-olds, undertook nearly 43,000 alcohol sales tests in supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations across the UK in 2016. …

Hooper’s is entering the growing RTS (ready to serve) can market with its most popular flavour, Dandelion & Burdock. The traditional British drinks brand, which is owned by Global Brands, will now offer its key flavour in a canned format. RTS cans is the fastest growing format in the RTD (ready to drink) category, according to Global Brands. The canned format has grown by £9.4m…

Sales flagging? Struggling to attract younger drinkers? Looking for a magic cure-all to revive your brand? We’ve got the answer: just add fruit. Fruit cider sales are going from strength to strength. They soared 26{7c69fd72f8e2bab9ee87ef5a2685d86c0107c79a8a610a3574925e3ec9a3ba47} to £274 million in the year to January 31, according to Nielsen, while apple and pear cider sales slumped. And why is this market doing so well? It’s all down…