The RTD (ready-to-drink) segment, encompassing everything from wine coolers to alcopops to hard seltzers, is redefining the alcoholic beverage industry with rapid growth and constant evolution. As Spiros Malandrakis, Head of Alcoholic Drinks at Euromonitor International, highlights, RTDs surpass traditional category boundaries and represent an ever-evolving trend.
The impact of technological advances and the rise of digital channels is now unmistakably evident across alcoholic drinks. One promising consequence is an increasingly personalised consumer experience, facilitated by tailored communication and customised drinks. And that can take many guises.
Since 2008, VLB organizes this technical conference, especially focused on the Ibero-American beer sector. The 14th VLB Ibero-American Symposium on Brewing & Filling Technology will be held on this occasion in Mexico City, including a technical visit to the Heineken Brewery in Toluca (by invitation of Heineken Mexico).
Premiumisation forms the foundation of modern spirits demand and has proved remarkably resilient over the trials of the last few years. Yet, it is not invulnerable to external pressures. Consumers are now having to reassess spending habits given the prolonged strain on disposable incomes, and, unavoidably, rates of premiumisation are slowing.
Craft gin continues to gain prominence among younger consumers in India. Historically, a perceived lack of high-quality domestically-produced gin has hindered its consumption, as imported alternatives tend to be expensive. Recognising a gap in the market, several local entrepreneurs launched their own, home-grown craft gin brands, which were made primarily from indigenous botanicals.
The search for flexibility is a key theme running through company strategies in alcoholic drinks – more so now than ever. The nature of competition is gradually shifting, as maturity and changes in consumer behaviour prompt companies to diversify and seek opportunities outside their traditional areas of specialisation. The ready-to-drink (RTD) sector is a shared expansion focus.
Functionality cues are increasingly replacing simplistic dealcoholisation approaches, and botanical alchemy and molecular experimentation with new ingredients are making the no/lo landscape one of the most innovative and exciting in the alcohol ecosystem. It is here to stay.
The turbulence of the last few years has left on-trade alcoholic drinks in a precarious state. The rise of retail was already underway prior to the pandemic, but the shift is becoming increasingly entrenched in much of the world. On-trade volumes are still notably below 2019 levels, while retail continues to climb. That partly reflects still-incomplete pandemic recovery, but also likely indicates a more structural adjustment. What do the changing patterns mean for on-trade engagement?
As explored in Euromonitor International’s recent food-focused article, the Institute of Food Technologist’s (IFT) annual conference highlights the newest developments in food and ingredient production, research, and innovation. While the primary focus of the conference was on trends and breakthroughs in the food industry, the implications of the findings and concerns in the edible space hold relevance in the potable space. The nutritional trends and expansive academic studies warrant a closer look.