AB InBev, the world’s leading brewer, has extended its nearly 40-year partnership with FIFA to include the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 taking place in the US from 15 June to 13 July.
AB InBev is also a sponsor of FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the US.
The brewer said the expanded partnership reinforces its megabrand and mega platform strategy by connecting beer with global events that consumers love. Megabrands Budweiser and Michelob ULTRA will lead the partnership complemented with local brands in select markets.
“AB InBev has been an iconic sponsor of our events for almost 40 years, and today we are excited to see them come on board as a partner of the new FIFA Club World Cup.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.
“We are embarking on a journey that will redefine club football and create a new global tournament. With AB InBev’s brands, we are creating unforgettable moments for football fans around the world.”
Michel Doukeris, AB InBev chief executive, said: “This partnership with the FIFA Club World Cup continues our legacy of bringing beer and sports together for fans around the world, creating more moments of celebration and cheers. We look forward to activating this first-of-its-kind tournament next summer in partnership with FIFA.”
The upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will gather 32 of the world’s best football clubs for a month-long celebration across 11 US host cities. As part of the multi-faceted agreement, AB InBev will create unique brand experiences across participating countries, and deliver the ‘Player of the Match Award’.
Vodka brand Smirnoff is launching a brand-new product: Smirnoff Miami Peach Spirit Drink. New Smirnoff Miami Peach combines juicy-sweet peach flavours with the smooth taste of Smirnoff Vodka, inspired by the vibrant energy of summer days on Miami Beach. Peach is a delicious and versatile flavour making it perfect for creating a range of simple and impressive serves.
New product launches in the flavoured vodka category contributed £7.6m growth in the off-trade last year, and Smirnoff is looking to drive further incremental sales in the category as consumers look to experiment with new favourites ahead of the summer.
“Smirnoff has driven the growth of spirit flavours in the off-trade with previous launches like Cherry Drop, Mango and Passionfruit, and Raspberry Crush,” said Jessica Lace, Head of Smirnoff GB. “Our brand is an expert in this space, with Raspberry Crush being the biggest flavoured spirit launch of the last three years, generating the highest sales value among new products launched in spirits.
“Peach is the flavour of the moment, and Smirnoff Miami Peach gives shoppers the opportunity to experiment with different mixers to create their own peachy summer serve. The spirit drink pairs perfectly with lemonade for a delicious and simple mixed drink that will bring the Miami vibes to the UK, alternatively shoppers can experiment with a Miami Peach Sunrise or Miami Peach & Iced Tea to level-up cocktail night at-home!”
To support the launch of Miami Peach, a creative 360 marketing campaign is being launched, celebrating the colourful vibrancy of Miami across A/V, social, experiential and out of home. The through the line campaign will connect music, entertainment and culture with the fruity flavours of Smirnoff Miami Peach to create unforgettable moments. Retailers will be able to sign up through Diageo One to get exclusive point of sale displays to bring Miami to their stores and evoke summer year-round for their customers.
New Smirnoff Miami Peach will be available as a 70cl spirit drink (35 per cent ABV) that is launching on 1 March and as well as a convenient ready-to-drink 250ml can mixed with lemonade (five per cent ABV) which is launching on 7 March.
Having entered the UK’s Top 10 Spirits in 2024, rising three places up the ranks verses last year, Jameson is continuing to recruit consumers through its Jameson, Ginger & Lime serve, newly extended Premium range, and its long-term partnership with the English Football League (EFL), the latter having helped deliver record high equity levels for the brand.
This St. Patrick’s Day, Jameson will bring to life its three core values of being welcoming, smooth and light-hearted, with a new campaign "Must Be A Jameson". Set to reach over 15 million consumers, the TV partnership will be live from 24 February to 14 April via Sky Sports, as well as Video on Demand (including ITV, Channel 4, Prime Video) and online video (YouTube).
Wembley Jameson event
The Sky Sports tie-up supports the brand’s long-term partnership with the EFL and as part of this, a large-scale experiential event will also be executed at the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday 16 March. The Jameson Bus "Orla Board" will be ready to greet over 80,000 Liverpool and Newcastle United fans as they descend on Wembley Stadium to see one team lift the trophy. The bus will be serving Jameson, Ginger & Lime drinks, handing out Jameson merchandise, as well as encouraging football fans to drink responsibly though the distribution of water as part of Pernod Ricard’s Drink More Water campaign.
“We’re going to paint the whole month green, not just St. Patrick’s Day Weekend!" said Josh McCarthy, Brand Director for Pernod Ricard UK. "The last 18-months has seen us gain so much momentum thanks to the hard work of our teams. We’ll be toasting all that’s great about Jameson with fans of our whiskey, our partners and some of our favourite creators. We’ve got a Yard Sale Pizza collab for the food lovers, our Jameson Bus at Wembley for the League Cup Final with the EFL and Jameson, Ginger & Lime samples to share with consumers across the country, you’re not going to miss us this March. Sláinte!”
Heineken UK is expanding its classic Irish stout brand, Murphy’s (four per cent ABV), with the introduction of new 4x440ml and 10x440ml multipacks to tap into the stout category’s growing popularity. The new formats will roll out across the grocery, wholesale and convenience channels from March 2025.
The stout category has performed incredibly well over the past year as consumer demand for the "black stuff" surges, with strong value and volume growth in the total market of +23.7 per cent and +18 per cent, respectively. In the off-trade, specifically, stout has grown +15.6 per cent in value and +11.3 per cent in volume.
Founded in Cork in 1856, Murphy’s Irish Stout has always been a trusted, authentic stout brand, and this position has been solidified over the past year as the demand for stout has increased and consumers explore the category further – with many discovering Murphy’s for the first time due to increased distribution in pubs and bars.
Murphy’s saw a significant increase in sales across 2024, resulting in a total uplift of 104 per cent for the year. This peaked in December, when there was overwhelming demand for Murphy’s, with pints up an incredible 632 per cent in UK pubs and bars, compared to the same period in 2023.
“Given stout’s surging performance across the total market, we have seen consumers explore the category further,” said Alexander Wilson, Category & Commercial Strategy Director, Off Trade.” As a credible, authentic stout option, Murphy’s has exploded in the on-trade over the past year. This expansion of formats in the off-trade will enable even more customers to maximise the stout opportunity and provide consumers with quality options to enjoy at home.”
Murphy’s boasts a well-fired, toasty and earthy taste with notes of toffee, coffee and chocolate. Its silky-smooth feel also features aromas of coffee grinds, mocha, chocolate, sweet, and malt syrup.
Murphy’s Irish Stout
Pack size: 4x440ml / 10x440ml
Case size: 6x4x440ml / 2x10x440ml
RRP: £5.00* / £12.00*
ABV: 4%
*Recommended retail price only. Retailers are free to set their own prices.
The stout category has performed incredibly well over the past year as consumer demand for the "black stuff" surges, with strong value and volume growth in the total market of +23.7 per cent and +18 per cent, respectively. In the off-trade, specifically, stout has grown +15.6 per cent in value and +11.3 per cent in volume.
Founded in Cork in 1856, Murphy’s Irish Stout has always been a trusted, authentic stout brand, and this position has been solidified over the past year as the demand for stout has increased and consumers explore the category further – with many discovering Murphy’s for the first time due to increased distribution in pubs and bars.
Murphy’s saw a significant increase in sales across 2024, resulting in a total uplift of 104 per cent for the year. This peaked in December, when there was overwhelming demand for Murphy’s, with pints up an incredible 632 per cent in UK pubs and bars, compared to the same period in 2023.
“Given stout’s surging performance across the total market, we have seen consumers explore the category further,” said Alexander Wilson, Category & Commercial Strategy Director, Off Trade.” As a credible, authentic stout option, Murphy’s has exploded in the on-trade over the past year. This expansion of formats in the off-trade will enable even more customers to maximise the stout opportunity and provide consumers with quality options to enjoy at home.”
Murphy’s boasts a well-fired, toasty and earthy taste with notes of toffee, coffee and chocolate. Its silky-smooth feel also features aromas of coffee grinds, mocha, chocolate, sweet, and malt syrup.
Murphy’s Irish Stout
Pack size: 4x440ml / 10x440ml
Case size: 6x4x440ml / 2x10x440ml
RRP: £5.00* / £12.00*
ABV: 4%
*Recommended retail price only. Retailers are free to set their own prices.
Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola ready-to-drink (RTD) has been crowned the winner of the Pre-Mixed Spirit category at the 2025 Product of the Year Awards, the UK’s largest consumer-voted accolade for product innovation.
The launch in March 2023 brought the two brands together, each with a vast global footprint, to offer a convenient, consistent bar quality drink for consumers to enjoy at home. Voted by a panel of 8,000 shoppers, the win reflects the popularity of the product among consumers and retailers alike.
To date, the drink – which includes variants with and without sugar – has generated more than £55m in sales, with Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Original Taste becoming GB's top-selling ARTD SKU. The Zero Sugar variant caters to rising demand for low and no sugar options, contributing 16 per cent of sales so far and showing strong growth potential.
To help deliver visible value for convenience shoppers, the brand introduced price-marked packs (PMPs) last summer – further solidifying Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola RTD as a must-have offering in the convenience channel, where value remains one of shoppers’ primary motivations.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to win this prestigious award, particularly because it’s voted for by consumers themselves,” said Elaine Maher, Associate Director, Alcohol Ready-to-Drink at CCEP GB. “It’s the ultimate seal of approval, and with 71 per cent of shoppers more likely to buy a product that has won, the drink is set to go from strength to strength.
"This achievement is a powerful reminder of why we’re so passionate about innovation and delivering what consumers want in the ARTD category – which is worth £554m in GB. It’s the perfect way to kick off what’s set to be a very exciting year for our ARTD portfolio, with incredible new launches and campaigns set to unlock continued growth."
Celebrating 21 years of innovation in the UK, the Product of the Year Awards operates in more than 45 countries, offering a trusted seal that boosts brand recognition, increasing consumer awareness by 81 per cent and purchase intent by 71 per cent, helping to reinforce Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola ARTD’s leadership in the booming ARTD category.
SERVED, Ellie Goulding’s award-winning RTD brand, has announced the launch of its new range of super premium full-strength cocktails targeting the at home drinking occasion.
SERVED is the fastest-growing ready-to-drink cocktail brand in the UK1 following the success of their double measure 250ml 8% ABV premium accessible range in both retail and convenience channels.
The new super premium full-strength range, with an RRP of £3.90, specifically targets consumers looking to replicate bar serves at home and includes four cult bar favourites: Lychee Martini (14.9% ABV, 125ml), Strawberry Daiquiri (14.9% ABV, 125ml), Espresso Martini (14.9% ABV, 125ml), and Cosmopolitan (14.9% ABV, 125ml).
Each cocktail is expertly crafted with SERVED Founders Reserve spirits and the finest natural, sustainably sourced ingredients – and designed to be shaken in the can before pouring into glassware to deliver a perfect bar serve every time. The tactile design is deliberately elevated to replicate that super-premium experience you would expect, but delivered in an easy-to-serve, sustainable format.
The range has recently won two Gold (Lychee Martini and Cosmopolitan) and two Sliver (Strawberry Daiquiri and Espresso Martini) Awards at the Pre-Mixed & RTD Masters 2024.
The premium RTD cocktail category is growing at 82% year-on-year2, the fastest growing category within the total alcohol, as consumers look to enjoy high-quality cocktails in a convenient and sustainable format. A trend that shows no signs of slowing down.
The range has a national retail roll out planned from February 2025.
Dean Ginsberg, co-founder of SERVED, explains: “We’re hugely excited about this launch. We are delivering genuine innovation to the super premium cocktail category with new cocktails not currently on shelf. As a brand SERVED also attracts a much younger consumer compared to current super premium brands on the market - so we can add real value and drive incremental growth to the category”.
Ellie Goulding, co-founder of SERVED, adds: “These are my new go-to cocktails at home when I want to enjoy a fancy cocktail with my friends or family.
"They’re as fresh and delicious as the cocktails in your favourite bar, but in a convenient super premium format, allowing everyone to enjoy a high-quality drinking experience at home.”