Sarah Gandy, Marketing Manager at Amber Beverage Group UK, explains how independent c-channel retailers can maximise wine sales in the run-up to Christmas
Faustino, distributed by Amber Beverage Group UK, is the largest vineyard owner in Rioja with a long commitment to the traditional style of the region’s wines. With over 160 years of family winemaking history, Faustino’s wealth of knowledge makes it the leader in Gran Reserva wines in the Rioja region. With its exceptional quality and taste – Faustino continues to perform well in the UK retail market, and volume sales have increased by +13 per cent since 2022.
Elevated affordability
Affordability remains a key concern for many this Christmas, as 53 per cent of consumers worry about how they will afford presents. However, 55 per cent of consumers are also willing to pay full price for important gifts, meaning stocking products that resonate with consumers’ gifting needs will be essential.
This is the perfect time for retailers to stock premium wines at a price point that is still accessible and good value for money, as consumers continue to buy less, but better-quality wines, not only for personal consumption, but for gifting hosting and gifting loved ones.
For example, Faustino I Gran Reserva – the flagship from Bodegas Faustino – is a quality wine at an accessible price point of £18. Celebrating its 60th vintage this year, it is the leading Rioja Gran Reserva in export markets and available in more than 140 countries.
It is complex and elegant, with fruity and spicy notes, pairing well with medium-aged cheese used for creating festive charcuterie boards.
A Rosé-coloured Christmas
Whilst most consumers have traditionally opted for red and sparkling wines at Christmas, 56 per cent of drinkers consider Rosé suitable for drinking all year round including the festive season. Rosé is ideal for the social gatherings that take place around Christmas and New Year. Faustino has enhanced the consumer experience of its VII Rosado with new packaging that includes food pairing suggestions, such as fish, traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve. This caters to the 70 per cent of millennials who seek wines that complement their culinary preferences.
The conscious Christmas consumer
This Christmas, consumers are predicted to be more mindful of their buying habits, with almost half intending to buy from sustainable brands and 21 per cent willing to spend more on them.
Consumers looking for more sustainable gifting options could reach for a bottle of Faustino, as its rebranded labels are made of 100 per cent recyclable materials and the V range has changed from a matte bottle to a clear bottle, resulting in lower CO2 output – making it particularly appealing to the 63 per cent of Millennials who say they are concerned about climate change.
Just in time for the festive season, Kahlúa has partnered with Salma Hayek Pinault to launch the limited-edition Espressohoho Martini Bauble – a unique drinkable ornament designed to spice your tree up in dramatic style, with everyone’s favourite seasonal cocktail: the Kahlúa Espresso Martini!
12 limited edition baubles are available via auction on Kahlúa’s Espressohoho BaubleshopeBay page for one week only (available to UK bidders only).
Refillable and reusable, the baubles caused a causing a stir after Salma Hayek Pinault posted a picture of the delicious addition to her 2024 Christmas tree décor in an Instagram post: "This holiday season you can help farming families in my home state of Veracruz by bidding on one of these 12 limited edition @Kahlúa Espressohoho Martini baubles. Proceeds will go to Coffee For Good. Search 'Espressohoho Martini Bauble' on Ebay for a chance to get one."
Salma partnered with Kahlúa in 2023 to support the Coffee for Good initiative, which benefits the coffee farming community in her hometown of Veracruz, Mexico’s finest coffee-growing region and (not so coincidentally) the birthplace of Kahlúa.
All proceeds raised from the Espressohoho Martini Bauble support Kahlúa’s Coffee for Good initiative, promoting sustainable, long-term agricultural practices increasing the demand for Veracruz’s premium coffee.
“Kahlúa is such a fun brand and Salma is the perfect person to front a creative campaign that puts humour at the forefront of festive celebrations," said Alison Perrottet, Brand Director for Pernod Ricard UK. "Kahlúa is continuing to grow in both the On- and Off-Trade thanks to the popularity of the Espresso Martini and supporting local coffee farmers through the brand’s Coffee for Good initiative is the sparkling star on the tree, we know our audience will be crashing the internet to get their hands of an Espressohoho Martini Bauble!”
Nick Patel, owner of Londis Kenyon Street in London, has won flights, transfers, accommodation, activities and spending money for a trip to Sevilla, the Home of Cruzcampo - Heineken UK’s new premium lager brand.
Patel won a competition, which ran in partnership with Booker from 11 September to 8 October, where every 20 cases of Cruzcampo purchased during the period resulted in an automatic entry into the prize draw, with the grand prize being a trip to Sevilla.
“I was so excited when I got the call,” Patel said.
“Spanish beer does really well in our store, and Cruzcampo is by far the most popular. We have a mix of formats including the bottles, 4-pack and 10-pack, which does particularly well. Retailers work really hard – there are a lot of things we have to sacrifice to keep our businesses running and this is a massive privilege. I’m looking forward to getting that break away and enjoying some beers in the sun!”
This activation is the latest of Heineken UK’s efforts to create excitement and engagement around Cruzcampo, which has performed incredibly well since its UK launch in 2023. Generating £88m in retail sales across the market and owning a 1.8 per cent share of beer sales in the Impulse channel [Nielsen ScanTrack, August 2023 – November 2024], the brand taps into shoppers’ growing demand for more premium continental lagers that still offer value for money.
A £10m marketing campaign, ‘Choose to Cruz’, made Cruzcampo unmissable this summer – reaching more than 24 million consumers. The advert featured an intriguing character rolling on a keg across the streets of Sevilla, Spain, demonstrating that as life gets hectic, you can opt for the ‘Sevillian way of life’, to choose to relax, live in the moment and take things as they come – all of which embody what Cruzcampo stands for.
“We are thrilled for Nick Patel. We are always looking at ways to engage and reward our retailer partners, and what a joy it is to be able to offer as exciting a prize as a trip to Sevilla with Cruzcampo,” Paul Gordon, head of marketing activation at Heineken UK, commented.
“This activation with Booker gave us an opportunity to give something back and create some real excitement with those customers, and we’re delighted with the result.”
Born in Sevilla in 1904, Cruzcampo is Spain’s number one draught beer and therefore offers drinkers an authentic taste of the country. A premium Spanish lager that offers all the advantages of premium beers at an affordable price, Cruzcampo provides consumers with a great quality experience that is a step up from classic lager brands while remaining accessible.
To find out more about Cruzcampo, retailers can head to Heineken UK’s Star Retailer platform at www.starretailer.co.uk/. The Star Retailer scheme is a loyalty scheme providing beer and cider category guidance tailored for convenience stores. Backed by a £10m+ investment from Heineken UK, the scheme boasts over 13 years of retailer support, having collaborated with 18,000+ stores.
Café Solo has announced the global launch of a world-first Pedro Ximénez Sherry (PX) Cask Finished Coffee Liqueur.
Café Solo PX is the first in a range of cask-finished coffee liqueurs to be released by the brand and the third expression that has launched this year in the Café Solo range, which includes the debut expression, Café Solo Original and Café Solo Espresso Martini Cans.
Café Solo said the latest launch adds to their mission to shake up the UK’s coffee cocktail market and offers interest and complexity for mixologists shaking up cocktails in bars and at home.
Ground with exceptional coffee, Café Solo is crafted with premium SOLO Cold Brew Coffee, which boasts a full-bodied flavour profile, rich acidity, and a refreshingly clean finish. Café Solo is matured in PX Sherry casks which impart residual sweetness and rich, dried-fruit notes.
Café Solo PX Cask Finished Coffee Liqueur is indulgent and dessert-like, with the PX Sherry Cask adding layers of sweetness, depth, and complexity. Café Solo PX offers notes of rich toffee, fig, walnut and lemon.
Made from the sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes (in Jerez, Spain) PX Sherry is intensely sweet and rich, and Jerez’s unique terroir and tradition make PX sherry one-of-a-kind. PX casks are often repurposed to age or "finish" whiskies and other spirits, imparting their residual sweetness and rich, dried-fruit notes. These casks are prized for the intense flavours they impart, transforming the profiles of other liquids.
"We are delighted to launch our first Café Solo cask edition, which was inspired by an evening of enjoying delicious Espresso Martinis with added PX Sherry! We sourced our casks from Jerez, Spain, and I was lucky enough to witness the incredible craftsmanship at the Antonio Páez Lobato cooperage,” Café Solo brand manager Holly Harwood said.
“PX sherry offers a wonderfully rich profile, and the combination of coffee with notes of dried fruit and caramel is truly something you need to try!"
Café Solo PX is available to the UK trade via Fortitude Drinks.
Dolin, a historic family-owned spirits company established in 1821 in the Alpine region of Savoie, France, is set to expand its UK presence through a new distribution partnership with Mangrove Global.
With a legacy spanning over two centuries, Dolin has distinguished itself through authentically sourced local ingredients and traditional production methods that create premium spirits to be enjoyed worldwide. The company's first international Vermouth award in 1876 marked the beginning of its enduring reputation in Parisian cafes and European cocktail culture.
“Aperitifs like Vermouth have enjoyed a renaissance in the last few decades, and Dolin represents the quintessential French classic,” said Nick Gillett Managing Director of Mangrove Global. “The Mangrove team have long admired the range, and we’re excited to showcase these exceptional, provenance-driven spirits.
“We’re all about exceptional brands that celebrate the heritage and craftsmanship behind their liquids, and Dolin fits the bill perfectly. We’re ready to get started, building upon all the wonderful work that’s been done so far.”
The partnership arrives at a pivotal moment, as contemporary drinkers increasingly seek spirits with strong heritage, authenticity, and provenance. Dolin Vermouths embody these qualities in abundance, with their lighter, more delicate flavours making them a perfect choice for a wide range of cocktails, such as the classic martini, or even enjoyed neat.
Each Vermouth is crafted through the maceration of at least 30 Alpine botanicals in white wine, offering a complex flavour profile that has consistently ranked Dolin among the top five global Vermouth brands since 2020.
Joining the Mangrove portfolio will be Dolin Vermouth Dry, Dolin Vermouth Rouge, Dolin Vermouth Blanc, and Dolin Chamberyzette, the latter of which is a delicate cocktail made from Dolin’s white Vermouth Blanc and its much-loved Liqueur Framboise – strawberry liqueur. Each variety of Dolin’s Vermouth uses a unique selection of herbs and plants, blended with quality wine to achieve the resulting flavour – a flavour which, as noted by Drinks International, has kept Dolin amongst the top five best-selling Vermouth brands, since 2020.
Pierre-Olivier Rousseaux President Owner of Dolin said: “We are delighted with this new partnership. Mangrove will bring its distribution expertise and its solid presence in the spirits sector to promote the authenticity of Dolin products in the UK, while respecting the heritage and artisanal know-how for which our brand is renowned since 1821.”
Foster’s, Australia’s most iconic brew, has announced an exciting new sponsorship deal with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
The fun kicks off with the World Darts Championship, which begins on December 15 at London’s iconic Alexandra Palace.
This bonza partnership is set to bring even more buzz to one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK, while giving darts fans a real taste of Aussie spirit. The partnership makes Foster’s, part of the HEINEKEN UK portfolio, the official beer partner of the PDC. Putting it front and centre at massive events like the legendary World Darts Championship and the Premier League Darts series.
With both brands built on, passion, camaraderie and unforgettable moments, it’s a match made in heaven. Over the next few years, Foster’s will be making its mark with unmissable event branding, epic fan experiences, and plenty of cold ones to keep the good times rolling, whether fans are at the venue, down the pub, or tuning in from home.
Rajeev Sathyesh, Marketing Director, HEINEKEN UK commented: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the PDC to bring some of that Aussie spirit to such an iconic sport. Darts is all about sociable, high-energy fun – which is a perfect match for Foster’s. We can’t wait to bring a slice of Aussie good times to darts fans around the world!”
Eddie Hearn, Chairman of the PDC, reckons this is a bullseye partnership too: “This is a cracking partnership for the PDC. Foster’s is a household name that’s all about bringing people together, and that’s exactly what we do with darts. With their support, we’ll be taking the sport to a whole new level and giving fans even more to cheer about. It’s time to raise a glass and get ready for some unmissable action!”
What Fans Can Expect Foster’s will be bringing Aussie vibes to PDC events with pop-up fan experiences giveaways, and plenty of ice-cold lager. From VIP darts experiences to limited-edition merch, fans will have the chance to get their hands on some top prizes whether in store or down the pub.
Whether it’s the Foster’s logo shining bright or a cheeky nod to Australia, fans can expect a little extra flair during their favourite tournaments.