Gordon’s has unveiled a new ATL campaign, “Mix It Up”. The ad, which shows consumers choosing to pace their consumption by switching between Gordon’s Pink and Gordon’s Pink 0.0%, has been created to empower consumers to moderate their consumption in a way that works for them.
Mix It Up is the first Gordon’s campaign to bring both Gordon’s Pink and Gordon’s Pink alcohol-free variants together in one advert. With 36 per cent of drinkers currently pacing their consumption with soft drinks and 49 per cent of alcohol-free occasions also featuring alcohol, the campaign offers those looking to moderate an option that doesn’t compromise on taste.
The new TVC invites viewers to join an evening out with a group of friends. As the group begin to drink their Gordon’s & Tonic, the screen splits in two to visually demonstrate how they choose to pace their night by switching between Gordon’s Pink and Gordon’s Pink 0.0%.
In addition to the new TVC, a suite of assets have been created to bring the campaign to life across social and digital channels. Whilst in the same universe as the commercial, the social content hero’s Gordon’s long-term partner Maya Jama who brings to life how she chooses to mix it up for followers.
“When creating this campaign, we wanted to demonstrate that moderation didn’t have to be a binary decision between having something alcoholic or alcohol free,” said Tayara Sousa Linke, Global Head of Marketing. “We know that this perceived choice impacts people’s decision to moderate, so, through Mix It Up, we wanted to highlight that it is possible to seamlessly switch between the two and enjoy the same great taste of Gordon’s Pink whilst moderating with Gordon’s Pink Alcohol Free.”
The new creative will run across BVOD, Social and Digital channels in GB.
Diageo said five Royal Warrants of Appointment to His Majesty the King have been granted to its brands for the supply of spirits and wines to the Royal Household.
These Royal Warrants are granted to: Justerini & Brooks as Wine & Spirits Merchants, John Walker & Sons (Johnnie Walker) and Royal Lochnagar for Scotch Whiskies, Tanqueray Gordon & Company (Tanqueray and Gordon’s) as Gin Distillers, and The Pimm’s Company.
For Justerini & Brooks, this association dates back to the supply of wines for the coronation of King George III in 1761, Johnnie Walker has held a Royal Warrant to the monarch for the supply of its Scotch whiskies since King George V in 1934, and this is the fifth Royal Warrant to be granted to Tanqueray Gordon & Company over almost a century, since 1925.
Diageo said each brand, all of which held a Royal Warrant to Queen Elizabeth II, is proud of this mark of recognition for supplying the Royal Household and shares the commitment to the highest standards of service, quality, excellence and craftsmanship that unites all Royal Warrant holders, along with the public commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices.
“It is a great privilege to supply our products to the Royal Household, and with the granting of these five new Royal Warrants to HM The King, we will display His Majesty’s Royal Arms on these brands with immense pride,” Dan Mobley, global corporate relations director at Diageo, and Grantee for the Royal Warrant held by John Walker & Sons, said.
John Walker & Sons (Johnnie Walker)
Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to His Majesty The King
Johnnie Walker has held a Royal Warrant to the Monarch for its Scotch whiskies since first granted by George V in 1934.
“It is an honour to continue to supply the Royal Household with a Royal Warrant to HM The King, and support this with a commitment to sustainability, grain to glass,” the brand said.
In 2021, His Majesty, as HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, conducted the Royal opening of the flagship visitor experience Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh. The visit also marked the beginning of a hospitality training partnership between Johnnie Walker and The King’s Foundation.
Since the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Johnnie Walker has continued to support the Royal Warrant Holders Association charity QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust), of which HM The King is Patron, to fund craft training for talented makers.
Justerini & Brooks
Wine & Spirits Merchants By Appointment to His Majesty The King
Fine wine and spirits merchant Justerini & Brooks, established in London in 1749, said they are honoured to have been granted Royal Warrants since providing wines for the Coronation of George III in 1761 through to Queen Elizabeth II.
“Justerini & Brooks has celebrated its 275th anniversary throughout 2024; receiving a letter granting a Royal Warrant of Appointment to HM The King is a particularly special way to conclude this milestone year,” the firm said.
Pimm’s
Distillers & Compounders By Appointment to His Majesty The King
James Pimm first mixed his famous cocktail at his Oyster Bar in London in the 1840s. The recipe for PIMM’S No. 1 Cup - gin infused with herbal botanicals, caramelised orange and spices - remains a closely guarded secret.
In 2011, Pimm’s was granted a Royal Warrant as Distillers & Compounders By Appointment to Queen Elizabeth II. Limited edition PIMM’S bottles were released in 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, with a call for friends, families and communities to celebrate “Come Reign or Shine”, and a Coronation Edition in 2023 “To King & Country”, with the PIMM’S bus and bars popping up in London and Windsor.
Royal Lochnagar
Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to His Majesty The King
Opened in 1845, the distillery became known as Royal Lochnagar following a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert from neighbouring Balmoral, the Highland home of the Royal Family, in 1848.
His Majesty The King, as HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, has been welcomed three times to Royal Lochnagar: in 1995 and 1998 to mark the 150th anniversaries of the distillery and Queen Victoria’s visit, and in 2018 to receive a cask, bottled to raise funds for The Prince’s Foundation (now The King’s Foundation).
Royal Lochnagar was granted a Royal Warrant as Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to Queen Elizabeth II in 2021. The distillery team planted seven commemorative birch trees at the distillery for the Queen’s Green Canopy, and an eighth in 2023 to mark the 75th birthday of HM The King.
Tanqueray Gordon & Company
Gin Distillers By Appointment to His Majesty The King
The rich heritage of Gordon’s and Tanqueray began in London with the creation of gins by Alexander Gordon in 1769 and Charles Tanqueray in the 1830s. Tanqueray Gordon & Company was formed in 1898 and first granted a Royal Warrant as Gin Distillers to HRH The Prince of Wales in 1925.
Royal Warrants have been held since, granted by George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and now, almost a century on, as Gin Distillers By Appointment to HM The King.
2025 will do doubt be the year the drinks industry truly feels the repercussions of the global and UK economic climate, political turbulence at home and away, and the duty hikes threatened for such a long time coming into play. While inflation has seen a gradual reduction over the last 18 months, the increase in interest rates and the knock-on effect this has on household expenditure will continue to be a theme as we head into 2025. We may see some prosper, but for many, it will be a year of adaptation, change and resilience. However, as an industry, we innovate, shape tastes and trends, strive to deliver world class drinks to the on-trade and retailers, and find ways to drive pockets of growth.
2025 will not be easy, but it will be interesting and there are areas of growth shaping the industry during the year ahead.
In the Bag (In Box)
The conditions for this still-emerging format are ripe for success, with producers, brand owners and retailers investing in quality of liquid, innovative packaging and campaigns that educate the shopper on the format’s virtues. However, there is still some way to go and in 2025 we’ll see the industry invest more in communicating the quality and longer shelf life of bag in box wines, their value to cash conscious shoppers and how they meet the needs of those moderating alcohol consumption.
The industry, brands, press and influencers are waxing lyrical about bag in box wines, and slowly but surely the format is shaking off its reputation as a ‘cheap’ alternative.
Data shows that consumers are switching on to wines in this format, so we must embrace what they offer; recyclability, affordability, and longer lasting wine. New consumers to the bag-in-box category realise the benefits in terms of convenience, freshness, quality and some environmental benefits to glass, such as lower CO2 emissions.
Kingsland Drinks expanded its Campaneo range with the addition of new, convenient 2.25L Bag in Box (BiB) format recently, which extends the offering into new parts of the market. In anticipation of demand, the employee-owned drinks firm also upgraded its overall filling capacity to 180 million litres on its production lines, spanning various sizes from 187ml up to 3L, formats such as bottles, cans and boxed wines, and liquids ranging from no and low, spirits, and red, white, rosé and sparkling wines.
Go low
Volume sales of low alcohol drinks almost doubled in 2023 and IWSR expects considerable growth over the next few years (particularly driven by low-alcohol beer but across the category).
The rise in duty has ensured it’s in everyone’s best interests to bed in low and no alcohol brands for the long term. It’s good news for the industry, who have responded with a wave of innovation that excites consumers. Importantly, this segment is getting better all the time. In the last 12 months we’ve seen wine and spirits producers up their game and elevate the taste the credentials of the liquid.
In the year ahead, we’ll see this segment continue to soar, as lower and no abv wines and spirits earn their place on fixtures and consumers respond by integrating into their shop. However, quality will be key – in the year ahead it’s important style, substance and price work hard together to nurture growth in this segment and ensure it reaches its potential.
Andrew Peace has worked tirelessly to craft wines at 11% abv which give consumers a great tasting wine while maintaining a great value price point. We’ve seen a considerable number of listings at 11% abv and lower, but some haven’t hit the mark in terms of quality. The new additions to the Andrew Peace range have helped to drive seen significant market share growth up 22.6% value and 17.6% volume, in a backdrop of 7.3% volume decline in the Australian category in the latest 12 months (up to 2nd September).
Kingsland Drinks started packing non-alcoholic wines and spirits in 2019 and is now responsible for developing and launching some of the market’s leading brands. The company currently blends and bottles non-alcoholic gin, rum, whisky, tequila, and still and sparkling wines, using world class technology and controls to ensure the highest possible quality assurance standards.
Mind the gap
Mindful drinking is making its way into the mainstream, with consumers sustaining a ‘drink less but better’ mindset. In 2025 we can expect this will clash with an increasingly price sensitive shopper, who will search for brands that meet their needs on all fronts: budget, status, taste, quality, format and social currency.
Lesser-known becomes bigger business
Consumers are already taking a leap into the unexpected and branching out in their wine buying, with Eastern Europe in particular getting the recognition it deserves for the region’s wine quality, craftmanship and winemaking credentials.
This year we expect Eastern European wines to become much more prevalent in the UK, and demand for Bolgrad from Ukraine, Bediani from Georgia, and Salcuta, a Moldovan Feteasca Negra to sustain their play to consumer interest in lesser-known varietals. The wines from these producers were recognised by retailers for their authentic, distinctive, credible, well-made properties in 2024, and really demonstrate the breadth of wines available Eastern Europe.
Greece will continue to be celebrated in 2025. Kingsland Drinks was proud to launch Athlon Nemea into the UK with Aldi UK in 2024, which was met with much excitement from shoppers. Aldi is known for its quality wines from emerging and up and coming regions, and has a shopper that is open to trial new experiences from sources – like Aldi – that they trust.
Our advice for retailers in 2025 is to seriously consider the path less trodden in your range. Wines from the Mediterranean, central and Eastern Europe and beyond across all quality levels and price ranges, will be a real point of interest in the year ahead.
What’s your flavour
It was clear throughout Christmas 2024 that our customers wanted drinks with more flavour profiles to offer shoppers than before. For example, some retailers went from one or two mulled wines on shelf to six or seven. It’s a sign that consumers continue to experiment with flavours - perhaps as a result of experimentation within RTDs - and throughout 2025 we expect a continuation. Shoppers will continue to expand their flavour repertoire, open to trying new profiles.
Jo Taylorson
We have an on-site NPD lab that is best in class at developing spritz drinks, no and low spirits and made wine - we work alongside brand owners and customers to develop drinks in alcoholic and non-alcoholic formats. The team constantly researches and tests new flavour combinations, profiles and liquids. Our insights team expects to see fruit flavours such as pomegranate, watermelon, blueberry and mango come to the fore in 2025, along with drinks containing herbal and botanical flavours such as rosemary and wormwood, and the resurgence of drinks with tomato juice, such as the bloody mary.
Tins to go
Innovation in RTDs has slowed a little, with focus on sustainable, considered, longer-term growth. In 2025 we expect efforts to go towards targeting urbanites and those seeking simplicity and convenience at an affordable price point. Therefore, getting the product right is key as we move into spring and leverage summer, cementing RTDs in shopping baskets and on shelves in convenience stores.
Rum do
In 2025, rum will still be the darling drink and consumer preference will shift towards golden and darker rum expressions, with a warmer, spicier flavour profile.
Rum sales in the UK surpassed £1 billion this year, overtaking whisky, and it’s a category that brings something for everyone – from dark, decadent rums, to spiced variants, through to lighter, smooth easy drinking white rums. While many consumers continue to enjoy the sweet vanilla and caramel flavours of spiced rums, there is also exploration into more nuanced options, such as golden rum as it brings a well-balanced cross between white and dark expressions, aged in oak barrels to give it its signature amber colour and mellow flavour.
Kingsland Drinks partnered with Co-op to launch the retailer’s first Fairtrade golden rum. A show of what’s trending in 2025, and also proof that consumers want to buy into brands and liquid with a social conscience. It’s a Bourbon Barrel Aged Fairtrade Rum, which is a Caribbean coast blend from the Dominican Republic, Barbados and Venezuela. It really shines in a long drink with cola and lime, with ginger beer, and in a long rum old fashioned, a mule and a mojito.
Agave drinks have grown rapidly in retail, but from a small base. It’s still a small market in the UK and growth is plateauing slightly. However, the opportunity remains with the WSTA reporting that 11k hls were sold over the last 12 months (+5 percent) to the tune of £37m (+11 percent) (WSTA October 2024).
Going green
Sustainability continues to be a key focus for us as brands and consumers become more environmentally conscious. Climate change, sustainability and care for the planet are topics that need to stay in the mainstream conversation and remain high on the agenda of all businesses and brands. Consumers are ever more aware of the crisis and informed about actions being taken and changes required.
We’ll see even more developments and a doubling down on alternative formats. We can expect to see more canned wines, bag in box wines, paper-based bottles, and light-weight glass on shelf in the very near future.
No type of packaging is the silver bullet in terms of sustainability, but openly discussing the pros and cons of each packaging format and make the most educated and best decisions possible will bring the biggest environmental and economic benefits in 2025.
At Kingsland Drinks, our commitment to being environmentally sustainable is intrinsic to who we are and how we operate, but we have expanded our wider sustainability work across economy, society and environment both inside and outside the business as a strategic priority. As a result, we launched our Thirsty Earth sustainability strategy which seeks to create a better society and drinks industry for all, now and in the future.
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!”
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Vikram Damodaran, chief innovation officer (L), and Hina Nagarajan, managing director and chief executive of Diageo India
Godawan Artisanal Indian Single Malt, Diageo India’s most awarded single malt, made its highly anticipated debut in the UK.
Developed under the philosophy and programme of The Good Craft Co. - Diageo India’s craft and innovation hub, Godawan is rooted in the ideals of mindful luxury. The liquid uses locally sourced six-row barley and is distilled in Alwar, Rajasthan, at one of the highest-rated sustainable distilleries in the country.
The purpose-driven brand is working towards the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard - a majestic bird that symbolises Godawan’s legacy, heritage, and home, once widespread across India but is now labelled Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List.
Godawan has previously launched Godawan 100, winner of the ‘Taste Master of the Year’ at The Spirits Business World Whisky Masters 2024 and ‘Single Malt Whisky of the Year’ at the London Spirits Competition 2024, a limited edition with 100 bottles, an ode to the 100 surviving birds.
“This is a momentous occasion for us as a company, and for Indian craft spirits,” Hina Nagarajan, managing director and chief executive of Diageo India, said.
“With its distinctive quality and exceptional craftsmanship, we’re excited to introduce this award-winning Indian single malt to the UK market. We have always said that it’s not just about luxury – but rather luxury with a purpose, which Godawan embodies in every facet. We are thrilled to be able to offer consumers in UK a taste of Indian excellence.”
Vikram Damodaran, chief innovation officer of Diageo India, added: “Godawan is more than a single malt – it is exceptional in every form, a tribute to Indian artistry and heritage, and a rare spirit crafted with a unique purpose. The festive season is a perfect occasion for whisky lovers and enthusiasts to spend time and explore the pinnacle of Indian craftsmanship by Diageo. This expansion is bringing a taste of that luxury and artistry to people across the world.”
The brand’s Rich & Rounded and Fruit & Spice expressions (ABV: 46%) are now available across London in 700ml bottles. RRP: £65.