RTD brand VK is entering the alcohol-free market for the first time with the launch of VK Blue 0.0%.
The launch comes following shifting market dynamics and consumer behaviours, which have seen low and no-alcohol products become the fastest-growing category in the on-trade sector in the last year, according to Neilson (NIQ) data.
To support its development, VK commissioned research among students in key university towns across the UK, in a bid to better understand evolving drinking habits within the 18-24 age demographic.
The findings reveal nearly half (49 per cent) of students now consume less alcohol compared to the previous year, with 32 per cent intending to further reduce their intake in the coming months. The primary motivation for 79 per cent is a focus on mindful socialising and connecting, with only six per cent driven by the "buzz" of alcohol.
VK Zero maintains the signature, fruity flavour profile synonymous with VK Blue, but with zero per cent alcohol content, providing a more inclusive option by appealing to those looking to reduce their alcohol consumption or abstain.
Unlike many competing brands in the category, VK Blue 0.0% offers an added caffeine boost (32mg per 100ml, similar to standard energy drinks), ensuring consumers stay energised throughout their night.
"We are proud to introduce our very first VK Zero available in our ‘OG’ Blue flavour," said Craig Chapman, spokesperson at VK. "Our loyal VK fans are at the heart of everything we do, so recognising the changing drinking culture among 18-24s and supporting these choices through product innovation is incredibly important to us.
“The insights highlight a clear opportunity for on and off-trade stockists to support consumers’ changing needs and tastes, while providing greater choice when it comes to high-quality, fun, alcohol-free options.”
Craig continued: “VK's mission is to bring people together to share unforgettable experiences. With Blue being our best-performing flavour, the decision to launch it in 0.0% format was an easy one and we’ve already received strong interest from a number of customers.
VK Blue 0.0% is not the only new product joining VK’s line-up ahead of summer. The RTD brand is also announcing its newest VK flavour, which is set to launch following the successful #WEAREFLAVOUR campaign, which has asked consumers to vote for the next product to join the line-up.
Diablo, the producer of disobediently good wines, has inked a partnership with new musical The Devil Wears Prada, which makes its UK debut in London this month.
Diablo (which means "devil" in Spanish) will feature on programmes, and competitions will be run to award tickets for the shows, which run until 31 May 2025. Diablo wines will also be poured at Elton John’s Opening Night Gala at the British Museum in London on 1 December, where a bespoke "Diablo" bar will be built.
The Devil Wears Prada Musical is a new stage adaptation of the popular 2006 film, itself based on Lauren Weisberger's novel.
The Diablo wine brand, first launched in 2018, is growing at a phenomenal rate in the UK, +33.4 per cent by value in the past 52 weeks. It has successfully introduced new wines into its portfolio, with the original Diablo Dark Red being joined by Chardonnay, and most recently Purple Malbec, Volcanic Cab and Deep Carmenere, all listed in major multiple grocers.
Diablo is attracting a distinctive younger and more affluent shopper (45 per cent of its shoppers are under 45 versus 14 per cent of shoppers across total still wine).
“This is an incredibly exciting time for the brand," said Javiera Moller, Senior Brand Manager at Concha y Toro UK. "The Devil Wears Prada is an iconic and much-loved story, now brought to life on the London stage with a star cast and a great score by Elton John, and the 'devil' connection makes it a perfect partner for our brand.
“Our audience are disruptive, intelligent, stylish and early adopters of brands and trends. This partnership gives us the chance to activate with our target consumers, and build the profile of an already-thriving wine brand.”
From its initial launch in 2018 with Diablo Dark Red blend, the brand now has six wines in multiple retail distribution in the UK:
Diablo Dark Red
Diablo Volcanic Cabernet Sauvignon
Diablo Purple Malbec
Diablo Deep Carmenere
Diablo Golden Chardonnay
Diablo Crystal Sauvignon Blanc
The brand has grown from £2 million in retail sales value in the UK less than five years ago to be worth over £20 million today (RSV).
Tilda has announced the launch of its 2024 limited-edition tin, created in collaboration with Lovo, a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering and inspiring women and their families.
The tin will be available from November at independent retailers, offered free with a 2kg purchase of Tilda Pure Basmati Rice for a limited time only.
Designed to celebrate diversity and women’s empowerment, the tin features intricate patterns that embody sisterhood, while its vibrant flora and fauna reflect community and personal growth. The striking colour palette of green, yellow, pink, and blue conveys strength and gratitude—values that resonate deeply within the Lovo community.
Not only is this tin visually captivating, but it is also practical, making it an ideal storage solution for rice while symbolising support for a noble cause.
To commemorate the launch, Tilda and Lovo hosted a celebratory event on 26 September, unveiling the limited-edition tin to over 150 attendees, including the mayor of Southwark, Naima Ali. Highlights of the event included a keynote address from a financial expert, a global lunch featuring Jollof rice and biryani, lively performances by drummers and dancers, and a special moment where guests were encouraged to write their dreams and aspirations for the future on a symbolic ‘Tree of Aspiration’ that stood at the heart of the celebration.
“This vibrant tin reflects the varied cultures and communities that Tilda serves. Rice is such an integral part of meals worldwide, and we are thrilled to partner with Lovo, an organisation that aligns perfectly with our values of diversity and empowerment.” Anna Beheshti, head of marketing at Tilda, said.
Ola Stephen, founder and director of Lovo, added, “The tin is a true celebration of diversity. It is not only beautiful but also embodies the spirit of the community we are nurturing together.”
Last month, Tilda announced a £10,000 donation to support Lovo’s initiatives.
ADRIATICO is once again disrupting the amaretto category by expanding its portfolio, this time in the world of rum. ADRIATICO Amaretto today announces the launch of ADRIATICO Roasted Amaretto Planteray Rum Cask, a new limited edition amaretto made up of only 2,600 bottles, in collaboration with the prestigious rum producer.
This is the fourth limited edition ADRIATICO Amaretto release following the successful Heaven Hill Bourbon Cask, Caroni Rum Cask and Bonollo Grappa Cask expressions. The new limited edition expression ages ADRIATICO Roasted Amaretto for eight months in ex-Planteray Fijian Rum casks, creating an intense amaretto with nuances of classic rum flavours.
As part of the collaboration, Maison Ferrand, producers of Planteray Rum, have also used ADRIATICO Amaretto casks to age their Barbados Single Cask Rum from 2017. This will be the first time that a rum has been matured in an ex-amaretto cask and approximately 1,500 bottles will be released.
"It was essential to have a very intense rum to complement the intensity of the amaretto," said Fannie Thibaud, Head of Creation and Experimentation at Maison Ferrand. "Amaretto is quite sweet, so we needed a rum that was more tannic and structured to achieve a nicely balanced palate. Additionally, the almond and sweet orange notes pair perfectly with the coffee and toasted flavours of the Fiji rum, with slightly animalistic notes that further enhance the marriage of these spirits.”
Jean-Robert Bellanger, Co-Founder of ADRIATICO Amaretto, says: “We are thrilled to collaborate with such a famous rum producer for our fourth limited edition expression. Planteray is a leader in the rum category, producing original blends and single-cask rums from around the world. We found that the Planteray Fijian Rum Casks enhanced ADRIATICO Roasted Amaretto beautifully. We decided to trade our ADRIATICO Roasted Amaretto casks with the founder of Planteray, Alexandre Gabriel, so that he could age his Barbados Single Cask Rum in our Amaretto casks and so that we could use his rum casks to age our Amaretto, creating a fantastic limited edition rum and amaretto. The result is a cosy amaretto with hints of spices and strength.”
Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK is pleased to introduce this year’s limited-edition pack for its ever-popular Henri Wintermans Half Corona brand, which is available to retailers now.
The Henri Wintermans Half Corona is easily the biggest brand in the medium / large segment and is now the UK’s fifth biggest selling cigar in value terms, with annual sales worth £16.3m. This new limited edition "Gentleman" pack adds a personal touch to the brand and celebrates its long heritage and continuing success, designed in a timeless pin stripe suit with the logo and information stitched into the fabric, which reflects both the aspirational nature of the product and the attention to detail that goes into crafting these fine cigars. Despite the changes to the packaging, the cigars inside of course remain the same.
“Retailers certainly won’t need me to tell them that sales of larger cigars go up in the build up to Christmas when adult smokers are in celebratory mood and typically have more time to enjoy them," said STG’s UK Head of Marketing, Prianka Jhingan. "Our Henri Wintermans Half Corona is always a big seller at this time of year and this limited issue Gentleman’s edition pack should only increase sales further. My advice to retailers is to stock up on it, as it is easily the UK’s best-selling medium / large cigar and has a loyal following due to its quality blend and heritage.”
Highgrove today (25) announced the launch of its new limited-edition Royal Gardens Single Malt Whisky, made using heritage barley grown on the Highgrove Estate.
This special edition has been created from a unique vatting of Cotswolds Distillery single malt whisky made using heritage Plumage Archer barley grown at the Highgrove Estate and aged in premium active ex-red wine and first fill bourbon casks.
Plumage Archer is a barley variety which yields a subtle but unique twist on Cotswolds’ new make spirit. The Royal Gardens edition was bottled exclusively by Cotswolds Distillery on Oct 21 2024 and a limited-edition collection of just 400 bottles is available to purchase exclusively from The Highgrove Shop at Highgrove Gardens, the Highgrove website and Cotswolds Distillery shops and website.
Each bottle of Highgrove Royal Gardens Single Malt Whisky is numbered and adorned with a label showcasing a watercolour of The South Front, Highgrove House by His Majesty King Charles III reproduced by kind permission of The King’s Foundation to Cotswolds Distillery.
The King’s Foundation is the custodian of Highgrove Gardens for the opening of Highgrove Gardens to the public, which generates an annual income for the charity. All profits from sales of the whisky will support The King's Foundation for its charitable delivery of education and training initiatives, some of which take place at Highgrove.
The King’s Foundation’s base at Highgrove accommodates education and training opportunities in furniture-making, fashion, and textiles, and building craft skills.
Scott Simpson, Retail Director at The King’s Foundation, said: "We are so excited to launch a new limited edition whisky with Cotswolds Distillery and it’s particularly special that it has been produced using heritage barley grown on the Highgrove Estate. The garden at Highgrove provides inspiration for all of our products, including our extensive range of food and drink made using ingredients from the garden. We are proud that all of the proceeds from Highgrove products are ploughed back into the work of The King’s Foundation and the charity’s educational delivery which takes place on site.’’
Cotswolds Distillery Founder Dan Szor comments, “We are so happy with our ongoing relationship with Highgrove, which represents traditional values of British craftsmanship at its finest, and it is an honour indeed to adorn this bottling with His Majesty's beautiful painting of the Highgrove Estate”
The Cotswolds Distillery is the first and only full-scale distillery in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is committed to being a model of environmentally sustainable rural business, creating jobs and highlighting its beautiful region to visitors from around the world.
All the barley is sourced locally and traditionally floor-malted at nearby Warminster Maltings, Britain’s oldest working maltings, where Plumage Archer barley was originally invented in 1906.
Highgrove Royal Gardens Single Malt Whisky ABV: 50% is RRP at £250 for a 70cl bottle. It is available to purchase exclusively from: Highgrove and Cotswolds Distillery.