Guess What’s the Fastest Growing Subcategory on Drizly

Posted on August 9, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

It isn’t under beer, wine or spirits.  It’s under extras, for goodness sake.  It’s bar tools and cocktail accessories, led by cocktail shakers.  What was the fastest-growing beer subcategory? Spice/herb/vegetable beer; top SKUs included Modelo Chelada Especial, Modelo Chelada Limon y Sal, Budweiser Chelada Picante with Clamato, Modelo Chelada Piña Picante, and Estrella Jalisco/Golden Road Brewing Mango Michelada, Drizly said.

Orange wine once again found its way onto the fastest-growing wine subcategories list; it last saw significant year-over-year growth in September 2021. Spain held the highest share of orange wine sales on Drizly in July with 35%, followed by Austria (23%), Italy (18%), and the U.S. (14%). The top five orange wines sold on Drizly last month spanned countries: Gulp/Hablo Orange Wine, Biokult Naken Orange Wine, Field Recordings Skins, Borgo Savaian Aransat, and Vichingo Vermentino Macerato Sulle Bucce.

Drizly has also detected increasing consumer interest in White Wine, reflecting interest in lighter, fresher wine options.  The white wine subcategory gained share across total sales – increasing from 10% of share in July 2021 to 11% last month – and within the wine category, increasing from 31% of wine share last July to 32% of share this year. Varietal wines that have seen significant gains include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Albariño, Chenin Blanc, and Cortese.

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Harpoon Brewery Launches First Non-Alc Offering

Posted on August 9, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Harpoon Brewery is launching its first non-alcoholic hazy IPA: Open League. Brewed with juicy tropical hops and recreation-minded ingredients, Open League is a light and refreshing beverage at only 35 calories and less than 0.5% ABV per serving.

To celebrate the launch of Open League, Harpoon is inviting fans to join them for a free fitness event hosted by Eliza Shirazi of Kick It by Eliza. Kick It With Eliza @ Harpoon will take place at the brewery in Boston on Sunday, August 28th at 10A.M., offerings folks a morning of kickboxing, boxing, rhythmic components, and a meditative cool down. All levels are welcome to participate and no purchase is required.  Participants are invited to Outdoors @ Harpoon following the event to refresh with a glass of Open League and a pretzel.

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Cathead Distillery Launches Sunsetters Sparkling Cocktails

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Cathead Distillery, Mississippi’s first and oldest legal distillery, announces a new line of ready-to-drink sparkling vodka sodas: Cathead Sparkling Sunsetters. They are available in five states — Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

Inspired by the magic of long summer evenings that fade into warm summer nights, the Sunsetters variety pack features an assortment of four fresh and fruity flavors—Raspberry, Mango, Ginger Pineapple, and Cucumber Mint.

Sunsetters are an extension of Cathead’s Sparklers line, which launched last year.

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Stella Artois Production Move to U.S. Causes Decline in U.S. Beer Imports

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Imported beer volume 1.9% in June to 3,695,331 barrels from a year earlier.  Imported beer from Belgium (-85.2%) was the largest contributor to the decline overall.

“We should expect to see these declines for the next year,” says Danelle Kosmal, vp-research, Beer Institute, “as this is due to the shift in production of Stella Artois to the U.S. by Anheuser-Busch. If we were to remove Belgium imports from the scope, total Imported beer would essentially be flat for June 2022 (about 0.2%). Other contributors to declines included imports from Poland (-84.6%) and Canada (-20.9%). The declines from Poland are due to the halt in production of Arizona seltzer in Warsaw by Heineken USA.”

Kosmal says it is important to note that aside from shifts in production (Belgium and Poland), declines across imports is mostly due to difficult 2021 comparisons, when total imports were up 33.8% compared to June 2020, and up 14% compared to June 2019. June 2021 was a rockstar month for imports, so current trends aren’t bad considering the benchmark from 2021.

Mexican import growth slowed in May of 2022. The slowdown continues once again for June 2022, up only 1.9% compared to June 2021, she notes. Mexican imported beer grew by more than 52,200 barrels compared to June 2021. Import growth from the Netherlands (+9.1%) was close behind, with an increase of more than 38,000 barrels compared to last year.

Year-to-date, imports continue to outpace growth of the total beer category, with imported beer up 4.5% for the first six months of the year compared to the same months last year.

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U.S. On-Premise Continues to Stabilize: CGA

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

US On Premise continues to stabilize and follow similar sales trends to those seen in 2021, resulting in Total US remaining slightly positive (+1%) versus last year. Check value continues to outperform 2021 (+7%), with traffic down -6%. Of the key states, New York (+4%), Illinois (+4%) and California (+2%) continue to outperform 2021 velocity, whilst Texas (-6%) and Florida (-8%) remain slightly behind.  Trends in the previous week were driven largely by an increase in traffic (+5%), with check value also slightly positive (+1%).

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Packaged Spirits Imports Jumped 23% By Value in 12 Months as Packaged Wine Grew 16%

Posted on August 8, 2022 by Joel Whitaker

Total beverage alcohol imports (including bulk and packaged) grew 14% by value over the last twelve months and grew 12% by value over the last three months. Thirty-eight percent of all imported beverage alcohol by value came from Mexico over the last twelve months, bw166 reports after analyzing Commerce Department data.

Total beverage alcohol exports (included bulk and packaged) grew 33% by value over the last twelve months and grew +54% by value over the last three months. 28% of all exported beverage alcohol by value went to Canada over the last twelve months.

Imported packaged spirits for the last twelve months grew 11% by volume and 23% by value. Over the last three months, volumes grew 15% and 28% by value.

Imported bulk spirits for the last twelve months declined6% by volume and 8% by value. Over the last three months, volumes were flat but grew 11% by value.

Thirty nine percent of all imported packaged spirits by value arrived from Mexico while 32% of all imported bulk spirits by value arrived from Mexico.

Exported packaged spirits for the last twelve months grew 25% by volume and grew 20% by value. Over the last three months, volumes grew 24% and 29% by value.

Exported bulk spirits for the last twelve months grew 19% by volume and 53% by value. Over the last three months, volumes declined 12% but value grew 90%.

Sixteen percent of all exported packaged spirits by value is destined for Canada while 33% of all exported bulk spirits by value is destined for Canada.

Imported packaged wine for the last twelve months was unchanged by volume but grew 16% by value. Over the last three months, volumes declined 14% and were unchanged by value.

Imported bulk wine for the last twelve months grew 14% by volume and 6% by value. Over the last three months, volumes grew 23% and 33% by value.

Some 35% of all imported packaged wine by value arrived from France while 24% of all imported bulk wine by value arrived from Chile.

Exported packaged wine for the last twelve months grew 14% by volume and 18% by value. Over the last three months, volumes grew 20% and 18% by value.

Exported bulk wine for the last twelve months declined 25% by volume and 26% by value. Over the last three months, volumes declined 25% and declined 21% by value.

Thirty-seven percent of all exported packaged wine by value is destined for Canada while 55% of all exported bulk wine by value is destined for the United Kingdom.

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