Ready to Drink

BAR. 06 round-up

16-Jun-2006

Despite not having the loudest stand (that honour belonged to Charles Wells' Corona) Cobra certainly had one of the most striking. And it was at the...

A decade pays off for WKD

22-Feb-2006

WKD is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the news that the brand has hit top spot in the latest AC Nielsen results.The figures for October and...

Funky Monkey cleared by Portman Group

17-Feb-2006

A complaint made against vodka shot brand Funky Monkey has been dismissed by The Portman Group's independent complaints panel.The panel, which rules...

Brown Cow brand owner adds Ctrl to its RTD offer

21-Nov-2005

Anglo Drinks has launched a new ready-to-drink (RTD) brand which it believes will change the face of drinks retailing.The company behind chocolate...

RTD trades on 'responsibility'

17-Nov-2005

by Rosie Davenport A new RTD that aims to tackle the trade's anxieties about social responsibility and spiking is being tested in student bars across...

RTD focus: What to stock?

03-Oct-2005

Adam Withrington concludes his ready-to-drink special with a guide to getting your offer right.In recent weeks The Publican has taken a long hard...

RTD focus: What would licensees like to see?

16-Sep-2005

Last week we heard from the RTD brand owners. This week it's the turn of the licensees. By Adam Withrington.Despite AC Nielsen statistics showing a...

Red joins Blue as WKD extends RTD offering

08-Sep-2005

by Rosie Davenport Beverage Brands is the latest supplier to inject new life into the RTD sector with the launch of a third flavour in its WKD range....

RTD Focus: How RTDs went from hero to villain

07-Sep-2005

Over the next couple of weeks Adam Withrington will take a look at the RTD sector. This week: brand owners.The Ready-To-Drink category has...

RTD Focus: Public enemy number one?

07-Sep-2005

When it comes to the responsible drinking debate RTDs will always be the industry whipping boys. Is there anything drinks companies can do to rectify...

RTD Focus: Changing times

07-Sep-2005

Brand owners are confident RTDs will regain their place at the top of the drinks market. Adam Withrington reports.There are huge challenges facing...

Beverage Brands introduces WKD Red

05-Sep-2005

Beverage Brands has unveiled a new addition to its WKD range - WKD Red.Following an initial pilot programme in the Balearic Islands last summer and...

Europe tough as Diageo profits slide

01-Sep-2005

Diageo has reported a fall in annual profits, as it tackles lower sales in a tough European market, and a continued decline in global RTD sales.The...

Coors confirms Reef could be for sale

25-Aug-2005

Coors Brewers has confirmed it is willing to sell Reef to anyone who comes up with the right offer.Rumours have been circulating that it has been...

Male market in sights of Slate 20

18-Aug-2005

by Jo de Mille Diageo is hoping a new RTD brand aimed at men can invigorate sales in the flagging market. Slate 20, which is a 4.5% abv blend of...

New products

11-Aug-2005

Wychwood Brewery brought its new limited-edition ale to the GBBF a 4.2% abv fruity ale called Battle Axe. Wychwood's head brewer Jeremy Moss said: 'I...

Avanti report points to new future for drinks advertising

29-Jul-2005

Drinks advertisers are turning away from TV commercials in favour of promoting their brands on pub and bar plasma screens, according to a new...

WKD side returns

14-Jul-2005

A new burst of TV advertising kicks off this month for WKD. The RTD is back with its 'Have you got a WKD side? campaign. In addition to TV adverts,...

Lambrini cherry roll out

14-Jul-2005

Halewood International is introducing its Lambrini cherry variant to the on-trade in 275ml sleeved bottles, as well as relaunching its original...

Vending machine to aid responsible retailing, says maker

15-Jun-2005

A vending machine for bottled beers and RTDs aimed at pubs, bars and nightclubs is being launched by a young entrepreneur.Michael Bowes, a...

Diageo invests in new low-sugar Archers RTD range

12-May-2005

Diageo has announced it will be investing £4m in a new RTD brand, despite falling category sales.Archer's Vea is a low-sugar RTD aimed at women aged...

Archers Vea aims to pep up RTDs

12-May-2005

by Rosie Davenport Diageo has pledged to fight rival RTD manufacturers on taste and calorie count as it pins its hopes for reviving the category on...

Pimm's to launch

21-Apr-2005

draught pre-mix Diageo is to launch a draught premixed version of Pimm's and lemonade in 350 pubs this summer. The rollout follows a test in 28...

Silver gets the bullet in WKD brands shake-up

24-Feb-2005

by Rosie Davenport Beverage Brands has pledged to focus on bringing new products to the RTD market after axing WKD Silver. The supplier said it...

Smirnoff is crowned the fastest move

16-Dec-2004

Smirnoff has stolen a march on its rivals to claim the title of the fastest-growing on-trade product of the year. The stalwart brand gained the most...

Roxxoff backs off as watchdog forces name rethink

17-Nov-2004

The Portman Group is claiming victory in its battle against RTD brand Roxxoff.Plans to relaunch the product in Manchester were scuppered by a joint...

Roxxoff to relaunch despite blacklisting

11-Nov-2004

by Ewan Turney Controversial RTD Roxxoff is set to re-launch despite being blacklisted by the Portman Group under its Code of Practice. Roxxoff was...

Portman Group strikes back at Charles Wells and Roxxoff

09-Nov-2004

The Portman Group has hit back at two drinks producers that have attempted to challenge its authority.Charles Wells, whose Muse "Sex on the Beach"...

Battle of the bottle

04-Nov-2004

In the face of steep decline, suppliers of ready-to-drinks (RTDs) are desperate to come up with the next innovation to capture consumer interest

Entering the spirit world

04-Nov-2004

The popularity of spirits offers the best indication for future innovation in RTDs. But buyers are warning that copycat flavours will not succeed...

Pub chains cut back on RTD brands

04-Nov-2004

High-street pub chains are slashing the number of ready-to-drink brands on shelves to concentrate on stocking more profitable lines. Sales of RTDs...

Top 10 RTD brands

04-Nov-2004

2004 ranking* 2003 ranking* Smirnoff Ice 1 1 WKD 2 2 Bacardi Breezer 3 3 Reef 4 4 VK 5 5 Archers Aqua 6 6 Red Square 7 7 Vodka Mudshake 8 22 Chekov...

Absolut's RTD is a Cut above for Interbrew

28-Oct-2004

by Rosie Davenport Interbrew is revisiting the RTD (ready-to-drink) market as it joins forces with Absolut to roll out a new line extension to the...

EC clampdown proposes RTD ban

30-Sep-2004

A ban on RTDs, tighter controls on drinks marketing and warnings on drinks labels are among the suggestions put forward in a confidential document...

Guinness volumes dip for Diageo

02-Sep-2004

Drinks giant Diageo has seen sales of Guinness decline in the UK and Ireland.Reporting full-year results for the year to June 30, Diageo said...

Pimm's launches RTD for summer

29-Apr-2004

Pimm's, the quintessential drink of the British summer, has unveiled a three-pronged strategy to boost sales in the sun this year.Owner Diageo is...

Portman Group pulls two more drinks

07-Apr-2004

Two drinks companies have been found guilty of breaking the drinks industry's advertising code.The Independent Complaints Panel found that both...

Reef cocktails bid to shake up RTDs

18-Mar-2004

Coors Brewers is looking to shake and stir a sluggish ready-to-drink (RTD) sector with the launch of Reef cocktails.Amid speculation that the RTD...

Pubs must cut RTD prices to halt slide'

11-Mar-2004

The RTD (ready-to-drink) market will continue to decline if pubs don't do their bit to boost sales, according to AC Nielsen consultant Graham Page....

RTD decline fails to deter Diageo

26-Feb-2004

by John Harrington Volume sales of Diageo's RTDs (ready to drink) fell 12% in the second half of 2003, while the Treasury is taking more from the...

Slinky RTD launched in on-trade marketplace

19-Feb-2004

by John Harrington Blue Nun-based RTD Slinky gets its on-trade release next month, with owners Langguth putting their faith in the RTD sector....

Spike-proof RTD to fight date rape

20-Nov-2003

by John Harrington A new RTD will soon be launched in a supposedly spike-proof bottle, at a time when drink spiking remains in the media spotlight...

Diageo predicts return to RTD-sector growth

30-Oct-2003

by Claire Hu The declining RTD market will move back into growth in the next two years, according to Diageo which has spent £2m on researching the...

Diageo backs maturing RTD category

29-Oct-2003

Diageo has taken steps to reassure the trade that the future of the ready-to-drink (RTD) sector is a rosy one.The spirits giant recently met with a...

Stocking up for Christmas: Spirits, Soft Drinks & RTDs

22-Oct-2003

Christmas 'spirit' can boost tradeWith more cash in their pockets, your customers like to get into the Christmas spirit - literally. The advice to...

WKD strength takes five

14-Oct-2003

Tough trading conditions in the premium packaged spirit (PPS) category have forced Beverage Brands to reduce the ABV of its flagship WKD brand.The...

Beverage Brands gets its Kitsch off

08-Oct-2003

Beverage Brands is looking to tighten its grip on the ready-to-drink category with the launch of a new perry-based concept.The RTD specialist, home...

Time called on Shag

06-Oct-2003

Drinkers will no longer be up for a Shag following the latest ruling by The Portman Group.The Portman Group's independent complaints panel has upheld...

RTDs 'here to stay' despite sales fears, says Beverage Brands

05-Sep-2003

Beverage Brands, the owner of WKD and Woody's, has refuted claims that the bubble has burst in the ready-to-drink (RTD) sector.Amid widespread talk...