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...
New Baileys offshoot on the Glide
19-Aug-2003
Diageo has refrained from launching its new Baileys Glide into the on-trade despite a full scale launch into the take home sector.The new Baileys...