Industry Voices

Partake's brews come in at between 10 and 30 calories per can. Pic: Partake

My Drynuary: ‘Our customers are our main source of inspiration'

By Rachel Arthur

Canadian non-alcoholic beer Partake Brewing was launched in 2017: and now sells its brews across Canada and the US. Evan Cohen, President and Chief Commercial Officer, looks at the two markets in this series on innovators in the low/no alcohol industry....

What does the alcohol-free wine category need to do to have the same success as the alcohol-free beer category? Pic: Wednesday's Domaine

Profile series: Innovators in the low/no alcohol industry

My Drynuary: ‘The no/low space shares many principles with its alcoholic counterpart: It’s fundamentally about bringing people together, allowing them to share moments and have a good time’

By Rachel Arthur

UK alcohol-free wine Wednesday’s Domaine is on a mission to become the midweek wine alternative of choice for food and drink lovers. In our series profiling innovators in the low/no alcohol industry, founder Luke Hemsley tells us why alcohol-free wine...

Pic: getty/cienpies

Navigating the EU packaging legislation: key insights for sports foods businesses

By Luca Bucchini, Chairman, European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA)

Over the last few years, as part of the EU Green Deal, policy makers have focused their efforts on introducing a series of highly ambitious regulations that mean to bring sustainability to every step of the food chain. Among others, a legislative file...

Rethinking bottled water could require a wholesale shift in business models. Pic:getty/blackjack3D

How brands can rethink the single use plastic water bottle

By Kathryn Jubrail, Partner, Mother Design

The challenges for plastic water bottles are clear: their environmental impact is leading to a consumer backlash and even potential regulatory restrictions. But the future isn’t about a few brands moving into alternative packaging formats: it’s about...

Pic:getty/lightfieldstudios

Guest article

Uncorking the dark side: How wine brands are embracing the allure of the macabre

By Rowena Curlewis, CEO, drinks design specialist Denomination

We love Halloween and the 'spooky season'. And up-and-coming wine brands are using our obsession with all things spooky to stand out from the crowd with their compelling brand stories and sinister tales. Rowena Curlewis, CEO of drinks design...

Spirits can look to emulate the way coffee uses associations, multi-sensory experiences and ritual. Pic:getty/aleksandargeorgiev

Guest article

What spirits brands can learn from coffee

By Zander Corbin, strategist, BLVR

You'd be forgiven for thinking they are two very different categories: but spirits brands can learn a lot from how coffee brands have built up rituals and experiences, writes Zander Corbin from creative and brand consultancy BLVR in this guest article.

Pic:getty/5ph

Guest article

How brands can capitalize on rum's renaissance

By Graeme Offord, creative director (Sydney), Denomination

The rum industry is in the midst of a renaissance. But while these are exciting times for rum brands, many are missing out because they aren’t changing with the times, writes Graeme Offord, creative director (Sydney) of drinks design agency Denomination

Pic:getty/DNY59

Is Champagne still the top drink for celebrations?

By Stuart Bond, Director of UK distributor, Beyond Wines

Champagne has long been a symbol of luxury, celebration and indulgence. The industry has weathered significant challenges: from economic downturns to changing consumer habits and preferences. But Champagne's current availability issues and price...

Pic:getty/dardespot

The UK organic wine market is rapidly growing - and here’s what lies ahead

By Alex Green, Director and Co-founder, Beyond Wines

Against a backdrop of stagnating wine sales, organic wines are steadily growing in volume, value and variety. Alex Green, director and co-founder of UK-based wine distributor Beyond Wines, looks at how organic wine brands can increase their appeal to...

Pic:getty/actobacter

Is zero the hero for today’s beer industry?

By Jamie Williams, managing partner, isobel

From the potential future irrelevance of ‘Dry Jan’, to 0% beers with an enhanced ‘relaxing feeling’, just how big can non-alcoholic beer really get, and where can it go next? Asks Jamie Williams, Managing Partner at independent creative agency, isobel.

Harmon's co-founders. Pic: Kettles

Profile series: Innovators in low/no alcohol

My Drynuary: 'We're seeing more craft brewers join the non-alcoholic movement'

By Rachel Arthur

Canadian non-alcoholic beer brand Harmon's expects to see more and more innovation in the industry as craft brewers sit up and take note of growth in alcohol-free. In our series of interviews with innovators in the low/no industry, we hear more about...

Good zero and low alcohol brands have succeeded in understanding the lifestyle – or desired lifestyle – of their drinkers.

How to craft a zero-alcohol brand world

By Chris White, Managing Director, This Way Up

As zero and low alcohol options become more mainstream, drinks brands are catching on to the benefits of introducing alternative product ranges. But zero alcohol doesn’t have to mean zero fun, says Chris White, Managing Director at creative agency This...

Pic:getty/martinwahlborg

The emerging global hard seltzer market

By Emily Smith, Content and Editorial Analyst at FMCG Gurus

Awareness of hard seltzers still needs to be built for the category to succeed globally, says Emily Smith of FMCG Gurus in this guest article.

Pic:getty/olemedia

What is 'newsjacking', and how can drinks brands jump on it?

By Tom Harvey, co-founder, YesMore drinks marketing agency

Viral marketing is the holy grail of 'earned' media. Tom Harvey, co-founder, YesMore drinks marketing agency, takes a look at how drinks brands can make newsjacking work for them.