Labatt Breweries of Canada to distribute two more non-alcoholic brands
Microbrewery Le BockAle produces a range of alcohol-free beer and received investment from Duvernois in 2022; while Romeo’s Gin was launched by Duvernois the same year as a line of non-alcoholic canned cocktails.
Labatt – which already has Corona Sunbrew 0.0% and Budweiser Zero brands in Quebec – says the agreement will allow it to broaden its non-alcoholic portfolio and ‘establish itself as a leader in the non-alcoholic category’.
Meanwhile, Duvernois Creative Spirits – a company focused on the Canadian craft spirits industry since 2010 - will be able to accelerate its growth plans beyond alcoholic beverages: consolidating the presence and visibility of its brands, both in the hospitality and retail (grocery and convenience stores) segments.
Strong growth for alcohol-free
Figures from IWSR should that the non-alcoholic category is expected to show year-on-year growth exceeding 10% every year at least until 2026 in Canada and the US. 70% of this growth will come from non-alcoholic beer, while the non-alcoholic RTD segment is expected to be the fastest growing.
Furthermore, 78% of consumers of non-alcoholic beverages also consume alcoholic beverages - representing ‘an increasingly democratized market with high growth potential’.
“We are excited to extend our partnership with Duvernois Creative Spirits by welcoming Bockale and Romeo’s Gin non-alcoholic beverages to our BEES sales ordering mobile application platform," said Marc-Olivier Bourgeois, Vice President, Quebec Sales, Labatt Breweries of Canada.
"The non-alcoholic beverage category is on the rise as more consumers are adopting a sober curious lifestyle and incorporating non-alcoholic beverages in their social occasions. This addition to our portfolio, which already includes Corona Sunbrew 0.0% and Budweiser Zero, will give our customers a strong selection of brands to choose from and will please consumers seeking to discover non-alcoholic beverage options.”
