FEATURE
BIG NIGHT IN
24 ASIAN TRADER 19 SEPTEMBER 2025
want to feel like they are treating
themselves. That’s where
approachable, great-value reds
come into their own.
At under £10 RRP, Faustino VII
Tempranillo is a smooth,
fruit-forward Rioja that’s ideal for
midweek meals, grazing boards or
quick pasta dishes.
When it comes to drinks,
people like to pamper their guests
at home. And having the latest
innovations often become the
talking point too.
A great brand to stock on the
shelves is RTDs like vodka-based
Four Loko.
Clark McIlroy, Managing
Director, Red Star Brands, says,
“Four Loko has seen
double-digit sales growth in
the last 12 months across the
independent channel,
performing exceptionally
well in urban, student-
heavy areas as well as
seeing significant traction
in festival retail.”
Flavour trends are fast
moving towards tropical
profiles, hybrids (e.g.
candy-inspired), and
nostalgia-based flavours, with
demand for fuller flavour
profiles also growing.
Noteworthy names to consider
here are Four Loko White, which
is the fastest selling SKU in GB
convenience, Dark Berry Burst
and the latest addition to the
range, Hawaii.
It is critical for retailers to
remain updated and know what
shoppers fancy lately.
Jo Taylorson, head of market
ing and product management,
Kingsland Drinks, agrees. He
advices retailers to tune into
what’s making noise and what
consumers are buying into. Just
like formats like bag in box wines.
Kingsland Drinks expanded its
Campaneo range with the
addition of new, convenient 2.25L
Bag in Box (BiB) format recently,
as has Andrew Peace with the
addition of 1.5L and 2.25L BiBs,
which extends BiB offering into
new parts of the market.
Taylorson adds, “The shift to
smaller format BIB options
continues to gather pace, with
1.5L formats up 30.3 per cent by
volume over the same period,
showing that consumers are open
to change when the proposition is
right. “
Other names to consider in
this aisle are Żubrówka Polish
vodka’s Bison Grass Vodka and
Biała, both bringing distinctive
flavours and expressions to the
vodka market.
Chris Jones, Managing
Director at Paragon Brands says,
“Earlier this year, we launched
new Mango and Passionfruit Gin
under our June by G’Vine brand,
appealing to drinkers looking for
new and contemporary flavour
combinations.
“We know mango and
passionfruit as a flavour
pairing is trending,
especially among younger
demographics. It works
well in spritzes and for early
evening drinks as a
leisurely way to drink
stylish and elegant drinks
with a moderate abv.”
Excellia Tequila Grand
Cru is a unique range of
tequilas (Blanco and Reposado)
made with a blend of Mexican
authenticity and French
expertise with Maison Villevert.
It marries the worlds of tequila
and wine with 100% Blue Weber
agave spirit aged for 18 months in
Grand Cru Sauternes wine casks
and Cognac barrels.
Furthermore, cocktail shots
and miniature drinks, known as
“baby drinks” are on the rise and
Licor 43 has been at the forefront
of this revolution.
“Christened the ‘Baby Beer’,
the fun serve is a combination of
Licor 43 topped with cream
liqueur, perfectly resembling a
miniature pint of beer. We know
the drink is part of a real-life high
tempo drinking moment that is a
lively talking point during
at-home drinking occasions and
flavoured water is a great addition
to the BNI proposition, offering a
light, refreshing option with
added flavour, ideal for non-alco
holic pairings during a relaxed
night in.
Similarly, La Mortuacienne’s
artisanal lemonades bring a touch
of indulgence and old-world
charm, appealing to shoppers
looking to elevate their at-home
experience with something
premium and nostalgic.
There is a clear growth across
all our no- and low-alcohol
variants, due to the wider
consumer growth in moderation.
Within the beer category,
Heineken UK’s Birra
Moretti Zero is now
worth £5.1m with a
sales value of increase
of 13.6 pr cent, and
Heineken 0.0 is worth
£30.1m.
Old Mout Alcohol
Free, the low and no
equivalent of premium
cider, has its sales value
growing by an impressive
166.6 per cent from the
previous year.
The launch of Inch’s 0.0 – the
first dealcoholised cider in the UK
– adds a credible, premium option
to the booming no- and low-alco
the Big Night In,” Chris says.
Sober but social
Low-and-no alcohol isn’t a
compromise anymore; it’s a
lifestyle choice reshaping evening
baskets.
Moderation is very much a
thing now so it is best to offer
shoppers a wide range of low and
no alcohol options as well.
Lower and no abv wines and
spirits are earning their place on
fixtures and consumers are
responding by integrating them
into their home collection.
Kingsland Drinks started pack
ing non-alcoholic wines and
spirits in 2019 and is now
responsible for developing
and launching some of
the market’s leading
brands.
The company
currently blends and
bottles non-alcoholic
gin, rum, whisky,
tequila, and still and
sparkling wines,
using world class
technology and
controls to ensure the
highest possible quality assurance
standards.
A product like the zero-sugar,
calorie-free Icelandic Glacial
Sweet facts
Susan Nash, Trade
Communications Manager at
Mondelez International, shares
some key facts from the world of chocolate
and candies
Candy confectionery is in growth and represents 20 per cent
of the total confectionery market.
Format is key within candy, so offering both chocolate and
candy bags is a must.
Sour Patch Kids is growing by over 50 per cent, so retailers
should make sure their range includes a strong range of sour
candies.
Evening occasion is the key time of day for sharing with
chocolate tablets and bags being the most convenient and
popular formats.
Shoppers want variety so it’s important to have a range of
flavours; different types of candies from hard to soft to appeal
to shoppers.
Value is important too in candy, where 70 per cent of sales
happen in PMP.