Upscale And Mainstream Brands Register Strong Gains Amid A Thriving Tequila Market
January 25, 2021In spite of the ongoing pandemic and diminished on-premise environment, Tequila consumption continues to surge to new heights, surpassing 20 million cases (excluding pre-mixed cocktails) in the U.S. for the first time ever in 2020, according to Impact Databank. While a host of luxury-priced contenders continue to provide momentum, Tequila’s largest-selling premium labels have also seen an influx of 100% blue agave extensions, which have carved out a significant share in a space once reserved for mixtos.
Tequila shipment volume from Mexico to the U.S. increased 24% in 2020, representing an 89% share of all exports worldwide, according to the Consejo Regulador del Tequila. The 100%-blue agave segment once again outperformed the Tequila market overall, with shipments to the U.S. rising 31% last year and comprising over 60% of total volume. The retail value of Tequila in Nielsen channels for the 52 weeks ending December 26 soared 54% to over $2.2 billion, compared to a 25% gain for the entire spirits sector.
Category leader Jose Cuervo has had success with its 100%-blue agave Tradicional expression, which has more than doubled over the past four years, reaching 287,000 cases in 2020. Jose Cuervo Especial Silver has also helped boost the franchise, after it rose 33% last year to nearly 2 million cases overall. Beam Suntory’s Hornitos has also been thriving, and it advanced an estimated 13% in 2020 to 1.15 million cases, according to Impact Databank. Other premium-priced Tequila brands posting solid gains lately include Gallo’s Familia Camarena and Brown-Forman’s El Jimador.
The luxury Tequila segment is led by Bacardi-owned Patrón, which is estimated to have been the fifth-largest selling spirit overall in the U.S. in dollar terms in 2020, according to Impact Databank. Other high-flying upscale labels include two brands from Diageo—Don Julio and Casamigos—recent launch Teremana, and Campari’s Espolon, which soared over 50% last year in the U.S.—Juan Banaag
| Top 10 Tequila Brands In The U.S. Off-Premise (thousands of 9-liter case depletions) |
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| Rank | Brand | Company | 52 Weeks Ending 12/29/2019 |
52 Weeks Ending 12/27/2020 |
Percent Change1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jose Cuervo Especial | Proximo Spirits | 714 | 873 | 22.2% |
| 2 | Hornitos | Beam Suntory | 181 | 239 | 32.6% |
| 3 | Patrón | Bacardi USA | 155 | 203 | 30.7% |
| 4 | Sauza | Beam Suntory | 253 | 179 | -29.0% |
| 5 | Cazadores | Bacardi USA | 101 | 150 | 49.1% |
| 6 | 1800 | Proximo Spirits | 97 | 132 | 36.4% |
| 7 | El Jimador | Brown-Forman | 95 | 112 | 18.1% |
| 8 | Espolòn | Campari America | 63 | 108 | 73.1% |
| 9 | Don Julio | Diageo North America | 42 | 76 | 80.3% |
| 10 | Casamigos | Diageo North America | 40 | 71 | 79.0% |
| Total Top 10 | 1,739 | 2,144 | 23.3% | ||
| Other Tequila | 618 | 865 | 39.9% | ||
| Total Tequila2 | 2,358 | 3,009 | 27.6% | ||
| 1 Based on unrounded data. 2 Addition of columns may not agree due to rounding. Source: IRI and IMPACT DATABANK © 2021 |
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Tagged : Casamigos, Don Julio, Espolón, Jose Cuervo, Patrón, Teremana
