News Briefs for September 16, 2011
September 16, 2011• Drambuie has named London-based Sell! Sell! as its new global ad agency, replacing international creative firm SapientNitro. Sell! Sell! will be spearheading the strategic communications development and creative execution for Drambuie in all of the brand’s key markets worldwide. Drambuie is also in the process of rolling out a new premium expression, Drambuie 15, in the U.S. market, where the brand is marketed by Bacardi USA. For the year ended June 30, 2011, Drambuie reported a 2% rise in operating profit, to £2.8 million ($4.4m), as global volumes rose 1%, thanks in part to a 4% volume increase in the U.S.
• San Francisco-based The Wine Group (TWG) has come to an agreement to distribute Coyote Gold All Natural Margarita across the U.S. TWG has introduced the premix Margarita into an initial 15 states—Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming—and plans to add more throughout the end of the year and into 2012. Coyote Gold is generally priced at $10.99 a 750-ml. and joins a TWG portfolio that already includes Almaden, Big House, Concannon, Corbett Canyon, Cupcake, Fish Eye, Foxhorn and Franzia wines, as well as Cupcake Vodka on the spirits side.
• Casa Noble Tequila has teamed up with restaurant and bar chain Bar Louie in a new mobile marketing campaign that will engage consumers through SnapTag technology. Created by SpyderLynk, the SnapTag is a logo-based alternative to QR codes that allows diners to engage with a brand by snapping and sending a picture of the logo using their phones. From September 6, 2011 through October 31, 2011, consumers will have the chance to be entered to win tickets to a Carlos Santana concert by taking a picture of the Casa Noble SnapTag on the bar’s menu. Bar Louie has more than 50 locations nationwide.
• New Jersey-based Winebow is releasing a new brand, 24 Knots, into the thriving California Pinot Noir segment. Sourced from the Monterey region, 24 Knots is launching nationwide this month at $16.99 to $18.99 a bottle. Created in partnership with Scheid Vineyards, the new entry is made from fruit grown in the Viento, Riverview and Scheid Vineyards. 120,000 bottles of the 2009 vintage were made. In the 52 weeks through August 20, Pinot Noir was the fastest-growing major table wine variety in the U.S., rising 12.9% by volume, according to Nielsen, despite carrying the highest average price among large-selling varietals.
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