News Briefs for August 6, 2012

•The Bourbon (+11.3%), Irish whiskey (+24.7%) and vodka (+7.4%) categories continued to drive U.S. spirits growth in Nielsen channels in the three months through July 21. The flavor segments of both vodka and American whiskies continued to be key growth drivers during the period. Overall, U.S. spirits sales were up 4.3% by volume and 5.2% by value over the last three months, Nielsen said. All price segments have been showing gains, led by the premium and ultra-premium areas. In the latest four-week period, spirits growth came in up 3.6% by volume and 4.3% by value.

•Young’s Holdings has introduced a new digital marketing service, Crowdstir, intended to help drinks industry players manage and monitor their social media presences across multiple platforms. Among Crowdstir’s services are features that allow companies to compose Facebook posts, tweets, email campaigns and text messages in advance and schedule them for delivery at optimal times, as well as analytical tools that track Facebook and Twitter activity related to companies’ brands. Young’s says Crowdstir is tailored to the drinks industry’s social media needs and will “serve as an extension of the service provided by Young’s Market Co.”

•California-based importer and marketer Altamar Brands has added ultra-premium Cognac Leopold Raffin to its portfolio. Produced by Maison Rene Laclie, the Leopold Raffin line includes VS, VSOP, Napoleon, XO and Extra expressions, as well as small bottlings of rare Sauternes barrel-finished Cognacs for select markets. At retail, Leopold Raffin’s range runs from $35 for the VS up through $500 for the limited edition bottlings. Altamar’s portfolio also includes Kübler absinthe, Right gin, Tequila Ocho and Pierde Almas Mezcal.

•T.G.I. Friday’s has renovated one of its units in Nashville, Tennessee, which reopened this week after being closed for two years due to flooding. The revamped unit includes an open kitchen with new equipment that is roughly 25% smaller than that of a typical T.G.I. Friday’s restaurant, as well as a redesigned bar that serves as the centerpiece of the space and has communal tables surrounding it to facilitate a more social bar environment. The redesigned Nashville unit will serve as a prototype for future domestic T.G.I. Friday’s and for older units in need of renovations.

Tagged : Bourbon, Irish whiskey, restaurants, vodka, Young's Market Co

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