In the third of Convenience Store’s round-ups of highlights from the National Convenience Show in Birmingham earlier this month, we’re focusing on the many new and improved alcoholic lines seen at stands there.
Just as with confectionery and soft drinks, the category proved to be one just as full of innovation, with new flavours, formats and abv strengths on offer for visitors to sample - responsibly.
Key suppliers and newcomers alike brought their wares to the city’s NEC this year, and below we’ve chosen some of the stand outs.
Moth Drinks’ cocktails were unmissable with their distinctive black cans, and a variety of flavours and mixes were shown, with Espresso Martini perhaps one of the most recognisably on-trend.
With an abv of 14.9% per 125ml can, the drink was described as a mix of Wood Brothers vodka and cold brew coffee, that “goes with sweet things, like a lover. Perfect with your favourite playlist.”
Elsewhere, the Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) stand saw several ready-to-drink (RTD) lines on offer for browsing, including the new Spiced packs of the supplier’s popular mixed Bacardi & Coca-Cola drink.
The 250ml slim can sits at the heart of the fastest growing alcohol RTD segment, CCEP said, where rum-based RTDs alone have grown 10% since 2024.
Pernod Ricard UK’s focus, meanwhile, was largely on its new pricemarked packs (PMPs) for its bottles range. Standing out on its stand in the iconic white 70cl bottles was Malibu, with its £14.99 PMPs.
“Every drop is filled with sun, music, beaches, parties, new friends, love and adventures. Malibu is the world’s favourite coconut rum,” Pernod Ricard said.
We then saw something a little different on the VOGO Party Pouch stand, with a range of colourful, soft pouches containing sweet cocktails aimed squarely at socialising.
The Strawberry Splash pouch, ideal for summer and with its abv of 15%, is made in Edinburgh, and joins three other flavours in the range. The lightweight bagged drinks were described as “redefining how people enjoy a pre-mixed drink” by the supplier.
Finally, for those looking for something a little lighter, Pernod Ricard’s West Coast Cooler was heralded for its innovation by show organisers.
The 4% abv 25cl cans range benefited from containing only 93 calories, and were billed as a “refreshing citrus, pineapple and passion fruit flavoured wine cooler with sugar and sweeteners.” And Original equivalent is also available in the range.
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