The ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail market has been growing steadily for the past five years, in parallel with similar trends in wine and the emergence of the hard seltzer category.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic prompted a spike in consumer interest in to-go cocktails. The U.S. market for RTD cocktails grew by 50 percent year-on-year in 2020, and the market for canned alcoholic drinks is forecast to grow by an average of more than 13 percent annually to reach a global value of $13.4 billion by 2028.
Businesses are rushing to get into the canned cocktails space, from craft cocktail lounges to some of the world’s largest drinks conglomerates. Perhaps your brand is also thinking about exploring canned cocktails, but you’re not sure how to approach it? Next Century Spirits can help. But first, you should understand what it takes to expand your business into canned cocktails.
Are Canned Cocktails Easy to Produce?
High-quality canned cocktails aren’t easy to produce and take to market. But there’s plenty of good news in the industry.
The rising popularity of canned cocktails is directly related to significant improvements in the quality of RTD drinks in general. Over the past decade, bartenders and drinks companies have figured out how to create ready-to-drink beverages that are true to the flavors of a freshly made cocktail. That means taking on challenges like substituting the citrusy flavors of fresh fruit juices, which don’t travel well.
The Branding Opportunity of Canned Cocktails
Think of canned cocktails not just as a new product line but also as a highly visual extension of your brand.
Go to your local liquor store and take a look at the canned cocktail selection. Those attractive, vibrant wrap designs could be gracing your brand’s cans. Amongst their many benefits, they offer an opportunity to grab the attention of consumers you’ve never marketed to, or have maybe struggled to reach.
How to Get Canned Cocktails to Market
So your brand has a killer cocktail recipe with a catchy name. You’re convinced it’s perfect for the RTD market, but how do you produce your canned cocktail to scale?
You’ll need to ensure that the recipe is suitable for canning and that experienced professionals have overseen any necessary adaptations. Plus, you’ll want a reliable partner for canning and labeling, as well as to make sure any essential production licenses are in place. And that’s before you’ve even built a distribution network and shipped your first batch to market.
Next Century Spirits Can Bring Your Canned Cocktails to Life
As the recipient of 96 medals in international spirits tasting competitions, Next Century Spirits is a leading distiller with a first-class pedigree. In addition to our innovative line of distilling solutions, our professional blenders can help develop delicious, premium ready-to-drink cocktails that will reflect your sense of style and taste.
In addition to turnkey product and packaging design and development, Next Century Spirits takes care of everything from canning to distribution and strategic go-to-market advice.
For more information on how Next Century Spirits can work with your brand, contact us today.
