Sponsor’s comment: Funkin
The cocktail boom which has taken hold of the UK bar scene is set to continue throughout 2019 and beyond as Funkin Cocktails, the UK’s number one fruit purée and cocktail mixer company, reveals that it is continuing to grow consistently in value, volume, frequency and outlet penetration. “Cocktails are maintaining
their stronghold over the on-trade as outlets raise their game, bartenders get more creative and consumers get more discerning,” explains Ben Anderson, Funkin Cocktails marketing director. “The latest research* also shows that one in four consumers, or 28% of the population, say they are drinking more cocktails now than they were six months ago, so it’s safe to say that the cocktail market has yet to reach its tipping point and will continue to grow throughout 2019 and beyond.” *CGA MIXED DRINKS REPORT Q3 2018
ESTARS OF
Cocktails are more popular than ever, so it pays to ensure you have the best-selling recipes and premium mixers to hand
very gin needs its tonic, and there was a double shot of good news for the trade in March. The Wine & Spirits Trade Asso-
ciation confirmed that the gin boom continues unabated, with more than 73 million bottles sold in 2018, generating sales worth £2.1b. To add to the celebrations, the European Com- mission resolved a four-year labelling debate by ruling that the word ‘tonic’ can be used to describe the popular mixer, despite the fact that its health benefits are, at best, questionable. The figures for cocktail sales are impressive. The CGA stats show that cocktails are served in more than 40,000 outlets across the on-trade, with sales up by 5.8% in volume. Reflecting the continued premiumisation trend, sales were up 8.6% in value year-on-year by the third quar- ter of 2018, reaching £550m in value. In context, it’s worth bearing in mind that for definition purposes, CGA doesn’t count a gin and tonic or any other standard spirit plus a mixer in its figures, as a cocktail has to combine a minimum of three liquid ingredients to qualify. But as the many oper- ators offering gin menus combining craft spirits with a choice of artisan tonics as part of their cocktail menu will attest, customers are far less likely to make the distinction. Mixers, according to the CGA figures, have far more widespread distribution and are sold
10 | Drinks Guide 2019
in 104,954 on-trade outlets. Distribution was up in both pubs and restaurants during 2018, showing that demand is still growing in the core market for the spirit and mixer serve, driven in part by continuing new product devel- opment from both spirits and mixer suppliers. This growth in popularity has thrown down challenges as well as creating opportunities for operators. A properly made cocktail takes time to create, which can hold up service at busy times and also requires significant investment in bar staff training. Inevitably, suppliers have stepped up to try and square this circle. “Our business has evolved from being a cocktail ingredient com- pany to offering the drinks industry a total cocktail solution,” says Ben Anderson, head of marketing at Funkin Cocktails. “We now offer insights, training, drinks development, menu development, point of sale material and, most importantly, we are working with bartenders to offer them tailor- made solutions to help them grow, develop and create outstanding cocktails.” The company’s portfolio now including purées, small batch syrups, pre-batch cock- tail mixers, draught cocktails and dried garnishes. Funkin expects cocktails to con- tinue to grow consistently in value, volume, frequency and outlet penetration.
www.thecaterer.com
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