MARKETING NEWS

Skyy launches Sundays – Exhausted revellers have been offered the opportunity to chill out with Skyy Vodka at this year’s Edinburgh Festival….Fashion fizz – Moet & Chandon has teamed up with the cream of British fashion talent to create a range of exclusive new cocktails to sip during fashion week this September…

Skyy launches Sundays

Exhausted revellers have been offered the opportunity to chill out with Skyy Vodka at this year’s Edinburgh Festival. That haven of calm and tranquility that is Skyy Sundays took place on August  14, 21 and 28 at The Pleasance where brunch was served and festival-goers were offered the opportunity to unwind with a free Skyy Bloody Mary, comfy chairs, bean bags, stacks of Sunday newspapers and lovely laid-back music.

Skyy Sundays, which marked the launch of the vodka brand’s new Respect Yourself campaign, were advertised using vouchers in The List, the essential guide to the world’s largest arts festival.

“Respect Yourself is all about caring what you put into your body, drinking responsibly and treating yourself to one of the purest vodkas in the market,” explains UK brand manager, Claire Wilson. “The chilled-out atmosphere of Skyy Sundays was a natural progression to our Respect Yourself message because we believe that Skyy can become the vodka for the Sunday sociable drinking occasion,” she continues. “After all, if you can’t be pure on a Sunday, when can you be!?”

Consolidation conference

The ever-growing global wine surplus means that supply is still outpacing demand. So who will get squeezed out of this increasingly competitive environment? Find out at the new Canadean International Wine Conference in association with the drinks business on December 1 and 2. The subject of Consolidation, Globalisation, Polarisation is aimed at senior executives in the global wine industry and offers delegates the chance to debate the issues with industry leaders and experts, and also to hear about the implications of emerging markets such as China, Russia and India. For more information email: conferences@ canadean.com

First cape’s extended ‘family’

South African wine brand First Cape has launched a new marketing campaign on its home turf involving its logistics services and farms in South Africa. First Cape is one of the fastest growing South African brands in the UK, and the campaign has been created to encourage  the inclusion and involvement of all those driving FirstCape’s success. Greg Wilkins, director of brand owner, BrandPhoenix, comments, “First Cape has brought together many of Breedekloof’s top wine farmers and has managed to create a family of people and service providers united in their passion for the brand and distinct wines from the region.”

Fashion fizz

Moet & Chandon has teamed up with the cream of British fashion talent to create a range of exclusive new cocktails to sip during fashion week this September. Designers Alice Temperley, Julien Macdonald and Tracey Boyd, have inspired cocktails that will be available exclusively at the Moët Bar in Selfridges, Oxford Street, during the fashion weeks of New York, London, Milan and Paris from September 12 to October 12. Cocktails include the Moët Temperleytini Shimmer, a rose petal garnished bellini; the Julien Macdonald Moët Sunrise, inspired by Miami seascapes; and the Tracey Boyd Moët Champagne Cocktail, inspired by her love of bright colour and nature. Prices start at £8.75.

French toast

The French Wines Awards for Excellence, now in its sixth year, has rapidly grown to become the largest trade event in the French Wines calendar. This is the last call for you to send in your nominations. New categories this year, in association with the drinks business, are the UK Supermarket Buyer of the Year and Outstanding Contribution to the UK market. An independent panel of members from the wine trade and press will select the winners – who will be announced at the French Wines Evening on October 13 in London. For more information email Sopexa at sonia.shah@sopexa.com

Grolsch bar-ge

Grolsch is offering its trade customers the chance to enjoy Holland’s favourite premium lager on board an authentic Dutch-style canal barge. The barge, named Jenneken after the wife of Peter Cuyper who created Grolsch’s exclusive recipe nearly 400 years ago, is docked in East India Dock in Canary Wharf, the largest outdoor drinking area in London.

Andy Cray, brand director for Grolsch UK, says, “We have ambitious plans for Grolsch and we want to inspire and convince our customers to sell our brand. Jenneken provides a stylish, continental drinking experience that allows our guests to enjoy Grolsch in unique surroundings.”

The barge showcases every type of Grolsch bar-top dispensing unit and also includes first-class meeting facilities for up to 12 guests.

Supercool carling

Your tent is pitched, all your mates are there, and your favourite band is about to come on stage. You think festival going doesn’t get any better than this, until you suddenly realise … your beer is warm. A sunny afternoon can be ruined by a warm can of lager and Carling has been making the dream of many music lovers come true at the Reading and Leeds festival this year by operating a “cold beer amnesty” at both sites where they replace any unopened can of warm beer with a cold can of Carling, free of charge. Carling has been handing out nearly 4,000 cases of beer – worth £40,000 in retail terms – over the weekend in its fight against warm beer. A sure way to win the eternal gratitude of the drinking public.

Self-regulating scotch whisky

Whisky producers have taken a strong stance on responsible drinking by launching a series of industry rules governing the marketing and promotion of Scotch Whisky in the UK. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) Code of Practice covers all communications, including advertising, promotional materials and sponsorship and will apply directly to all brand activities in the UK.

“Scotch Whisky is a drink to be sipped and savoured; to be enjoyed responsibly. By adopting this strict Code of Practice, SWA members are ensuring their brands are marketed responsibly at home and overseas,” comments Gavin Hewitt, SWA chief executive. “Distillers take their responsibilities seriously and already adhere to the various rules that apply, including the Ofcom code in the UK. But we think more can be done, and with nine out of every ten bottles of Scotch Whisky sold overseas, the Code also sets out best practice internationally.”

The SWA will also have the power to impose sanctions on distillers who breach the rules as the guidelines are backed by an Independent Complaints Panel. The code represents the toughest self-regulation by a single alcoholic drinks sector anywhere in the world.

© db September 2005