Features

High flyers: The brands taking off in the on-trade

August 16, 2018

Movers and shakers making strides in Scotland’s pubs

***A dark horse: Strongbow Dark Fruit has topped this year’s CGA high flyers list***

WHILE this year’s CGA list revealed the changes – both big and small – taking place within each respective drinks category, it also identified the movers and shakers that have made real strides in Scotland’s pubs and bars over the past year.

Taking into account a number of different factors, including total sales, as well as growth in sales and distribution, CGA’s high flyers list has revealed star performers across a raft of categories.

It’s been a good year for cider, which tops and tails this year’s top ten high flyers.

Heineken’s Strongbow Dark Fruit, which climbed 12 places in the overall drinks listing to become the 22nd-biggest brand in the Scottish on-trade in terms of value, clinched the number one spot on this year’s high flyers list, while Carlsberg-owned Somersby Cider has also made its mark, climbing the rankings to 60th place on the overall brands listing.

Both brewers fared well on the lager front too, with Heineken’s Birra Moretti (now the 37th-biggest overall brand) and Molson Coors’ Staropramen (now the 44th-biggest overall brand), taking the third and fourth spots respectively on the high flyers list.

C&C Group’s Belgian lager, Heverlee, has also experienced a strong year of growth.

Sitting at number five on the list, and 48 on the overall listing, the brand was in the spotlight earlier this year as its De Kampioen competition opened to bartenders once more.

The initiative, which saw bartenders invited to one of eight sessions around Scotland where they tasted various Belgian beers before being taught the Heverlee perfect serve, gave bar staff the chance to win a trip to Belgium.

Estrella Damm, part of the Marston’s portfolio, rounded out the lagers in this year’s top ten high flyers, and came in at 59 overall.

Unsurprisingly, a gin – a category which has enjoyed another astounding boost in overall sales this year – has performed well in this year’s high flyers.

Diageo’s Tanqueray, which sits at number two on the list and now represents the 29th-biggest drinks brand in the Scottish on-trade in terms of value, has been the focus of a raft of investment, including two new varietals – Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla (made with Seville oranges) and Tanqueray Lovage, a limited edition savoury gin.

Fantinel and Oliver & Greg’s also made significant strides in the wine category over the course of the year, while Russian Standard climbed the vodka ranks, coming in at number eight on the high flyers list and 56 on the overall brands list in value terms.

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