While solid growth continues in mainstay vodka, the boost from the
flavor business is sweet and significant.
By Thomas Henry Strenk
trawberry Shortcake, Orange Cream Pop, Iced Cake, Candy Cane, Sugar Cookie, Pumpkin Spice, Root
Beer Float, Rainbow Sherbet. When it comes to vodka flavors, liquor shelves seem to be turning into
dessert aisles. Sweet expressions are not the only news coming out of the ever-growing vodka behemoth.
SKUs of all sorts crowd retailers' shelves. Low-cal offerings are emerging, new brands establishing
footholds, off-beat niches finding eager-to-experiment consumers. The category is vast and varied
enough to accommodate virtually every taste, trend and interest.
Vodka accounts for approximately one-third of all spirits volume in the U.S., according to the Beverage
Information Group's 2013 Handbook Advance, with 2012 volume was up 5.6% to 70.2 million cases nationally.
According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the vodka category accounted for 26%
of all spirits revenues nationally, with 2012 revenues gaining 5.1% to $5.5 billion. The largest price segment, value
brands, grew a respectable 1.7% to 26.6 million cases, while premium vodka jumped 5.7% in volume, and the superpremium expressions increased a significant 10% in volume and 9.5% in revenues, according to DISCUS.
"Vodka is an extremely dynamic category in the U.S. market; it continues to move up strongly, tirelessly and
S
16 • Beverage Dynamics • www.beveragedynamics.com • May/June 2013
