Make sure you feature in the next issue of Drinks Industry Ireland

In our upcoming September / October issue, we have curated a selection of compelling features to align with current market trends. The deadline for editorial/images is 8 September. The features for the next issue are:

Craft Beers & Cider

The closing down of the on-trade during Covid meant that online & off-trade proved a lifeline for many craft breweries. In some cases they even thrived. As a result, with the on-trade’s reopening, there’s new demand for craft. Local breweries are part of the fabric of their communities, providing positive impacts from an economic, social & environmental perspective to the surrounding regions. We review the present market for craft beers.

Irish Whiskey

The value of Irish whiskey exports to the all-island economy crossed the €1 billion threshold for the first time in 2022, according to the Irish Whiskey Association. Furthermore, the Irish whiskey distilleries around the island of Ireland attracted 677,000 visitors in 2022, adding significantly to Irish tourism. There is a considerable and growing appetite for Irish whiskey both home and abroad. We look at what’s new in this ever-expanding category.

North American Whiskey & Bourbon

Between 2018 and 2021 sales of American Whiskey here decreased in value by 14% from $34.2 million to $29.4 million according to Euromonitor figures due to the closure of the on-trade during covid. Now that normal trade has resumed and with the cessation of EU tariffs on American whiskeys and Bourbons, we see an upward trajectory. We look at the most popular brands making waves at present.

Hot Beverages

Barista style coffee and herbal teas are now an important element of every on-trade business. According to Amárach research, “The popularity of coffee among Irish adults is clear with three quarters saying they drink coffee – perhaps more surprisingly is that nearly one in 10 of these tell us they drink five or more cups a day”. This should prove a wakeup call for those pubs and restaurants not already broadening their hot beverage offering in the mornings and afternoons. We look at the right brands to stock for the on-trade.

Shots – what’s out there

What’s good about a shot is that there’s no such thing. Who buys just the one shot? No, the shots market marks an end of the evening or the beginning of festivities – and the best thing about them is that they’re bought in multiples, even better for the publican’s bottom line.