Dive Brief:
- Campari America, the owner of Skyy Vodka, is bringing its Skyy Vodka and Soda ready-to-drink cocktails to the U.S., according to a Tuesday press release.
- The canned cocktails, made with real vodka, are available in lemon and elderflower or lime and mint flavors.
- Skyy joins other major liquor brands, such as Captain Morgan rum and Absolut vodka, in exploring the growing RTD beverage space.
Dive Insight:
As the RTD space expands, drinkers are looking for more premium offerings, according to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis. This includes “using named spirits categories and premium ingredients,” two boxes the new Skyy product checks.
These drinks can also appeal to those who want alcohol but seek a healthier way to drink. Skyy’s canned drinks are gluten free, vegan and contain 90 calories each.
"Since its inception, SKYY has been dedicated to crafting the most exquisite vodka possible. This commitment extends seamlessly to our carefully curated canned cocktails," said Mark Watson, senior category director at Campari America.
Ready-to-drink alcohol has been booming, with growth expected to amount to more than 14% per year through 2030, according to data from Vantage Market Research. And the convenience channel is particularly strong for these types of beverages, with c-stores seeing 14% year-over-year growth in RTD cocktail sales in 2023 –- more than twice that of other outlets.
Spirits-based cocktails are more limited than malt-based RTDs thanks to only about 22% of states allowing their sale in places like c-stores and grocers. The Skyy vodka-based drinks will initially roll out in California, Florida and Texas.
