Waitrose & Partners has announced its debut in the non-alcoholic aperitifs category with the launch of Æcorn – a sister brand of the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit, Seedlip.
The aperitifs are available three variants: dry, bitter, and aromatic.
'Dynamic And Exciting'
Claire Warner, managing director of Æcorn Aperitifs, commented, "Since Seedlip’s launch, the world of non-alcoholic [beverages] has shown itself to be dynamic and exciting, and we hope that the introduction of Æcorn Aperitifs to Waitrose & Partners will now give everyone who is not drinking a seat at the table."
The drink, bottled and blended in the UK, is made of 100% English grown grapes such as Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay.
It is pressed early and blended with appetite-stimulating herbs, roots, and bitter botanicals, to form a range of bold, bittersweet and complex non-alcoholic aperitifs.
Change In Demand
In the past five years, the demand for low and no alcohol drinks have increased steadily in Waitrose.
Its online portal has seen an 82% year-on-year increase in searches for aperitifs compared with data from the previous year.
Head of drinks buying at Waitrose & Partners, Pierpaolo Petrassi MW, commented, "We know our customers are becoming more interested in no- and low-alcohol drinks, and the innovative flavours and techniques used in Æcorn will be able to offer them a premium non-alcoholic drinking experience."
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: European Supermarket Magazine.
