6 Alcohol Beverage Varieties Slated for Summer Grocery Sets

Unlike several other retail channels, grocery has a chance to push packaged alcoholic beverage brands out the door within a captive audience-type advantage. 

Several chains, such as Kroger’s Chicagoland-area Mariano’s stores, have carved out space for on-site alcohol consumption via dedicated small-footprint bar areas for shoppers and more, where they serve drinks while patrons take a break from shopping. Customers also have a chance to peruse the in-store alcoholic beverage displays positioned near bar areas.

It all makes for slam-dunk impulse sales opportunities. And this summer, grocery chains with or without that built-in advantage are capitalizing on the array of new innovations that have arrived at market.

Click ahead for seven recent debuts across beer, wine, canned cocktails and flavored malt beverages that have been integrated into various grocery beverage sets.

LandShark Lager (Waterloo Brewing Co.) is debuting three new promotional packs: Fin to Win Sweepstakes, Margaritaville Trip Giveaway and T-Shirt In Case. Packs provide buyers with a chance to win free brand gear and a tropical getaway. Cases of LandShark Lager also contain one of five limited-edition LandShark T-shirts, with new designs for the sixth consecutive year.

Made with real brewed Lipton tea, natural fruit flavors and triple-filtered premium malt as a base, Lipton Hard Iced Tea (Sunrise Brewing Co./Fifco USA) is non-carbonated in four flavors: Lemon, Peach, Half & Half and Strawberry. All contain 5% ABV. Lemon offers a tart lemon flavor with iced tea; Peach, a juicy peach flavor; Strawberry, balanced blend of ripe strawberry flavor; and Half & Half, lemonade and iced tea blend. The variety comes in 12-can variety packs or single-serve 24-ounce package in Lemon and Peach. 

Offering a bold and sweet experience, Tampico Hard Punch (Tampico Beverages Inc.) combines orange, tangerine and lemon and is noted for vibrant fruit-forward notes. Two flavors include Citrus and Island. Tampico Hard Punch contains 8% ABV and is available in 12-ounce cans in a four pack and 24-ounce single-serve cans.

Slingers Signature Cocktails (The Boston Beer Co.), a malt-based lineup of full-flavor cocktail-style drinks, are available in 24-ounce cans in three flavors: Bahama Mama, Peach Screwdriver and Pineapple Punch. At 8% ABV, Slingers drinks are carefully crafted to capitalize on adult RTD beverage category growth, particularly that of higher-ABV offerings, the supplier says. 

U.S. importer wine Barton & Guestier, Patriarche (BGPL) and producer of Veuve du Vernay unveils a new aluminum packaging for the 250-milliliter format of Veuve du Vernay Ice Rose. The aluminum bottle, adorned in the Veuve du Vernay signature pink hue, features an easy-to-open pull-ring cap allowing for easier consumption compared to traditional muselet commonly used with sparkling wines. Veuve du Vernay Sparkling Ice Rose is available for SRP of $5.99. 

Tajin joins forces with Bud Light (Anheuser-Busch) in the unveiling of Bud Light Chelada Tajin Chile Limon, which blends Tajin’s mild chili peppers, lime and sea salt with the taste and flavor of Bud Light. The combination offers a lager with high lime-flavor that’s also mildly spicy. Bud Light Chelada Tajin is available in 25-ounce cans.

Jim Beam Brands debuted a full-flavored RTD cocktail with Jim Beam Kentucky Coolers, done in partnership with Boston Beer. At 120 calories per serving and 5% ABV, the brand is offering varieties of 12-packs, 6-packs and single cans. Four flavors include Strawberry Punch, Black Cherry Lemonade, Sweet Tea Lemonade and Citrus Punch.