Fall flavors are rising
Sep. 14, 2016
Just like the leaves changing from green to yellow, orange and red, the passage of summer into fall heralds the return of some of America’s favorite flavors. Pumpkin-flavor alone generates over $360 million in sales each year* and that is just one of the ways you have to appeal to your customers’ tastes. Stock your shelves this season with an Autumnal cornucopia of new offerings, from spiced spirits to hearty lagers and velvety red wines.
The smell and taste of pumpkin and pumpkin spice are ubiquitous this time of year, and your customers cannot get enough. Overall, sales of pumpkin-flavored products have grown 80% since 2011** with no signs of stopping. Pumpkin is a versatile flavor, and pumpkin spirits are the perfect addition to fall cocktail menus. Sales of pumpkin beers, once considered an annual novelty, have grown more than 1500%* since 2006, thanks in part to high quality craft offerings that have raised the flavor’s profile among beer enthusiasts.
Since 1810, Oktoberfest has been synonymous with beer. In dozens of cities around the country, many of the estimated 46 million Americans of German descent will be celebrating the 206th Oktoberfest with traditional Märzen beers, and newer, less traditional additions to the Oktoberfest category. According to IRI, Oktoberfest beers generate up to 25% of the more than $19.6 billion*** in annual American craft beer sales. Adding some seasonal offerings to your beer fridge will help your business get a share of that Oktoberfest bounty and increase interest in your existing beer menu.
A little spice and a slow cooker can turn even the most basic red into a mulled wine masterpiece, warming your customers’ hearts as temperatures drop.
“This time of year, I always serve a nice red Burgundy like Marsannay or Savigny-les-Beaune and a hearty slow-cooked beef stew that has the same wine in the recipe,” recommends Breakthru Beverage Fine Wine Specialist Jeff Anderson.
This fall brings a world of dark, deep reds perfect for mulling or quaffing on their own. Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Beaujolais, Syrah and Grenache are some of the classic fall varietals that consumers love this time of year. Red blends are growing in popularity as well, with nationwide sales up from $1.15 billion in 2014 to $1.7 billion**** in 2015, according to Nielsen.
For those looking to explore a new varietals this season, Anderson suggests, “a nice Cru Beaujolais like Moulin-a-Vent. This wine comes from one of the 10 Cru villages and is usually on the bold side with nice spicy-raspberry notes and rich texture. Serve this wine at cellar temperature to highlight the delicious fruit flavors. These wines are great values and can be found for around $20.”
Breakthru Beverage Fine Wine Specialist Jennifer Tietz adds, “we have a wine from the Alentejo region of Portugal called Herdade Grande Colheita Seleccionada. Being a warmer region, the wine achieves a degree of ripeness that gives the fruit a cooked profile. A touch of oak gives it a flavor like spiced baked yellow apples—what could say fall more than that?”
Call your Breakthru Sales Consultant to make sure you're stocked up with the best fall flavors.
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* http://www.cnbc.com/2015/09/22/5-key-facts-about-pumpkin-spice-mania.html
** https://www.specialtyfood.com/news/article/report-sales-pumpkin-spiced-flavored-goods-exceed-500-million/
*** https://www.thestreet.com/story/13302872/1/10-oktoberfest-beers-worth-celebrating.html
**** http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2015/its-all-in-the-mix-red-blends-are-stirring-up-uswine-sales.html