• by Karlene Lukovitz  @KLmarketdaily, April 9, 2012

Low-calorie Skinnygirl Cocktails had the fastest volume growth last year in percentage terms, according to data released by Technomic’s Adult Beverage Resource Group.

Skinnygirl sold 586,000 9-liter cases last year, a 388.3% jump in volume over 2010, the research group’s 2012 SpiritsTAB Report shows. Beam Global acquired Skinnygirl from its creator, reality TV star Bethenny Frankel, last year. 

Familia Camarena Tequila, marketed by E&J Gallo subsidiary Alto Spirits, ranked #2 in growth, up 233.3%, to 250,000 9-liter cases.

Others in the top five: Malibu Prepared Cocktails from Pernod Ricard USA (up 158.6%, to 150,000 9-liter cases); Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey from Sazerac (up 157.1%, to 180,000 cases); and Rökk Vodka from Diageo (up 122.2%, to 200,000 cases).

2011 was a healthy year for spirits overall, the Technomic data show. Total spirits volume grew 3.5%, while volume among the top 250-selling brands showed slightly slower growth of 3.1%. Those top brands accounted for 88% of the country’s total 199.7 million 9-liter cases, and 89% of total retail spirits sales.

According to the Distilled Spirits Council, U.S. spirits sales increased 4% last year, to $19.9 billion, to account for nearly 34% of the country’s total alcoholic beverages market.

On a category basis, vodka brands continue to dominate the top 250, followed by cordials and liqueurs, rums and straight whiskies.

2010’s largest brands -- Smirnoff, Bacardi, Captain Morgan, Jack Daniel’s and Absolut -- maintained their positions in 2011.
However, smaller brands realized significant growth. The bottom 50 within the top 250 achieved overall volume growth of 6.5%, and expansion among brands not making the top 250 actually outpaced that of those leading brands, according to Donna Hood Crecca, senior director of Technomic’s Adult Beverage Resource Group.

“Some of the more established top 250 brands were affected by the recession and may now be experiencing a somewhat slower growth pace than prior to the recession,” says David Henkes, VP and head of the Technomic group.”Others, however, are enjoying tremendous gains as they tap into various consumer trends.”

“Among the fastest-growing spirits brands, we see a definite shift toward sweet and also spicy flavors, with flavored vodka, rum and whiskey products gaining steam,” Hood Crecca reports. “This is a change from the savory flavor profiles that had been popular in recent years.”

In addition, particularly within the vodka category, innovative, value-priced products are emerging even as several established premium- and ultra-premium priced brands continue to growth, she notes.