The Coca‑Cola Company, Pernod Ricard team up on RTD cocktail
By Ibidunni Banjoko
In a bid to expand in the alcohol ready-to-drink space, The Coca-Cola Company has teamed up with Pernod Ricard, the French wine and spirits group, to develop Absolut & Sprite, a vodka-based ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail. The product is set to be launched next year (2024).
The cocktail will be made with Absolut, a premium vodka brand, and Sprite, the world’s most popular lemon-lime sparkling soft drink. It will be available in versions with Sprite and Sprite Zero Sugar, with an initial launch planned for select European countries in early 2024.
James Quincey, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company, expressed excitement about the new relationship with Pernod Ricard and the introduction of Absolut & Sprite as part of their expansion into the alcohol ready-to-drink space.
Alexandre Ricard, CEO of Pernod Ricard, emphasized that the project brings together two leading companies committed to offering consumers new experiences around premium products.
Vodka is a popular base for alcohol-ready-to-drink products, and lemon-lime soft drinks are commonly used mixers in pre-mixed cocktails. The Absolut & Sprite ready-to-drink packaging will feature two globally recognized trademarks. Absolut is a renowned premium vodka brand established in Sweden in 1879, while Sprite, a popular lemon-lime soft drink, is part of The Coca-Cola Company’s global portfolio.
The cans will include clear responsibility symbols indicating that the drink is intended for consumers of the legal drinking age. The alcohol beverage volume (ABV) for Absolut & Sprite ready-to-drink will adhere to responsible marketing practices and vary depending on the market but is expected to meet the global benchmark of 5% ABV.
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