French version
Here’s some good news for Canadians who love AriZona Hard iced tea: The brand launched its half iced tea, half lemonade version in all provinces except Quebec on July 1.
Notice to Quebecers: AriZona Hard arrives in Quebec during roughly the same period. The brand’s Green Tea, Lemon Iced Tea and Peach Iced Tea flavors will be available in unique flavor cases as well as 12-can mixed cases.
The half and half version of AriZona Hard is made with a premium vodka base and is sold in a malt base at The Beer Store in Ontario. Boasting an alcohol content of 5% by volume, the 50/50 version is sold in 6 and 12-pack 355ml cans featuring AriZona’s distinctive vibrant checkerboard packaging as well as individual 472ml cans.
As Faye Houston, Head of Marketing for AriZona Hard, pointed out, “AriZona Hard has been a huge success since its launch in Canada and we know our consumers will be thrilled with another super tasty option perfect for summer.
The new flavor responds to a growing new trend in the iced tea niche.
AriZona Hard’s half and half flavor is already well known among soft drink lovers, being the third most popular in this niche.
We have worked closely with AriZona to ensure the flavor is as similar to the non-alcoholic brand as possible. »
Since its launch in 2020, AriZona Hard Tea has won over Canadians and shown exponential growth with the success of its Green Tea, Lemon Iced Tea and Peach Iced Tea flavors. The AriZona Hard brand is enjoying a favorable momentum with the launch of its half and half version.
Sales hit triple-digit year-over-year growth, outpacing the alcoholic iced tea category, which grew just 5.5% during the same period, according to internal data.
Faye Houston added to this effect, “This is a premium nostalgic brand. It’s not often that we can bank on such an incredible range of non-alcoholic flavors that our consumers identify with. AriZona is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year and the 1990s trend is prevalent among Gen Y and Z consumers. It’s a brand they know and love. »
The 1990s are indeed an integral part of AriZona Hard’s half-and-half marketing campaign that will deliver retro-inspired merchandise this summer, starting with the launch of Arizona Hard-branded bikes sold at just 0, $99.
The brand is also making a much-anticipated debut in Quebec this month with a malt-based version in three flavors. AriZona Hard Green Tea and AriZona Hard Lemon Iced Tea are available in cases of 12 x 473ml cans and cases of 6 and 12 x 355ml cans while AriZona Hard Peach Iced Tea is sold in cases of 12 cans of 473 ml and in cases of 6 cans of 355 ml.
To mark the occasion, AriZona Hard will present a flash show in Old Montreal on August 6 and 7 where consumers can book appointments with stylists, win branded products and taste AriZona Hard teas.
As Faye Houston said, “This is a market we’ve been trying to enter for a long time. The opportunities here are incredible, as the iced tea category outstrips all ready-to-drink beverages and is growing rapidly in Quebec. Very tasty drinks are really well received in Quebec and we are planning a great launch. »
This launch comes at a time when Molson Coors Canada is looking to increase its business volume in the field beyond beer. The new teas will be produced in-house for the first time as part of the company’s $100 million investment to support its ambitions in the category beyond beer. According to recent data, this investment has already helped Molson Coors exceed a 10% market share in the sparkling water niche, with its Vizzy and Coors Seltzer brands quickly winning over Canadian consumers.
Faye Houston adds, “This proves once again that we are investing in our capabilities and how committed we are to winning in the ready-to-drink beverage space. »