VnC Cocktails available throughout Georgia, USA

VnC Cocktails at NZTE, Singapore

Kourtney Kardashian's Beau, Off the Wagon With VnC!

Life & Style Weekly

Scott Disick may have promised Kourtney Kardashian that he would remain sober for her and their one year old son, Mason, but Scott, who admittedly just likes to have fun, is trying a more logical approach – responsible drinking.  Scott was spotted drinking VnC Cocktails, the award-winning premixed cocktails brand, while on vacation with his family in Bora Bora.  Staying sober was part of the deal if Scott wanted to win back his family following a bloody drunken scene in April of last year, but from the Keeping Up with the Kardashians trailer, it looks like Scott is back drinking, but trying to do so responsibly, kicking back on the sand with a Pacific Breeze from VnC.

FOOD NEWS, CEMARS Announcement

http://www.foodnews.co.nz/21144/vnc-cocktails-stirs-sustainability-in-to-mix/

June 22nd, 2011

Planet-conscious fashionistas in Manhattan, Moscow and Macau can now sip their Kiwi-made Vodka Mojitos knowing their classic drink from VnC Cocktails is certified sustainable, from a fragrant lime orchard to frosty glass.

Being able to track the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions related to its ready-to-serve drinks from tree to tumbler has allowed the hip exporter to become the first company in the world to gain CEMARS® product certification.

The new CEMARS (Certified Emissions Measurement And Reduction Scheme) product certification was a natural fit for VnC Cocktails, which exports to 27 countries and wants its key overseas markets to know its products are cool and sustainable.

Alex Badger, VnC Cocktails marketing manager says: “We are dedicated to providing consumers with all-natural products which have a low environmental impact. People who buy our cocktails and decision-makers throughout our supply chain are focused on reducing the environmental impact of the products they choose.”

Demonstrating commitment to reduce its carbon footprint through CEMARS is important to VnC and fits naturally with the company’s brand values, which include being preservative-free and using recyclable PET plastic packaging.

Gaining CEMARS required VnC Cocktails to conduct a full lifecycle analysis of its all-natural ingredients, and the resulting cocktail products which are shipped overseas.

“Having CEMARS certification will give us a competitive edge,” says Badger, ”particularly in markets such as Europe and the United Kingdom.”

Graham Carter, chief executive for the carboNZeroCertTM programme which developed CEMARS as an alternative option to its world-leading carbon neutral certification, says CEMARS streamlines the process for exporters to achieve credible GHG certification. “More countries are either legislating ways to measure carbon footprints of imports, or looking to. Global retail giants such as Walmart and Tesco have put a line in the sand saying ‘carbon label or show us your carbon scorecard, or we won’t show you our shelves’.”

Carter says the CEMARS product certification is expected to be popular with exporters in the food and beverage sector such as VnC Cocktails, and manufacturers of products such as plastics, bottling and skin care.

He says CEMARS product certification was added to the programme’s range of internationally recognised certification options because it provides an opportunity for companies to demonstrate the measurement and reduction of their products’ emissions before going on to, or instead of, gaining full carbon neutral certification. “It makes total economic sense. Cutting emissions will result in cost savings, and in most cases this outweighs the cost of obtaining the certification. A certified emissions measurement and reduction claim adds value to a brand and increases market access.”

Badger says VnC Cocktails recently secured a trial supply deal with the UK supermarket chain ASDA, and its pending CEMARS certification was an important factor in satisfying ADSA of its environmental responsibility.

CEMARS product certification is based on a scientific footprint measurement, aligned with international best practice (PAS 2050 and ISO 14067) and developed by the world’s first internationally accredited greenhouse gas certification scheme under ISO 14065.

To accomplish a global strategy, CEMARS has been licensed to UK firm Achilles Information Limited to target UK organisations; and the certification has proved popular, with 56 organisations having already achieved it and another 55 well on the way.

Licensees in Australia include Bureau Veritas, a leading independent certification body with 80,000 clients in more than 100 countries, and Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance, which has a growing network of climate change units and offices servicing more than 120 countries. CEMARS is also establishing itself in Chile and the UAE.

Drum, Dance, Drink! Hong Kong

The YAHK Association managed to raise around $60,000 that will assist in providing for Duvalld’s basic needs & a brighter future for him, and everyone he comes into contact with.

Congrats to the lucky winner who won a whole case of VnC!

NBR Food Industry Week, Certified Cocktails

“VnC Cocktails has gained CEMARS (Certified Emissions Measurement And Reduction Scheme) product certification, which required it to conduct a full lifecycle analysis of its all-natural ingredients.  The certification covers all VnC Cocktails that are exported to 27 countries.  It also fits with the company’s brand values, which include being preservative free and using recyclable PET plastic packaging.  “More countries are either legislating ways to measure carbon footprints of imports, or looking to.  Global retail giants such as Walmart and Tesco have put a line in the sand saying ‘carbon label or show us your carbon scorecard, or we won’t show you our shelves,” says Graham Carter, chief executive for the carboNZero programme, which developed CEMARS as an alternative to its carbon neutral certification.  VnC Cocktails’ Alex Badger says the company recently secured a trial supply deal with the UK supermarket chain Asda and CEMARS certification was an important factor in satisfying Asda of its environmental responsibility.”

VnC Talks Business

http://www.business.newzealand.com/china/en/buy-from-new-zealand/food-and-beverage/case-studies/vnc-cocktails/

New Zealand cocktail maker VnC sources the best fresh fruit from around the world – limes from the West Indies, pineapples from the Philippines, pomegranates from Turkey, cranberries from Chile, bananas from Ecuador, fat and juicy strawberries from New Zealand.

Since launching in 2007, VnC has made its unique take on the world’s most popular cocktails – from the sassy pomegranate Cosmopolitan to the minty vodka Mojito – in its New Zealand factory.

“New Zealand is renowned for a clean, green image and a reputation for producing fresh and all natural products. VnC Cocktails further endorse this ideal,” says Director Martin Fine.

The company uses no artificial preservatives, additives or colours. The drinks are 13.9 percent alcohol and sold in 1-litre, 700ml and 200ml plastic containers. The pre-mixed cocktails can be refrigerated or frozen. VnC’s ready-to-drink products make it easy to enjoy cocktails without the need for a stocked top shelf and a bartender’s flair.

VnC Cocktails’ first customer in China

Fine’s first customer in China was the food and beverage manager at the Hilton, where Fine was staying while hunting out stockists. That was the beginning of 2009 and by June that year the first shipment of product was on the water.

He expects to sell more than 100,000 cases of product into China in the next 12 months, specifically targeting KTV karaoke bars and hotels.

Indeed, if Fine has his way, the average Chinese karaoke bar will soon be serving ready-mixed passionfruit caprioska from New Zealand.

In other parts of the world, VnC hopes one of their cocktails might sit in the fridge in preparation for an evening drink, alongside a premium beer or New Zealand sauvignon blanc.

But in North Asia, the company’s strategy is on venues and developing a cocktail culture among the aspirational middle class.

VnC products are now sold in 25 countries, including Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States. They have won numerous awards including gold for the margarita, the banana daiquiri and the vodka, feijoa and apple cocktail at the Drinks International Magazine 2010 awards.

In three years of operation, VnC has enjoyed year-on-year growth of more than 250 percent.

“So, we’re growing pretty rapidly. Our aim is to be selling a million cases within five years from now.”

Fine, a lawyer and chartered accountant, is a director of Auckland-based VnC Cocktails. The company is the brainchild of Shane Kilgillen, one of the co-founders of New Zealand vodka brand 42 Below.

Gaining traction in Asia

The success of the VnC brand in Asia has also been evident in Taiwan where Simon Mitchell sells VnC’s products in his role as director of Wine Connection NZ Ltd’s Taiwanese branch.

He says Taiwanese consumers have been impressed with VnC Cocktails’ natural ingredients, funky packaging, fruity taste and the convenience of a pre-mixed shake and pour cocktail.

“From bustling nightlife to local tropical beaches and diverse mountain cultures, VnC Cocktails has been received positively by all and (is) gaining traction in famous Taipei nightclubs, beach bars and hotels throughout the island.”

VnC BET/Def Jam Party

VnC at Bonnaroo 2011, Tennessee

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a four-day, multi-stage camping festival held on a beautiful 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee every June. Bonnaroo brings together some of the best performers in rock and roll, along with dozens of artists in complementary styles such as jazz, Americana, hip-hop, electronica, and just about any contemporary music you can think of. In addition to dozens of epic performances, the festival’s 100-acre entertainment village buzzes around the clock with attractions and activities including a classic arcade, on-site cinema, silent disco, comedy club, theater performers, a beer festival, and a music technology village. For its peaceful vibe, near-flawless logistics, and unrivaled entertainment options, Rolling Stone magazine named this revolutionary entertainment experience one of the 50 moments that changed the history of rock and roll.

http://www.bonnaroo.com/

CMA Festival Nashville 2011