Impact’s “Hot Prospect” Awards Showcase Industry’s Rising Stars

THE DRINKS BUSINESS HAS BEEN FACED with numerous challenges this year, but one thing that’s in no short supply is the creativity and drive of ambitious marketers intent on leveraging innovation to unearth the
future stars of the industry. Impact’s annual “Hot Prospects” awards recognize the fruits of those efforts—and the up-and-coming brands poised to become household names in the years ahead.
To qualify as Hot Prospects, brands must have achieved at least 15% depletions growth for 2019, while also showing consistent growth in the two preceding years. For spirits and imported wines, brand volumes must be between 50,000 and 200,000 cases, while domestic wines are between 50,000 and 250,000 cases.
This year, 37 spirits brands from a wide variety of categories have earned Hot Prospect honors. Among the recently announced awardees, 23 made the grade for the first time and five of the brands earned the honor in their first year on the market.
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Two brands focused on distilling vodka from corn made the Hot Prospects list. Nue, from Southwest Spirits, is a Texas-made corn vodka that reached 150,000 cases on 57.9% growth. The brand has had an explosive four years, growing from 8,000 cases in 2016 to become one of the largest Hot Prospects for 2019.

Author: Shane English
Publication: Shanken’s Impact Newsletter