Vodka News Ladoga Group’s Imperial Collection Gold positioned for duty free growth Vodka lovers generally want their favored brand to be authentic and high-quality, and Ladoga Group, based in the iconic Russian city of St. Petersburg, has been garnering accolades from the industry and consumers alike for its unique Imperial Collection Gold. This unique Russian vodka, distributed within Russia since 2003 as Czar’s Gold, is famous for a production process that includes a final filtration through membranes of pure golden thread. Since its successful re-launch in foreign markets as Imperial Collection Gold, the brand has become an icon in the Russian super premium vodka subcategory. Due to superb packaging and the finest quality ingredients, the brand has found a home in high-
end clubs, restaurants and hotel chains in Europe and the Americas. China and Australia are new targets, says Ladoga Group. Official launch parties are now being planned and will be announced later this year. Though Ladoga Group admits that the brand’s availability in duty free at the moment is limited, the Group is confident that the product is perfect for the industry given its shelf standout and quality design cues. “Duty free operators in Moscow and St. Petersburg rate it as the best selling vodka with their customers,” the company says. In fact, Ladoga Group is already in talks with a number of key duty free operators to have Imperial Collection Gold listed in store with a luxury gift set that includes a vodka decanter and four shot
Imperial Collection Gold’s gift pack is one of a kind and brandowner Ladoga Group feels it is perfect for traveling consumers searching for a high-end vodka
glasses made from Venetian glass. The decanter is topped with Swarovski crystals and packed in a Faberge Easter Eggshaped box. Giving new meaning to the concept of luxury, all decorative elements, as well as the eagle surmounting the egg, are gilded with 24carat gold. In fact, Imperial Collection Super Premium Vodka in a Pearl & Ruby Faberge Egg was recognized by the Beverly Hills International Spirits Awards 2012 with a Double Gold Medal.
Absolut releases Denim, new GTR limited edition gift pack From March 4, Absolut Denim is being launched in Changi International Airport in Singapore and then rolled out in selected international airports worldwide in April through July. Absolut Denim is the new innovative venture building on the heritage of Absolut’s creative collaborations with leading cutting edge creatives, this time with celebrated Brooklyn based edgy denim designer Loren Cronk. She has designed a perfectly fitted denim second skin gift pack out of which the iconic bottle slips with ease, elegance and swagger, street chic and cool. On the inside, the denim skin has a high tech shield with supreme cold preserving capacity. Furthermore, the
skin has a QR code which, when swiped with your smartphone, takes you into Absolut Drinkspiration, a world of exciting classic and innovative new generation cocktails, exploring unrivalled mixability qualities. “Exciting creative collaborations have always been a core source of energy for Absolut in our constant strive to enter new dimensions in our brand evolution,” says Anders Olsson, Director of The Absolut Company Global Travel Retail. “Loren Cronk is just the kind of gifted artist, creator and entrepreneur that has the capacity to push boundaries, which is what Absolut is all about.”
Absolut Denim is a collaboration with celebrated Brooklyn-based edgy denim designer Loren Cronk
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THE AMERICAS DUTY FREE & TRAVEL RETAILING APRIL 2013