TV presenter Charlie Sloth partial owner of Au Vodka
In the last five months, the fastest growing UK alcohol brands including NIO Cocktails, Au Vodka, Ace + Freak, and Duppy Share have launched same-day and one-hour eco-friendly delivery on their online store thanks to UK-based logistics startup bodo. With eCommerce alcohol sales increasing by 43% between 2019 and 2020, due to the pandemic, the latest trend sees brands upgrading to a faster, better and greener online delivery experience (Drinks International / IWSR Report). The ready-to-drink (RTD) category, offered by Ace + Freak, is also rapidly expanding, with the RTD volume share expected to double in the next five years in top markets with ready-to-drink products anticipated to command 8% of Total Beverage Alcohol by 2025.
These market-leading brands have seen rapid success with NIO cocktails growing their sales from 700k in 2019 to 4m in 2020, AU Vodka has seen eCommerce growth of 10,000% since their launch and Duppy Share has raised £2m to grow in the UK. They’re now looking to further bolster their eCommerce growth by bringing customers instant delivery.
The latest generation of “online” millennial and Gen Z alcohol consumers has seen eCommerce become a major source of alcohol sales. According to a recent report by Profitero and Nielsen, 21% of UK consumers have bought alcohol online. Now, alcohol brands are upgrading their online store checkout to include 1-hour and same-day delivery thanks to London-based startup bodo. There are 3 main reasons alcohol brands are upgrading:
Alcohol brands are acquiring new customers with faster and more convenient delivery options, and turning them into loyal subscribers. According to a report by McKinsey, 46% of customers have abandoned their carts due to slow delivery.
Using bodo’s live map order tracking and branded Whatsapp / email communications, brands can create a memorable delivery experience which inspires 5-star reviews and retains customers.
Brands are also future-proofing their eCommerce checkout by adding sustainable delivery options. The average medium delivery emits 40 plastic bottles worth of CO2, and with 44% of consumers choosing to buy from brands with a clear commitment to sustainability, more sustainable delivery is a key priority for many brands in 2023.
Launched in 2022 by former Deliveroo and CloudKitchens executives, London-based bodo enables brands to add 1-hour and same-day sustainable delivery directly to their eCommerce store checkout. Once selected, customers receive branded communications on their Whatsapp or email and live order-tracking information. This is done with bodo’s easy-to-use eCommerce plug-in and central facilities in London.
The fastest growing UK brands are already using bodo to grow their eCommerce channel, including category leaders TRIP (CBD), Lucky Saint (non-alcoholic), Cult Gaia (fashion), Misfits and Free Soul (supplements), Madhappy (clothing), Nails.inc (cosmetics), SURI (electric toothbrush), and Ripple (nicotine-free vapes). Now, alcohol brands including Au Vodka, NIO Cocktails, Duppy Share, and Ace+Freak have taken notice.
“Consumer appetite for direct-to-consumer (D2C) services is growing and we’re thrilled to be working with some of the most exciting alcohol brands in the sector to meet this demand. We enjoy bodo being the catalyst that enables these unique brands to achieve their incredible potential and develop a unique rapport with their customers that they couldn’t otherwise through traditional retailers.” Jack Green, Co-Founder of bodo
“bodo has helped Au Vodka to bolster our e-commerce offering even further. Introducing a new, innovative delivery proposition for our customer base, allows us to take full advantage of the benefits of having a direct-to-consumer business model. Sustainable same-day and instant delivery for alcohol specifically have so many benefits for our consumer base, and it shows with our brand loyalty.” Tommy Roberts, eCommerce Manager Au Vodka
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