Growth Brands Awards

The Growth Brand Awards have recognized successful beverage alcohol brands since 1997. Growth Brands are divided into four categories (Fast Track, Rising Star, Established Growth Brands and Comeback Brands) for beer, wine and spirits. The wine and spirit winners are announced each year in the April/May issue of Cheers, while beer winners are announced in the October/November issue.

Congratulations to all the 2020 Wine and Spirits winners! We’ll begin collecting information for our Beer Growth Brands in June.

For more information about the Growth Brands program, please contact Manager of Information Services Marina Velez for more information at mvelez@epgmediallc.com or 763-383-4400 x2212.

AWARD CRITERIA

The winning brands are determined by the Beverage Information & Insights Group, which tracks case sales throughout the year. All awards are given based on sales the prior calendar year. To be eligible, wine and spirit brands must have met the following criteria:

Rising Stars: Must be less than five years old and have exhibited growth in each year of the brand’s lifetime, reaching at least 20,000 9-liter cases in 2019.

Fast Track: Must have exceeded 100,000 9-liter cases in 2019, with double-digit growth in each of the past three years. The brand must also be at least five years old.

Established Growth Brands: Must be a top seller, moving a minimum of 400,000 9-liter cases annually. It must also have grown in each of the past three years.

Comeback Brands: Previous award winners that have rebounded in sales to at least the previous award-winning level, following a recent decline.

Hall of Fame: Brands that have received at least 15 Growth Brand Awards over the years, in any category.

Beer, flavored malt beverage, hard soda/seltzer and cider Growth Brands are chosen based on a survey of the Beverage Information Group’s online audiences.

Hall of Fame: Brands that have received at least 10 Growth Brand Awards over the years (may only enter the Hall of Fame in a year they win another category).

GROWTH BRANDS HALL OF FAME

The following brands have been inducted into our Hall of Fame due to their sustained success and growth:

SPIRITS: Grand Marnier (2020); Juarez Tequila and Jameson (2018); Bombay Sapphire, Hennessy, Patron, Remy Martin, Sauza and Svedka (2017); Burnett’s Vodka, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Johnnie Walker, Ketel One, Maker’s Mark and SKYY (2015)

WINE: Ruffino (2020); Black Box (2019); Chateau Ste. Michelle (2016); J. Lohr (2015)

BEER: Bud Light, Coors Light, Fat Tire Amber Ale, Heineken (2019); Pabst Blue Ribbon (2016); Blue Moon, Corona Extra, Corona Light, Dos Equis, Modelo Especial, Pacifico, Shiner Bock, Stella Artois and Yuengling Lager (2015)

AWARDS COVERAGE

Below are links to the magazine features announcing each year’s winners, as well as coverage of the award receptions held each year as part of the WSWA and NBWA Conventions.

2020 Growth Brands Awards