ARTERRA WINES: Kristina Kearby
Kristina Kearby
National planogram specialist
Arterra Wines Canada
Based on your data, insights and experience, what’s trending for summer 2025?
With California wines off shelf, we are seeing a flight to Canadian brands, VQA sales are up almost 60% across the wine market as consumers look to local. Sparkling wine continues to be very popular with consumers finding ways to enjoy it in a mimosa at brunch or as the first drink of the evening, 2025 will be the summer of sparkling as consumers take their favourite holiday sparkling wines into summer.
Which of your products do you anticipate being hot sellers this summer?
Saintly Rose. This premium VQA Rose is dry and approachable, perfect for back yard BBQs and summer evenings at home. This brand is a hit with millennials so it’s a great option to attract a younger demographic to your store.
Any new innovations in the mix?
We have noticed that larger format wines are popular with convenience store shoppers, especially in areas close to cottage country. To support this, we have just launched Jackson-Triggs Proprietors’ Selection (the #1 wine brand in LCBO, grocery and C&G) in a 1.5L format in seven different varietals. This provides value for your shoppers and higher profits for your store.
What are the outside influences shaping the space? Ie, thirst for zero sugar, lower carb etc.?
Lower sugar continues to be a key consumer driver across many categories and wine shoppers in convenience have proved that this is no exception. The Bask brand with 0g of sugar per serve is the #3 overall wine brand in the Ontario convenience channel and now with California wines being off the shelf we have seen sales for the Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay SKUS explode.
This is the first sales summer for convenience retailers. What advice can you share in terms of seasonal demand, sales cycles, category management, planograms etc.?
We know Rose wines peak during the summer selling season so consider adding extra facings to stay in stock. Make sure you have a selection of white, rose and sparkling wine in the cooler, the average price point of a bottle of wine in C&G is 3.4-times higher than that of beer so this is an area that can really drive profits. If cooler space is tight, consider prioritizing your more premium ($15+ wines) in the cooler to force your customers to trade up if they are looking for a chilled option.
How are you partnering with or supporting convenience retailers this summer?
We committed to direct delivering to our convenience store partners from day one and we remain committed to doing so. We know that c-stores have limited space, so they need small and frequent deliveries which is what our logistics partners have done a great job with. Through the turbulence or tariffs we have supported our convenience partners with flexible planograms as USA wines moved off shelf and retailers chose to add more Canadian product.
In terms of perfect pairings, what other convenience items go well with you offering?
Keep it simple! Chocolate and red wine, potato chips with white wines and candy with Rose. And of course, sparkling wine with orange juice or grapefruit juice for a morning mimosa.
Anything else you would like to add?
We are excited by how much retailers and consumers have embraced wine in the convenience channel here in Ontario, we are looking forward to seeing how the first summer with bev alc in C&G goes.
RETURN TO TASTES LIKE SUMMER Q&A SERIES
