SMIRNOFF HOLDS ON TO #1

SMIRNOFF HAS retained its title as the largest selling vodka in the world in 2O13, according to Drinks International’s Millionaires’ Club 2O14. Diageo’s 26.1 million case-brand reported 1% growth in volume sales last year, as 14.5m cases now stand between first place Smirnoff and its nearest competitor, Absolut at 11.4m. In a category where only half the million-case selling brands experienced any growth last year – 22 million-case brands reported decline – Pernod Ricard’s Absolut finished in second with 2% growth, while Khlibniy Dar held onto to third, despite reporting a double-digit loss for the third consecutive year. Alcohol Siberia Group’s Pyat Ozer and Global Spirits’ Khortytsa rounded off the top five with 6.4 million cases each, despite 9% and 18% declines respectively.