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A spirits company has signed a deal to use NFC technology to help promote one of its tequila brands during soccer season.

NFC marketing company Thin Film Electronics partnered with Brown-Forman to design smart bottles and connected coasters as part of the el Jimador tequila campaign.

El Jimador sponsored the Mexican National Soccer team’s 2018 US tour prior to arriving at the FIFA World Cup, and the omni-channel “Soccer Moments” campaign is believed to be the industry’s largest NFC-related activation for a tequila brand.

El Jimador incorporated NFC tags in custom bottle-neckers and branded coasters.

When tapped with a smartphone, customers can instantly submit their favourite soccer story for a chance to win $25,000, custom jerseys, and other prizes.

The NFC tags integrate with Thinfilm’s CNECT Cloud Platform and enable el Jimador marketers to view real-time tapping activity, analyse campaign performance, and uncover actionable insights.

“It has become increasingly common for leading brands like el Jimador to position NFC as a key enabler within major omnichannel marketing initiatives,” Davor Sutija, CEO of Thinfilm, said.

Elsewhere, Brazilian spirit brand Catuaba Selvagem has introduced special bottles for the FIFA World Cup.

In a move that is a nod to a musical instrument synonymous with the World Cup in South Africa in 2010, the bottles turn into vuvuzelas.

When the contents have been consumed, they simply fit a doser, unscrew the bottom and use to make as much noise as they can.

Food & Drink Business

More than 80 distillers from across New South Wales and the ACT will meet in Sydney on 25 November for the inaugural NSW & ACT Distillers Conference, where the industry will formally launch Spirits NSW.

The federal government has announced the inaugural members of the National Food Council, the first step in developing its national food security strategy, Feeding Australia. The council includes representatives from across the food system and will play an advisory role to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry minister.

Queensland foodservice wholesaler Prime Cut Meats has been acquired by Andrews Meat Industries (AMI), the family-managed business that forms part of JBS Australia. The move expands AMI’s protein supply capabilities in Queensland and northern New South Wales.