The award-winning brand continues in its
endeavor for inclusivity, offering innovation
for consumers who are blind or have low vision
NEW
YORK, Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Ketel
One Family Made Vodka is thrilled to announce its latest
innovation: an accessible on-bottle QR code (AQR). The addition,
available on its recently launched ready-to-serve cocktails, allows
easier identification of products and access to product information
for consumers who are blind or have low vision, aligning to Ketel
One's unwavering commitment to deliver an exceptional spirit to all
cocktail drinkers. As the first spirit brand to enable this
capability, Ketel One is leading by example to help create a more
inclusive environment for consumers nationwide.
Set to be on shelves this month, the AQRs will be found on Ketel
One Vodka's bottled Espresso Martini and Cosmopolitan products from
The Cocktail Collection. These new enhanced QR codes can be
detected by class-leading accessibility apps such as Microsoft
Seeing AI, Be My Eyes and Envision. When a user who is blind or has
low vision scans the AQR code on product, they unlock distance
detection and access to product information. Upon scanning, the
user's phone announces the product category and its physical
distance from the user through text-to-speech and enhanced font
size. The app also detects key information including product
details, specific allergens and can even provide recipe
suggestions, all of which would normally require additional, visual
assistance to obtain. The AQR also serves as another avenue to
easily connect all consumers to a brand's digital presence whether
it be an interactive AR campaign or a simple website landing
page.
According to Zappar, the company that created the AQR and their
charity partners at the Royal National Institute of Blind People
(RNIB), more than 315 million people around the world are blind or
have low vision and "nine out of 10 of those people find it
difficult to access crucial information on product packaging." To
combat this and to benefit this community, Ketel One Family Made
Vodka is paving the way as the first spirits brand to incorporate
this technology.
Since its inception in 1983, Ketel One has made it a priority to
not only provide a better vodka, but also better cocktail
experiences - from the time of purchase to the actual mixology all
the way to the first sip. In establishing these on-bottle AQRs,
Ketel One continues its pursuit of advancing cocktail culture as it
has for generations.
Carl Nolet Jr., 11th generation
family member expresses his pride in this innovation: "After
learning about emerging technology in this space nearly two years
ago, we were inspired to see how we could better provide product
information to consumers who are blind or have low vision. And I
believe we found it! We are excited to be the first spirit brand to
launch this technology as it's A powerful yet simple way to provide
greater choice for all consumers through accessible product
information. This addition to Ketel One's Cocktail Collection
packaging will make the product more accessible, which is something
we are always striving for as we continue to innovate and evolve as
a brand."
Starting this month, consumers 21+ can find the new packaging on
shelves at liquor stores nationwide. Diageo hopes this
accessibility milestone will lead the way for more spirit brands to
follow suit, making celebrations more accessible for everyone,
every day. For more information, please visit KetelOne.com or
follow along on Instagram @KetelOne_US.
Ketel One Family Made Vodka reminds everyone to sip
responsibly.
About Ketel One Family Made Vodka
Ketel One Family
Made Vodka is inspired by more than 330 years and 11 generations of
the Nolet Family's distilling expertise. Ketel One is crafted using
only the highest-quality ingredients, including 100% non-GMO grain
and is gluten-free. That quality has led to global recognition with
Drinks International as one of the top trending vodkas in
the world's best bars, a top ten bartenders' choice of vodka, and
one of the best-selling vodkas in the world's best bars (Drinks
International Brands Report, 2023). Inspired by the passionate
pursuit of excellence in their craft, Ketel One continues to toast
to the artists, trailblazers and innovators in the entertainment
industry. Follow Ketel One Family Made Vodka on Instagram for
additional inspiration and information: @KetelOne_US.
About Diageo North America
Diageo is a global
leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands
including Johnnie Walker, Crown
Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan's
whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Casamigos,
DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas,
Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO)
and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their products are
sold in more than 180 countries around the world.
For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and
performance visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global responsible
drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives,
and ways to share best practices. Follow on Twitter and Instagram
for news and information about Diageo North America:
@Diageo_NA.
Media Contacts:
Diageo NA
Sydney Farrar
Sydney.Farrar@diageo.com
Bullfrog + Baum
Jenna Kaplan / Jamie Weber
KetelOneVodkaPR@bullfrogandbaum.com
About Zappar
Zappar is a UK technology company
focused on immersive technologies, spanning hardware, software,
accessibility and creative services. Zappar's ecosystem includes;
Zapworks, a complete XR platform for deploying rich 3D experiences
to the web, including AR, VR and WebXR across handsets and
headsets. Zapbox, the world's most affordable mixed reality headset
and Zappar Creative Studio, a global leader in delivering
best-in-class immersive campaigns and strategy for the world's
biggest brands. More recently, Zappar launched Zapvision to make
access to information on product packaging a basic human right by
providing brands with a single Accessible QR code solution. This
unique blend of solutions all under one roof enables businesses to
scale immersive experiences more affordably across different use
cases, teams and devices. Partners include Nestle, Unilever,
Pfizer, H&M, Disney, PwC, AstraZeneca, LEGOLAND, PepsiCo,
Mondelez, Atlanta United and many more.
About Be My Eyes
Launched in 2015, Be My Eyes has
created a global community that connects people who are blind or
have low vision with volunteers, digital assistants and company
representatives. Worldwide more than 690,000 people who are blind
or have low-vision use the innovative Be My Eyes app through their
smartphone to get visual description when they need it. Through Be
My Eyes, people can connect with more than 7.6 million volunteers.
Or use the latest AI image describer. Or connect with dedicated
company representatives to help with their products. The app
harnesses the power of generosity, technology, and human connection
so that people who are blind or have low vision have more
accessible ways to engage with a world sometimes not built with
them in mind. Be My Eyes is available in more than 150 countries
worldwide and its volunteers speak more than 180 languages. The app
is free and available for both iOS and Android.
About Zapvision
Zapvision is a free-to-download
app and royalty-free SDK that helps people who are blind and
partially sighted to access product information on packaging.
Zapvision's Accessible QR solution and scanning technology enable a
one-code solution that can be scanned and detected at 5x the
distance of a standard printed QR code and is accessible to
everyone, no matter their level of eyesight.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Dave Mather,
Dave.mather@zappar.com
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SOURCE Ketel One Family Made Vodka
