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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

Gold Coast brewery, Black Hops, has entered administration for the second time, with an urgent sale campaign underway for the business.

In the final chapter of court action regarding the 2020 collapse of Freedom Foods Group, the Federal Court has found former managing director and CEO, Rory Macleod, breached his duties as a director and officer, and failed to take all reasonable steps to secure the company’s compliance with its financial reporting obligations.

Australia’s food and beverage manufacturing industry is converging on Melbourne this week for foodpro 2026, the country’s leading trade event for processing, packaging and innovation. Held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 26-29 July, foodpro 2026 will be opened at 10am on Sunday 26 July by Victorian Minister for Industry and Advanced Manufacturing and Minister for Skills and TAFE, Colin Brooks.