Tonics division title taken by Fever-Tree

Fever-Tree’s original Tonic Water volume and value rates were markedly higher than it’s sibling, with £45.3m and 41,846 hectolitres towering over the Light Tonic’s £28.1m value and 27,212 hectolitres in The Drinks List - top brands to stock in 2022​.

Fever-Tree’s Light Tonic saw the lowest percentage change in volume and value, at 33.8% and 32.8% respectively, showing customers were watching their waistlines.

Warning earlier in year

In July, Fever-Tree warned its margins could take a hit from a spike in global transport and warehousing costs.

The brand said sales had risen in the six months to the end of June, but cost pressures were impacting profitability which had already taken a hit in the pandemic.

A Fever-Tree spokesperson told the Financial Times​: “While we anticipate some margin improvement next year, we believe logistic cost headwinds will continue alongside input cost increases on raw materials and product costs.”

The category’s only change was a switch between Fever Tree’s Light Tonic and Schweppes’ between second and third place, with a slight margin of 2,173 hectolitres and £3.3m between the pair’s volume and value rates.

Volume and value plummet

Schweppes settled in the middle-placing spots of third and fourth, with its classic Tonic plummeting heavily from 45.6% in volume and 45.4% in value from 25,039 hectolitres and £24.8m.

The company’s Slimline Tonic saw a small drop at 38.4% in volume and 37.4% in value, again revealing a preference for low-sugar options.

There were significant volume and value drops across the board, with fifth-scoring Britvic falling hardest at 46.1% in volume and 46.2% in value from last year.

In volume and value terms, this meant Britvic saw a sharp drop from 23,116 hectolitres and £19.6m last year, to 12,449 hectolitres and £10.5m in value this year.

• All data provided by CGA for the 12 months to 9 October 2021​​