Soft drinks

Check the fruit: one study found 70% of garnishes had bacterial growth

How to keep your garnishes clean and safe

By Nikkie Sutton

Keeping garnishes clean and ensuring bar staff keep their hands just as clean are two ways to prevent bacterial growth on the fruit that goes in drinks, according to experts.

Push: Vimto ceo Marnie Millard will push the brand further

Vimto CEO sees purple gold for soft drink's future

By Nicholas Robinson

Some see challenges that can not be overcome, while others, such as Marnie Millard, chief executive officer of multinational soft drinks business Nichols, see a chance to grow.

Pleasure principle: for some, paying for premium is a marker of success (image based on TAW4/iStock/Thinkstock.co.uk)

Drinks: what is premium?

By Andrew Don

Premium drinks offer potential for enhanced profits, but when is a drink ‘premium’ and when is it not? The answer isn’t always clear cut.

What's hot? Some of the top trends from Imbibe Live 2017

Imbibe Live 2017: top trends from the show

By Nicholas Robinson

Drinks trends that operators should look out for this year include the continued rise of gin, increased interest in foreign imports and rising interest in sparkling wines, five alcoholic drinks producers told The Morning Advertiser in this video.

Toadally ribbeting: the Vimtoad campaign will be available across a multitude of platforms

Vimto hops into summer with Vimtoad campaign

By Nikkie Sutton

Vimto has announced a £1.5m advertising campaign to run in cinemas, on demand and across digital and social platforms, which includes the soft drinks company’s Vimtoad character.

Perfect: new campaign to deliver a better serve

Coke launches profit-boosting perfect serve campaign

By Nicholas Robinson

Coca-Cola European Partners has invested a significant amount in the launch of its Perfect Serve Training and Reward programme, which is aimed at boosting operators' soft drinks profits.

Glass act: Schweppes' 'skittles' bottles were used in mainstream production

In Association with Schweppes

The first carbonated soft drink

By MA reports

Schweppes’ 234 years’ of history is potted with just as many twists and turns as an episode of Dynasty, featuring love affairs, treachery and the determination to succeed.

Bottlegreen unveils new flavours

Bottlegreen unveils new flavours

By Nikkie Sutton

SHS Drinks has announced two new flavours to its Bottlegreen sparkling pressé – Fruity Raspberry Lemonade and Refreshing Ginger Beer.

High five: we twist the G&T

In association with Diageo

5 twists on the classic gin and tonic

By Nicholas Robinson

Look at these five twists on the classic gin and tonic, perfect for summer cocktail menus, which can add a touch of excitement to your offer.

Trade fears: ALMR says health legislation should not hit pubs

ALMR: obesity solutions should not burden operators

By Nikkie Sutton

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has reiterated its message that the trade is keen to help tackle childhood obesity but without the burden falling on licensees.

Not so soft: soft drinks are good business for pubs

Britvic to pass on cost of sugar levy to customers

By Nicholas Robinson

Soft drinks giant Britvic, the manufacturer of products including Pepsi, will pass the cost of the sugar levy on to its customers, GB managing director Paul Graham has confirmed.

Health: consumer trends have helped soft drinks rise

Category update

Soft drinks are on the up

By Nikkie Sutton

The soft drinks category has seen a rise in volume and value according to statistics from CGA Strategy.

Nick Yates: Vimto ready to go big in the on-trade

Vimto poised to make big push into pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Soft-drinks maker and distributor Nichols is set to make a bigger push of its brands, including Vimto and Feel Good, into the pub trade.

Tim Martin: price cuts will demonstrate potential effect of VAT cut on hospitality sector

JD Wetherspoon to slash 7.5% off food and drink at 900+ pubs

By Daniel Woolfson

JD Wetherspoon (JDW) chairman Tim Martin will hack 7.5% off all food and drink prices for one day across his 900+ pub estate later this year to demonstrate the effect a VAT cut could have on the hospitality industry. 

Boom: craft soda sales 'set to explode'

Craft soda maker lands big Greene King deal

By Nicholas Robinson

Fledgling independent craft soda maker Dalston’s has landed a contract to supply 150 Greene King pubs in London, a sign the segment is primed to “blow up”.

Not canned: Coke has a role to play in a 'craft' market

How will Coke stay relevant in a craft world?

By Nicholas Robinson

A rise in the number of ‘craft’ soft drinks products on the market – an already roaring trend in beer, cider and spirits – won’t pose an immediate threat to Coca-Cola and is likely to lead to more innovation in the sector.

Off the wagon: men aren't supportive of women's choice to drink less

Health

Men push women off #DryJanuary wagon

By Nicholas Robinson

Men are more likely to push their female partners off the #DryJanuary wagon, goad them into breaking healthy drinking plans and consume more alcohol than the other way round.

Swap shop: how to swap alcohol for softs

Designated Driver

Soft swaps for alcoholic drinks

By Sara Hussein and Jane Peyton

This month, the on-trade will witness the highest sales of alcohol compared with the rest of the year. Can soft drinks equal the likes of beer, spirits and Champagne, or are they likely to wane during the festive cheer? Sara Hussein and Jane Peyton report

European Adventurer: Rob Harris moved to GB from the Netherlands

Designated Driver

Coke boss talks sugar levy and new products

By Nicholas Robinson

From the long-running Designated Driver campaign to the sugar levy proposal, Rob Harris has plenty on his plate as the ‘new boy’ at Coca-Cola European Partners

Hot and spicy: Adding heat and spice to your soft drinks in the colder months will keep things current

Soft drinks

Soft drinks heat up for the winter

By Sara Hussein

Summer will soon be fading and punters are going to be looking for drinks to excite them in the colder, darker months. While the alcohol categories have this covered, soft drinks are often associated with the summer only. Here’s how to keep your soft...

Yarr! Set sail for new Slingsby gin

New products

Navy-strength Slingsby gin

By Nicholas Robinson

TOP SHELF:Ignite your gunpowder even if it’s soaked in gin, says independent alcoholic drinks company Slingsby with its newly-launched 57% ABV navy-strength variant of its Artisan Gin.

Smooth not crunchy: Tailgate launches Peanut Butter Milk Stout in the UK

New Products

Peanut Butter Milk Stout lands in the UK

By Nicholas Robinson

TOP SHELF:This smooth (not crunchy) 5.8% ABV Peanut Butter Milk Stout has been imported into the UK for the first time by global drinks importer Heathwick from American craft brewery Tailgate Beer.

What are premium soft drinks?

Premium soft drinks

Hello Softie… you’re all grown up

By Nicholas Robinson

For many years children were the only connoisseurs of soft drinks, but the category is now more sophisticated than ever. Treat Softie with respect and in return you could be treated to margins as high as those available from alcohol

How is your premium soft drinks offer?

Premium soft drinks

10 things you need to know about premium soft drinks

By Nicholas Robinson

Soft drinks are no longer the preserve of children, adults are turning to the category in their thousands. Here are the top 10 things you need to know about premium soft drinks in pubs.

World's first: Diageo backs Seedlip alcohol-free spirit

Spirits

First non-alcoholic distilled spirit wins Diageo cash

By Nicholas Robinson

Diageo-backed Distill Ventures is to invest in the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit made by Seedlip, which is expected to be added to the spirit giant’s alcohol-free drinks portfolio.

Do you add water to your whisky?

World Whisky Day

Exclusive: Franklin & Sons launches whisky water

By Nicholas Robinson

Premium soft drinks maker Franklin & Sons has launched a new line of Scottish artesian waters – sourced from the Scottish Highlands – for the on-trade to mix with whisky.

New Schweppes mixers

Soft drinks

New-look mixers range for Schweppes

By Nicholas Robinson

Schweppes has revealed a new-look range of mixers, including tonic, bitter lemon and soda water, in a bid to make the brands stand out more as mixed drinks ingredients.

All Coke taste with no sugar

Soft Drinks

Coca-Cola drops Coke Zero brand for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar

By Nicholas Robinson

Coca-Cola Great Britain has replaced its Coke Zero brand of sugar-free cola with Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in a bid to get more consumers to choose sugar-free soft drinks, a move that will be backed by a £10m marketing campaign.