Soft Drinks

Soft sell: Coca-Cola Zero Sugar has enjoyed huge volume and value boosts in the past year

Drinks List 2020

On-trade sales of sugar-free Coca-Cola and Pepsi rise by £168m

By Stuart Stone

According to figures from The Morning Advertiser’s latest Drinks List, the combined sales value of sugar-free soft drinks Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and Pepsi Max rose by around 75% – or £168m – year-on-year.

New event: exhibition will showcase the low-and-no alcohol sector

Low 2 No ABV show launched

By Alice Leader

Leading media business company William Reed has revealed it will be holding a new trade show designed to support the development of the low-to-no alcohol sector.

Tops: The biggest-selling brands in the UK on-trade

The Drinks List: Top Brands to Stock 2019

By Nicholas Robinson

With so much conflicting research in the market and varying opinions from analysts, The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks List 2019 reveals exactly what is going on with sales at the bar.

Next big thing? Real Kombucha founder David Begg talks about fermented tea drink kombucha

Kombucha, a pub staple?

By Emily Hawkins

A different, softer type of fermented drink could be set to take UK pubs by storm as chains large and small explore the potential of Kombucha.

Straight on softs: Jamie Shipperly from Coca-Cola European Partners advises operators how to make the most of soft drinks

MA500

How to get your soft drinks offer right

By Nikkie Sutton

The soft drinks market is worth more than £14bn and operators need to ensure they are tapping into this with a strong offer, the MA500 crowd heard in Sheffield today (13 September).

Cost price: almost half (46%) of consumers say price impacts their decision to drink 'soft drinks' when out, according to CGA

Moving soft drinks upmarket

By Andrew Don

Publicans do not have to be soft to give non-alcoholic drinks a hard push but they should do it with panache.

Advertising drive: Diet Coke has been rebranded

Coke launches three new products in the UK

By Nicholas Robinson

Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola will launch three new drinks in the UK, backed by a multimillion-pound marketing campaign, in a bid to become what it calls a “total beverage company”.

On the up: premium soft drinks sales value is growing almost 28% year on year

Key soft drinks trends for pubs

By Nikkie Sutton

Technology, appealing to a broad range of ages and personalisation are just three of the trends operators need to ensure their soft drinks offer pulls in the punters.

Changing face: the redesign focuses on Fentimans heritage

Fentimans unveils £1.2m new look

By Nikkie Sutton

Soft drinks supplier Fentimans has overhauled its image with a £1.2m rebrand, the biggest in its history.

Cheers: Make sure you look after the designated drivers this Christmas as well! (Image: ImageegamIstock/thinkstock.co.uk)

How pubs can look after designated drivers over Christmas

By Georgina Townshend

The number of drink-driving casualties is on the decline, and the amount of soft-drink options are on the up. This combination provides opportunities for pubs and means the heroes of Christmas – the designated drivers – can be looked after during the...

Premium soft drinks still popular despite 'sugar levy'

Premium soft drinks still popular despite 'sugar levy'

By James Beeson

The looming sugar levy and changes to lifestyle choices are having a profound effect on the soft drinks market but with customers seeking to treat themselves on special occasions, premium options are still proving popular.

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.

Soft focus: more low- and no-sugar options are now available

In association with Britvic

Sweet truth about the soft-drinks industry levy

By Nikkie Sutton

Following five years focusing on reformulation, Britvic is ahead of the curve when it comes to the impending soft drinks tax. Nikkie Sutton reports.

Confusion over sugar tax: consumers do not know which products the levy applies to

Consumers 'hugely misunderstand' sugar tax

By Michelle Perrett

The sugar tax has caused confusion among consumers with two thirds of those quizzed thinking it applies to sweets and confectionery rather than soft drinks, new research has revealed.

Turn up the heat on your summertime drinks offer

Turn up the heat on your summertime drinks offer

By Alison Baker

Visiting the pub during summer is a quintessential British trait. And whether your customers are driving or enjoying an alcoholic drink, there’s room for softs and spirits at your site. Alison Baker reports.

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.

Soft drinks: little mix can pay off big

Soft drinks: little mix can pay off big

By Nikkie Sutton

The rise in popularity of soft drinks isn’t just down to thirsty designated drivers or those on a health kick. It is the flavour they provide in cocktails and mixed drinks that is helping the category push on.

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.

'It's much like marathon training'

Designated Driver

Embrace the soft drink opportunities afforded by Christmas

By Guest Editor, CCEP's Paul Grace

Well it’s been quite a year, with Leicester City winning the Premier League, Trump’s election, the Referendum and the biggest upset of all, Danny Baker being the first out of the jungle.

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

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

Not so soft: some pubs are making a mint from soft drinks sales

In association with CCEP

How important are soft drinks to pubs?

By Nicholas Robinson

A quarter of sales come from soft drinks in many pubs, The Morning Advertiser (MA) has learned during a Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) Pub & Bar Tour. Here, we take a look at the pubs and bars making a mint from softs.

How responsible are you? The Riverside promotes the Designated Driver Offer

In association with CCEP

How the Riverside pub in Avon works

By Nicholas Robinson

Putting a much stronger soft drinks offer in place has helped one operator in rural Avon encourage drivers to do the right thing on a night out.

Glasgow's club, bar and restaurant

In association with CCEP

The Òran Mór, Glasgow

By Nicholas Robinson

Sandy Gourlay knows a thing or two about catering for almost 2,000 customers on a busy night and has seen an ongoing uplift in soft drink sales at Glasgow pub Òran Mór.

People relied on soft drinks as herbal remedies at one point in our history

In association with CCEP

How soft drinks started

By Nicholas Robinson

Softs have played an important role in society for centuries, but their history and value is too often overlooked. There’s a lot more to soft drinks than first meets the eye.

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...

Why the ALMR is opposing the sugar tax

Sugar tax

Why the ALMR is opposing the sugar tax

By Chief executive of the ALMR, Kate Nicholls

With rising levels of obesity, particularly among children, so strong in the public consciousness, it’s no surprise the Government wants to appear firm on health concerns. The Government is keen to be seen to tackle health problems and demonstrate that...

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

Hartridge: 'Consumers are going to the pub to drink soft drinks'

Premium soft drinks

Soft drinks in pubs are getting sexy

By Nicholas Robinson

Soft drinks have arrived late to the premium and craft party, but operators must try to tap into better quality products now if they are to take better advantage of consumer demand for new and exciting non-alcoholic drinks.

Survey: Soft options outdo coffee

MCA

Survey: Soft options outdo coffee

By James Wallin

Soft drink consumption during eating-out occasions saw a significant spike in the first quarter of 2016 — just as the debate over the sugar tax peaked.

Is your bar cool for the summer?

Summertime drinks

Cool drinks for the summer

By Jo Bruce

With a change in the weather on the horizon, Jo Bruce looks at what drinks are forecast to heat up your sales this summer

J2O Flamingo Fling drink

Soft drinks

J2O’s new limited edition Flamingo Fling

By Nicholas Robinson

Britvic-owned adult soft drink brand J2O is introducing a limited edition Flamingo Fling variant of its drinks range after showcasing it at the pub trade Oscars the Publican Awards last month.

How will the sugar tax affect your pub?

Sugar tax

Will pubs pay for Osborne’s sugar levy?

By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs must not pay the price for George Osborne’s new sugar levy, trade bosses have warned, while soft drinks makers fear the plans could cripple innovation in the category.

Spotlight

The Morning Advertiser's Lock In Podcast episode 77 S4 Ep. 14: Stars in bars! (Feat. James May, Candice Brown and more) Competition kicked off: entry for the 2024 Great British Pub Awards is now open Hunt is under way for the Great British Pub of the Year The Morning Advertiser's Lock In podcast shortlisted for award Lock In podcast shortlisted for top award

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