Soft drinks sales in food-to-go rose 7.4% in 2017
Britvic said almost three-quarters (72%) of occasions include a soft drink, a 1.8% increase from 2016.
Premium and healthier soft drinks are set to “plug the alcohol gap” in 2018, according to Britvic’s latest Soft Drinks Review. Soft drinks accounted for £6.9bn in sales in 2017, with standout growth of 2.1% in the foodservice sector. However, the licensed sector saw a 1.5% dip in sales.
In 2017, the category saw a continued shift towards healthy living, with sales of low and no-sugar soft drinks adding £104m sales to the category. The no-sugar cola market grew 57%, with Pepsi Max and Coke Zero adding a combined £63m.
Food to go was one of the fastest-growing areas (7.4%) for soft drinks in 2017, with almost three-quarters (72%) of occasions including a soft drink, a 1.8% increase on 2016. More than one-fifth of consumers, however, either didn’t have a drink or drank tap water when eating out, a trend that has increased year on year. Premium soft drink sales grew 31% in 2017, adding £74m in value largely thanks to the growth in mixer sales. Fever-Tree led the way, growing sales by more than 65% as the brand enjoyed the “gin effect”, where mixer sales grew alongside that of premium spirits.
Britvic said 90% of parents were looking to reduce their children’s sugar intake and operators should look to pure juice, smoothies and “softails” to provide more exciting menu choices. The company said operators should look at providing a range that suited different age groups as a “teenager wouldn’t want to be seen drinking the same brands as a five-year-old”.
Britvic forecast the soft drinks category would increase 1.5% in 2018 to £89.2m, with trends including pairing soft drinks with meals, and a rise in infused water sales.
Britvic GB's commercial director, foodservice and licensed Russell Goldman said, “By getting their soft drinks range right, tailoring it to their customer’s specific needs and creating premium experiences with sensational drinks, operators can grow their profits through the soft drinks category.”
