Drinks Buyer 2025

5 specialityfoodmagazine.com SOFT DRINKS A THIRD OF UK ADULTS EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN FRUIT JUICES OR SMOOTHIES MADE WITH 100% BRITISH INGREDIENTS MINTEL WHAT’S HOT IN SOFT DRINKS? GOURMET CORDIALS BRISTOL SYRUP COMPANY DISCO GRENADINE A must for cocktail-making, a stunning addition to sparkling wine, and delicious on its own with water – raspberry and sweet pomegranate burst out of this cordial. bristolsyrupcompany.com BELVOIR ELDERFLOWER & ROSE CORDIAL Made to a traditional family recipe with hand- picked elderflowers and rose petal extract. It’s beautiful over ripe strawberries and layered in a trifle. belvoirfarm.co.uk COUNTRY CORDIALS RUBY LEMON Strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants and lemon give this pretty cordial – made in small batches in Cornwall – the most fabulous colour. countrycordials.co.uk The British Soft Drinks Report, published in 2024, showed that: ● Volume sales of bottled water were up 40.8% ● Dilutables were the second biggest category after carbonated drinks ● Sales of apple, grapefruit and pineapple juice have increased ● Sales of still iced/RTD tea drinks are growing PRODUCER SPOTLIGHT APEAL W Ö RLD Influencers and alternative health gurus are endorsing one of our most prescient revelations, The Glucose Hack. With a regulated diet, we can all benefit frommonitoring our glucose levels. Put simply, taking acetic acid (ACV) before carb heavymeals can help reduce sugar spikes - those mid-afternoon fogs that send you into the spirit world, barely able to return to earth before the day is over. Apeal Wörld ACV has hit the market and nailed a great tasting and affordable way to take your daily dose on the go, with added ingredients to boost wellness. The reported benefits of this ancient health hack range not only include lowering blood sugar levels, but reducing inflammation and fighting infection too. acvdrink.com FLAVOUREDWATER CANS CHERRY Pure sparkling water from the Alps and real fruit juice – that’s it. No added sugar, sweeteners or anything artificial. cans.co.uk MARLISH SPARKLING SICILIAN LEMON Handmade and canned at source in Northumberland. Marlish blends slowly filtered spring water with natural Sicilian lemon extracts and oils. Less than 4 calories per can. marlish.co.uk The sector even has its own vernacular now. ‘Book ending’ is starting and finishing your evening with a non-alcoholic beverage, while ‘zebra striping’ involves alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The future seems bright for the non-alcoholic sector, says expert Chris Hannaway. “I think we can expect more functionality, such as low calorie, to be brought into the low/no category – as we have seen be successful in the soft drinks market in recent years. ‘Mid- strength’ could represent the next big growth opportunity for retailers, as many consumers seek out a greater variety of moderation options – not just ‘all or nothing’. “Meanwhile, recent duty changes have givenmid- strength brands the opportunity to pass on lower prices to retailers and consumers, which should be attractive in the current economy.” LO AND NO The low and no market continues to outperform against the majority of traditional alcohol categories, with analysts at the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) reporting a 10% decrease in wines and spirits against a 23% rise in low and no last year Consumers are looking for drinks that offer additional benefits, such as energy boosters, vitamins, and antioxidants. This trend is driven by the desire for convenience and the growing interest in holistic health and wellness STATISTA NEED TO KNOW