UK soft drinks sales up 2.2%

The UK’s on-trade soft drinks trade grew 3.2% in volume and 6.6% in value to £6.7 billion last year thanks to all-day dining, premiumisation and food-led socialising according to Britvic’s latest soft drinks review.

Consumers want more sophisticated and discerning beverages according to Britvic and now seek out authenticity, craft and elevated serving experiences from soft drinks.

With the increase in the breakfast and lunch out-of-home trade occasions (up 7% and 4% respectively) premium soft drinks are set to become more important to the consumer, predicts the review.

Britvic found that 44% of breakfasts eaten out-of-home last year were served with a soft drink and 55% of lunches featured one too.

The soft drinks company encouraged pubs to develop mocktails for such occasions as these are not easily replicable at home.

Coupled with the 19% growth in premium spirits sales in the UK set against a decline of 1.9% in mainstream spirits, premium mixers saw growth of 14%, pointed out the report.