The report identified premiumisation, consumer interest in health living, improvements to personalise consumers’ experience in outlets, and the increase incidence of socialising occasions that involve food as the four main drivers of growth.
Soft drinks supplier, Britvic also notes the success of the eating out market, despite the popularity of delivery services and a dip in consumer confidence following Brexit, as a contributing factor to the soft drink market’s growth.
Russell Goldman, commercial director for licensed, foodservice & leisure at Britvic GB, said: “Competition for the leisure pound isn’t going to get any easier for operators in the year ahead, but the good news for them is that if they get their soft drinks offering right, tailoring it to their customers’ needs and focusing on creating sensational experiences for them, they can unlock further potential from the category and reap the rewards.”
Britvic also highlighted how manufacturers have extended popular brand ranges to include new low and no added sugar variants, particularly in the cola category, which is the largest category within soft drinks in the foodservice and licensed channels.