Fizzy drinks and juices are back in fashion - while expensive bottled water and smoothies stay on the shelves, as the recession changes our drinking habits. The once fashionable bottle of water is being cast aside for cheaper drinks.
The Britvic Soft Drinks Report said sales of traditionally popular drinks such as cola, squash and juice drinks were up last year with energy and sports drinks seeing the fastest growth.
Many customers turned their back on more healthy drink options, with smoothies and bottled water the worst performers last year.
Sales of smoothies were down by 20%, as consumers showed a reluctance to pay a premium for their "5 a day", the report said.
Soft drinks continue to be a staple purchase on which consumers are reluctant to compromisePaul Moody, Britvic chief executive and president of the British Soft Drinks Association
Sales of bottled water were also down by 9%, the poor summer also impacting on demand.
The report is further evidence of the fact that consumers are turning to cheaper and less healthy food and drink in order to cut costs in the recession.
Paul Moody, Britvic chief executive and president of the British Soft Drinks Association said:"In the downturn so far, it's the big brands and traditionally popular sub-categories like cola, squash and juice drinks that consumers seem particularly unwilling to do without".
"Soft drinks continue to be a staple purchase on which consumers are reluctant to compromise", he said.
The report revealed that soft drinks were riding out the economic downturn, with UK sales at £8.4bn last year, down by only 1% from the year before.
However, sales of soft drinks in pubs, bars and restaurants were down by 4% at £2.3bn.
Source: skynews.com
