Soft drinks put an extra £347.4m through c-store tills in 2022, with sales up a whopping 14.1% to £2.8bn, but Britvic reckons there’s an extra £400m worth of on-the-go sales to be had.
According to the Britvic Soft Drinks Review 2023, which was launched yesterday, convenience retailers can each bring in an additional £8,400 per store by tapping into key opportunities, such as food pairing and appealing to Gen Z.
The review shows that soft drinks has delivered the greatest absolute value growth of any product category in 2022.
Energy drinks were the star performer last year, responsible for a huge £96.9m (28%) of the category’s £347.4m growth [IRI]. Followed by cola and plain water, which added just over £70m each [IRI] and, due to the heatwave in 2022, sales of plain water surged by +39.4% to £250.3m [IRI].
Interesting flavour profiles and eye-catching new products were also in demand, with Pepsi Max’s trio of flavoured colas – Cherry, Raspberry and Lime – up £6.3m (+16.9%) in 2022 (IRI).
Ben Parker, GB retail commercial director at Britvic, said: “Soft drinks featured in nearly one in four (22.9%) c-store shopping baskets last year [Lumina], whereas all other impulse categories suffered purchase declines [ibid]. The opportunity soft drinks is creating, when the right range is on offer, is hard to ignore and it’s important for retailers to make the most of the category, particularly during challenging times. Energy drinks and cola are flying high, and we’ve also seen that adding interesting, limited-edition flavours into the mix can pay big dividends in driving impulse sales when it comes to on-the-go formats.”
On-the-go growth
Britain got moving again last year after the upheaval of the pandemic, resulting in on-the-go missions rising from 13% of visits in 2021, to 14.9% in 2022. Soft drinks’ share of these occasions also rose significantly, featuring in 48% of all on-the-go occasions, making them the number one on-the-go item bought in c-stores. The resurgence of on-the-go trade is also changing dynamics in packaging formats, with on-the-go single serve sales outperforming take-home across all channels. But, with 52% of consumers saying that tighter budgets are making the convenience channel less attractive, where they’re shopping and what they’re drinking is changing.
Parker continued: “The growth we’re seeing in food-to-go missions across the convenience channel presents retailers with an opportunity to attract trade by offering a compelling range of soft drinks that meets consumer needs and occasions. Our Britvic Soft Drinks Review shows that there is a growing demand for soft drinks consumed on the go. We calculate that this occasion presents a chance to increase soft drinks sales value in the convenience retail channel by £400m a year by 2025. That equates to a sales boost of £8,400 per year for each c-store operating in the UK today.
“While single-serve formats (up +17.5 %) drove the most growth in the channel, larger formats suited for at-home consumption, also achieved strong growth of +9.9% in 2022. Operators should, therefore, ensure that they are selecting their ranges accordingly depending on the space they have available. We’ve seen that linking up key categories like carbonates and juice drinks with food to create compelling snack or meal deals works well for smaller cans and bottles; while take home options can be used within big night in or meal for tonight displays – the chance to drive sales through soft drinks is there for the taking.”
Delivery opportunity
The review highlighted the continued importance of delivery for retailers. Although share has fallen since the height of lockdown, delivery still accounts for 6.7% of convenience occasions. Soft drinks are one of the top 10 categories bought using delivery apps, ahead of hot drinks and confectionery. It is also a route that is particularly important in attracting affluent shoppers who spend considerably more per transaction compared to the average store visit.
Despite all this, value is still the most important driver for these consumers, who prioritise good prices, low delivery costs and promotions more than in-store shoppers. Operators should identify why people are opting for delivery and tailor their offerings accordingly, advises Britvic. Soft drinks are a key category purchased on top-up and meal occasions, appearing in 20% of the former and 15% of the latter so tapping into these occasions is key.
Parker concluded: “Delivery is one of the ways retailers can diversify, attracting a younger audience and also putting soft drinks on the map alongside food purchases. Recruiting Gen Z and winning with food are just two of the five key drivers we’ve identified to help convenience retailers tap into their share of the £400m sales opportunity the channel is facing this year. Alongside these, we talk about maximising health, simplifying shopper experience and evolving energy within the Soft Drinks Review. Particularly at a time when consumers are tightening their belts, convenience can be viewed as a cheaper alternative to restaurants and fast food, so identifying the real areas for growth is crucial for ultimate store success.”
Size of the soft drinks opportunity
Within the Soft Drinks Review 2023, Britvic has identified five key drivers for retailers to bear in mind as they tap into the opportunity on-the-go formats present:
- Recruiting Generation Z Size of prize: +£72m or £1,504/store
- Winning with food Size of prize: +£80m or £1,672/store
- Maximising health Size of prize: +£52m or £1,086/store
- Simplifying shopping experiences Size of prize: +£96m or £2,006/store
- Evolving energy Size of prize: +£100m or £2,089/store
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