Britvic sales sparkle as consumers make low-sugar switch

29 November 2018 by
Britvic sales sparkle as consumers make low-sugar switch

Soft drinks producer Britvic has reported a 5% spike in pre-tax profit to £145.8m for the year ended 30 September 2018.

Revenues of £1.5b for the period were also up 5% year-on-year.

The positive business performance came despite a July warning by Britvic that a shortage of carbon dioxide was preventing the company from capitalising on the UK heatwave. Sales of its carbonates product lines were up 4.9%.

Meanwhile, the company has also benefited from a growing consumer trend of switching away from higher-sugar drinks to low and no added sugar alternatives, which is in part due to the introduction of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL).

The company said in a statement: "With 99% of our owned brands in Great Britain now below or exempt from the SDIL (90% of total portfolio including PepsiCo brands), we remain confident in our long-standing health strategy and our approach to the levy. We believe that the changes in consumer trends towards low/no added sugar offer us further opportunities for growth."

Revenues from the company's stills product lines increased by 4.2%, driven by Robinsons and J2O and thanks to the introduction of new premium ranges, including Robinsons Creations and Robinsons Cordials.

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