In response to the Soft Drinks Levy 2018, also known as the Sugar Tax (an industry levy encouraging companies to reformulate their soft drinks), the demand for sugar-free soft drinks has significantly increased. Brands like Coke Zero and Pepsi Max are proactively driving awareness of low and zero-sugar options to consumers in and out of the home, and as a result the industry has seen a significant  growth in sales on these soft drink options.

With the big brands driving marketing investment into low and zero-sugar options, the uptake for diet versions is accelerating. According to website Statista, the percentage market share of carbonates with low and no calories made up 62 % of the carbonated soft drink market in the UK in 2019.

The Grocer’s ‘Focus on soft drinks’ report (published online in May 2020), says that the sales of sugar-free drinks grew at a particularly rapid rate in March, which points to an underlying trend for healthy options. The Covid pandemic has highlighted health as a key trend, not just Covid-19 related, but in order to be healthier for the future. The expectation is this trend will continue, with NPD on healthy options abundant.

Reflecting this market change on soft drink choices, the demand for cold cups branded with low and zero-sugar branding has increased. As market leaders,  Bunzl Catering Supplies and their partner supplier Huhtamaki, have remained aligned with this trend, and will now only be offering Coke Zero and Pepsi Max branded cold cups made from 100% PEFC certified paperboard.

These cups market the Coca Cola Zero Sugar brand , a sugar free cola, that looks and tastes even more like Coca Cola original taste, but without the sugar and the Pepsi Max brand , a low-calorie, sugar-free cola, from PepsiCo, an alternative to their drinks Pepsi and Diet Pepsi.

Made from 100% PEFC certified paperboard Coke Zero and Pepsi Max paper cold cups are recyclable through UK cup recycling streams.  For more information, please contact us or click here.