Health, wellbeing and sustainable packaging will be at the top of the British Soft Drink Association's (BSDA's) agenda in the coming year, according to its newly appointed chairman Paul Moody.
Moody, also chief executive of soft drinks giant Britvic, said the company itself would help lead the way on the health issue with the introduction of a range of healthy products later this year.
Britvic has underlined its ambitions to target health-conscious consumers through the opening of a £7.5M aseptic production line at its Rugby factory to produce drinks without preservatives. Each stage of the manufacturing process uses completely sterile procedures and equipment.
The factory, which has hitherto focused on making carbonated drinks, will make Robinsons Smooth Juice and Robinsons Fruit Shoot 100%, pure juice products the firm proposed to launch this summer. Referring to product development at Britvic, Moody told Food Manufacture: "We will focus on still juice and water-based products, particularly no added sugar drinks."
On 'green' initiatives, Moody added: "Because of the nature of the soft drinks industry, we have an important role to play in our response to the issue of sustainability." He called on all drinks manufacturers to actively face up to the issue.
"We need to think about how we can drive that agenda in the most appropriate way."
Britvic has already demonstrated its environmental credentials by signing up to the Courtauld Commitment. This initiative, to cut packaging waste by 2010, is managed by the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
A total of 12 grocery manufacturers are signatories, including Coca-Cola Enterprises, Premier Foods and Unilever.
Having bought C&C Group's soft drinks arm in Ireland and Northern Ireland in May, Britvic promised further acquisitions. "There are interesting opportunities in mainland Europe, which we think would be a good fit for our brand portfolio," said Moody. However, he was reluctant to offer further details.