Drinks NPD continues despite the economy
Innovation in the soft drinks market in 2008 increased in comparison with 2007, according to the British Soft Drinks Association's (BSDA's) 2009 UK Soft Drinks Report.
The study, conducted by Zenith International and published in May, claimed there were 135 new product developments (NPDs) in 2008. Of these, 49 were brand extensions and 23 were packaging redesigns and product reformulations.
For the third successive year, the still and juice drinks and fruit juice sectors topped the innovation chart, with 80 NPDs in the sector.
The carbonates sector saw the next largest number of new products, particularly energy drinks and functional carbonates.
Bottled and enhanced waters also saw high levels of NPD activity.
Niche cordials led NPD in dilutable drinks, with superfruits, exotic variants and British flavours such as Cox's apple coming to the fore.
The UK soft drinks market saw a 1% value increase to £13bn and a 1.1% volume decline to 13,905Ml, according to the BSDA report.
l Soft drinks firm Britvic posted sales growth of 6.3% in the 28 weeks to April 12. Group pre-tax profit rose 16.3% to £20M, with growth set to continue in the second half of the year.
