UK Wholesalers of Soft Drinks: Profiles of the leading 1400 companies (Spring 2019)

This study looks at all companies registered in the United Kingdom where they identify themselves as wholesalers of fruit and vegetable juices, mineral water and soft drinks.

This study includes companies that are dormant or non-trading some of which might be latent while others may operate under their owners' names but incorporate to protect the business name. In addition, all newly incorporated companies are included. The study will exclude those companies that do not specifically identify themselves as wholesalers of fruit and vegetable juices, mineral water and soft drinks.

The aim of this study is to provide an overview of the key movers and shakers in the UK soft drinks wholesale sector. Only key data has been isolated, particularly the company's net worth and total assets, but also its full name, date incorporated, registered office, other activities, shareholders, directors (with date of birth, occupation and nationality) and number of employees.

Two indicators of size are used: net worth and total assets. These are preferable to turnover which is influenced by profit margins and whether the companies are capital or labour intensive.

In the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, new company incorporations in the soft drinks wholesale
sector were 112, 193 and 523 respectively.

The wholesale market now accounts for £27.7 billion, taking into account the removal of Palmer & Harvey PLC, which collapsed in November 2017.

Breakdown of beverages in the UK is as follows: soft drinks (28%), beer (27%), whisky (25%), cider (7%), gin (3%), mineral water (3%) and others (2%).

Carbonates remain the largest segment worth £6.9 billion.

The breadown for non-alcoholic sector is as follows: cola £1.2 billion; pure juice £851 million; juice drinks £429 million; smoothies £223 million; plain water £616 million; squashes £406 million; traditional mixers £192 million; and fruit carbonates £405 million.

The market for bottled water and fruit juice, neither of which contain added sugar, is unaffected by the sugar levy but nonetheless they do contain naturally-occurring sugars. Despite their natural sugar content, sales of freshly squeezed juices and smoothies were the fastest growing segment.

100% juice is the most important factor in choosing a product.

In terms of Gross Value Added (GVA), beverages (including soft drinks and mineral water) is the largest manufacturing group with a of £6.6 billion in 2015; contributing 23% to the total food and drink manufacturing GVA.

The percentage UK retail price increase from June 2007 to June 2016 for soft drinks was 24% with alcoholic drinks at 17% and coffee, tea, cocoa at 36%

In Great Britain, 57% of those aged 16 years and over in 2017 drank alcohol (29 million people of the population) while 20% did not drink alcohol at all.