Despite a difficult year ahead for many drinks brands, with consumer confidence still low and inflation proving hard to overcome, the rate of drinks start-ups in the UK is predicted to continue to grow in 2023. Indeed, already this year we have seen drinks brands such as Gunner Cocktails show the world that the UK’s drinks sector is far from closed for business.
Innovation and creativity are at the core of what the UK’s drinks market has to offer and have been the main catalysts behind its growth in recent years.
However, with consumers increasingly attracted to independent brands that can quench their thirst for exciting and innovative flavours, start-up pre-canned cocktail companies like Gunner Cocktails are the best placed to remain resilient during the incoming recession.
Indeed, here at Gunner cocktails we are predicting a 500% growth in sales in the next year. The roaring success of brands like Gunner demonstrates how the UK’s history of being home to the world’s favourite drinks brands is still thriving.
However, if the UK is to maintain its reputation as a hub for start-ups in the drinks sector, brands must look to be trend setters rather than followers.
This includes exploring the rise of no-lo drinks, dissecting consumer demand for canned drinks, and examining the differences in demands across generations. Indeed, our own research has shown that 61% of consumers prefer buying British products, and 40% feel ‘let down’ due to the ‘lack’ of alcohol-free and low-ABV drinks.
However, whilst January has been the month of the saints, that does not mean that sinners won’t have their time in the spotlight this year. Alcoholic pre-canned cocktails such as Gunner’s Sinner which adds a generous shot of aged rum to their classic Gunner Saint are growing in popularity, with the RTD (ready to drink) canned alcoholic cocktail market growing at a +7% year-on-year.[1]
In light of this, to maximise their market share, start-ups in the drink sector should look to diversify their offering to include both alcohol-free and alcoholic offering so they can capitalise on the growing no-and-low market, which is set to be a hotbed for innovation and creativity in the coming year.
[1] https://www.openpr.com/news/2943416/ready-to-drink-rtd-canned-cocktails-market-is-foreseen-to-grow