New website helps outlets prepare for Soft Drinks Levy

Drinks giant Britvic has launched a new website to help fish and chip shops prepare for the Soft Drinks Levy due to come into effect on 6th April.

As well as explaining the levy and why it’s being introduced, www.sensationaldrinks.com includes a profit calculator so friers can work out the new retail selling price in order to maintain their current cash margin on the soft drinks they serve.

Friers can also find out how changing their range and optimising Britvic’s sugar free offer can offset the effects of the levy.

As from Friday 6th April, drinks with over 5g sugar per 100ml will go up by 18p per litre, while those with 8g of sugar or more per 100ml will increase by 24p per litre. This means a 330ml can at the mid levy will see a 7p increase while the same can with the high levy applied will go up by 10p. Pure fruit juices and milk-based products are excluded from the levy.

Friers are being encouraged to follow the spirit of the levy and create price differentials between high sugar and low sugar drinks. Staff should also be educated on the products and facts in order to help nudge customers in the right direction.

Russell Goldman, director of leisure, commented: “With April just around the corner, our primary focus is to ensure that operators have all the information and support that they need to select the right stock for their customers and turn the levy into an opportunity in their outlets.”

By the time the levy arrives, Britvic anticipates that 94% of its own brand portfolio in Great Britain and 72% of the full portfolio will be below or exempt from the levy.

The government hopes a levy on soft drinks will reduce childhood obesity by encouraging producers of added sugar soft drinks to reformulate their products and reduce the sugar content.