Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola Tops Australia's Overall Beverage Consideration Rankings
A YouGov survey found Coca-Cola leading Australia's beverage purchase consideration rankings at 43.2% of adults, including 53.1% among Millennials. Pepsi is second overall at 29.5% and is also stronger among younger shoppers. Schweppes ranks third overall but tops the Baby Boomers+ group. Red Bull is over a quarter overall but just 2.3% for Baby Boomers+, making it the most youth-dependent brand.
Fanta Debuts Horrorverse Halloween Campaign With Collectable Packs
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners unveiled a Halloween push for Fanta called “Horrorverse,” combining limited-edition collectable packs with a campaign titled “Wanta Fanta? Run For It.” Packaging features Ghost Face from Scream and original Fanta horror characters, including Haystacks on Fanta Lemon, Drayk on Fanta Fruit Twist and Fruit Twist Zero Sugar, Howlie on Fanta Grape and Franx on Fanta Mango. Support includes paid social, influencer work and out-of-home advertising.
Coca-Cola Tanzania Launches New Fanta Berry Flavor
Coca-Cola Tanzania introduced Fanta Berry, a fruity new flavor targeting younger consumers, in supermarkets, kiosks, universities and other retail outlets across the country. Coca-Cola Kwanza General Manager David Chait linked the launch to the company's focus on local preferences, saying its offerings “add flavour to everyday moments” for Tanzanian consumers. Promotion runs through the “Kipapli” campaign, mixing music, dance, fashion and creator-economy content with events at universities and busy locations in Dar es Salaam, alongside a #KipapliChallenge social push. Fanta Berry sits alongside Fanta Orange in the brand's local lineup.
Danone
UK Regulator Clears Danone's Takeover Of Huel
Britain's competition regulator cleared Danone's planned acquisition of protein brand Huel after a preliminary review launched last month. Terms were agreed back in March but financial details remain undisclosed. Reports suggest a value of near one billion euros. Danone frames the purchase as a route into nutrition, while Huel points to faster growth and international reach. Hertfordshire-based Huel, established in 2015, offers powders, shakes, bars and drinks.
Volvic Switches To Fully Recycled Plastic Bottles
Volvic switched its French bottles to 100% recycled plastic, its first major packaging update since 1969, following roughly €2 million in production-line investment, partly funded by a French government grant, while keeping the same green caps and overall look. The new bottles need 15% less plastic than 2018 versions. Earlier this year, a Paris court found Volvic misled consumers over earlier “100% recycled” and “carbon neutral” claims, ordering Danone to compensate consumer group CLCV; Volvic says it followed industry standards and intends to appeal.
Nestle
Nestlé Waters Names Thomas Conquet UK Managing Director
Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages named Thomas Conquet managing director of its UK business. Conquet previously served as senior brand-marketing director for the division's US arm. His new remit puts him in charge of a standalone UK business within the wider Nestlé Group, overseeing San Pellegrino, Aqua Panna, Princess Gate and Nestlé Pure Life. Conquet called the moment “pivotal,” pointing to strong momentum and what he described as an exceptional brand portfolio to build on.
Nescafé Launches New Cendol-Flavored RTD Coffee In Malaysia
To mark Merdeka month, two new RTD coffee flavors inspired by local desserts are being rolled out by Nestlé Malaysia. Nescafé RTD Coffee Cendol, sold only through Petronas's Kedai Mesra outlets, pairs coffee with cendol, a traditional dessert made from coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, chewy green rice-flour jelly strands and shaved ice. Nescafé Ais Kepal, recalls a syrup-drenched shaved-ice snack dating from the middle of the last century. It’s sold exclusively through 7-Eleven stores nationwide.
Nongfu Spring
Nongfu Spring Reports Solid Half-Year Profit Growth
Nongfu Spring posted net profit of 8.88 billion yuan for the first half of the year, up 16.6% on the year-ago period. Gross profit grew 17.1% on 16% revenue growth. Beverage sales were up 24.1%, ahead of core water revenue growth of 2.1%. Management said it intends to keep investing in innovation, upgrade its supply chain and broaden distribution channels to meet shifting demand for richer, higher-quality drinks.
Other Companies
Maximus Launches New Pink Lemonade Flavor
Sports drink brand Maximus added Pink Lemonade to its 1L lineup, pitched as a fresh spin on a familiar Australian flavor. Maximus says the new variant is designed to stand out on shelves with strong in-store support. Lisa Pearce, who leads Maximus juice and digital partnerships at Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania, linked the launch to earlier success with Maximus Mango Passionfruit and said shoppers are currently drawn to familiar, comforting flavors. It debuts exclusively at bp and IGA outlets this month before expanding into grocery, pharmacy and convenience channels nationally from September.
Capri Sun Launches Still Energy Drink Game On
A still energy drink called Game On launched in Germany under the Capri Sun brand, aimed at adults and answering demand for non-carbonated options. Sold in a 330ml resealable, deposit-free pouch, it stands apart from the core Capri Sun brand. Game On contains 32mg of caffeine, 40mg of taurine, 20 calories and 4.5g of sugar per 100ml, alongside magnesium and vitamins C, B1 and B6. Rollout coincides with manufacturing investment in Poland of over €70 million.
Life Water Reports Strong Annual Profit Growth
Malaysian drinks group Life Water posted 23.8% growth in full-year net profit, supported by stronger water sales, linked to higher volumes, revised pricing and hot-weather demand. Q4 profit increased 21%, partly from expanded output at its Sandakan plant. Life Water is pursuing a 90% stake in Hung Tai Group and flagged ongoing pressure from freight, packaging and resin costs.
NewPrinces Launches New Spartan Energy Drink
Italian group NewPrinces is entering energy drinks with a new brand, Spartan, launched in Italy through Carrefour stores. NewPrinces is among Italy's largest food manufacturers, and acquired Carrefour's Italian operations last year, a move it framed as broader integration between production and retail. Spartan comes in standard and sugar-free versions carrying added B vitamins. Production comes from a Piedmont facility bought from Diageo last year and renamed Princes Ready to Drink.
Aapa Launches New Soft Drink In UK
New entrant Aapa launched into the UK soft drinks category with listings across Asda and WH Smith. A 330ml can carries a £2 recommended price, alongside an Asda introductory deal of four cans for £4, rising to £5.50. Each can supplies real fruit juice and antioxidants plus added zinc, calcium and 7g of fiber. It’s naturally sweetened and contains 49 calories per can. There are four flavors: Lemon & Lime, Orange, Wild Berry and Tropical.
Unilever Retains Stake In Lipton Ice Tea Venture
Unilever kept Lipton Ice Tea from its planned food-business merger with McCormick. Ice tea stays under Pepsi Lipton, a joint venture with PepsiCo that describes itself as “a company in its own right” with an independent board. A Unilever spokesperson said RTD beverages differ sufficiently from its foods portfolio to sit outside the transaction. Pepsi Lipton runs through five regional arms, North America, ESSA, Latin America, AMEA and Greater China, and also owns Pure Leaf and Brisk iced teas.
Asahi Shifts Soft Drink Bottles To Recycled Plastic
Asahi Beverages says it moved every plastic soft drink bottle across its Australian range, including Schweppes, Solo and Pepsi Max, to 100% recycled plastic. Asahi credits investment in Container Deposit Schemes and local processing for speeding the switch, working through the Circular Plastics Australia venture with Cleanaway, Pact Group and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners to build two major PET recycling plants, in Albury and Altona.
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