R White’s lemonade puts pop into Britvic’s profits

BRITVIC has seen revenue in its fizzy drinks business pop following a major revamp of its R White’s lemonade brand.

In a bid to appeal to a more mature audience, R White’s introduced three new flavours – traditional cloudy, raspberry, and pear and elderflower.

It also updated its packaging to feature a penny-farthing bicycle as a nod to its Victorian beginnings. The brand has been making lemonade since 1845.

The redesign and rising demand for sugar-free Pepsi pushed up UK revenue for Britvic’s carbonated drinks brands by 3.7pc to £617.8m in the 12 months to October.

But profits lost their fizz, falling 9pc to £139m, as still drinks brands Robinsons and Fruit Shoot fought price pressures and competition.

Britvic chief executive Simon Litherland warned of the potential impact from a fizzy drinks tax next year, which will force firms to pay a charge for drinks which have added sugar and a total sugar content of around 5pc.

Shares in the company yesterday rose 6.9pc, or 52.5p, to 811p.

Drink’s brand R White’s started in 1845 by Robert White and his wife Mary They sold home-brewed ginger beer from a wheel-barrow in London During the First World War, R White’s lent the government half its horses and vans In 1973, R White's began its 'Secret Lemonade Drinker' advert. It aired for 11 years The jingle was written and sung by Ross McManus − the father of Elvis Costello, who provided backing vocals