Manufacturer blames sugar tax for axing of north- east fizzy drink

A north-east beverage manufacturer has blamed the imp ending UK sugar tax on the decision to axe one of its most popular fizzy drinks.

Drinks firm Cott Beverages announced that it will no longer be producing popular fruit flavour drink Sangs Moray Cup.

Described by fans as a “Northeast institution ”, the redcoloured refreshment had been a regular feature on Aberdeenshire shop shelves for decades.

A spokeswoman for Cott, which also makes Macb water, told the BBC that the UK sugar tax was behind their decision to discontinue the product.

“We’ re committed to ensuring that the Macduff production plant continues to be successful in light of the changing dynamics of the soft drinks industry, and as a result this means that we are having to make some difficult decisions in relation to our product offerings,” she said.

“With the UK sugar tax approaching as well as t he cost of materials, we have determined that we are no longer able to viably produce the Sangs Moray Cup range of drinks.

“We would like to thank our consumers for their loyalty and we appreciate that the brand will be missed. If at some point in the future circumstances change, then we will revisit our analysis on this range of products.”

The drink, which came in 330 ml and 2 l bottles, was considered a North- east staple and a regional rival to the nationally- popular Irn Bru.

Followers on the Save Moray Cup Facebook page, set up after manufacturer Sangs faced administration in 2012, were distraught at the news the drink they grew up with was no more.