All articles by Phil Tappenden

Hibiscus in soft drinks – a trend that will continue to bloom

Hibiscus started the year as something of a curiosity in soft drinks. Now it’s getting hotter by the month, across…
Why the fizz in the premium mixers market will continue

There’s a tinge of the old chicken-and-egg cliché in weighing up the reasons for the premium mixers boom of the…
Why M&A moves suggest a healthy future for soft drinks

Over the last century or so, the soft drinks industry has featured a steady flow of takeovers, mergers and other…
Is energy drinks experiencing a second coming? – comment

Energy drinks are not to everyone’s tastes, but the category has become very much part of consumers' lives thanks largely…
Have soft drinks brand owners been virtue signalling over Ukraine? – comment

As I write this, the invasion of Ukraine is still making its way through the country, killing thousands of civilians…

Supply Chain Special – What’s the impact on soft drinks? – comment

We continue our look at how the supply chain squeeze is affecting the beverage industry, with category commentator Phil Tappenden…
What’s coming up in soft drinks in 2022? – Predictions for the Year Ahead – comment

The sheer diversity of soft drinks - categories, flavours, styles, legacy or niche, nutrition versus refreshment, and so on -…
The booming e-sports and e-gaming marketing opportunity for soft drinks – comment

Things have moved a long way beyond the relatively straightforward video games of the 70s and 80s. Indeed, there’s talk…
How soft drinks is trying to save the world, one bottle label at a time – comment

For most soft drinks companies, branding and individual product differentiation are priorities that are as important as the beverage itself.…
How soft drinks brand owners can rise in the fall – comment

For centuries, spring has seemed to get the better of things seasonally, in poetry, art, weather repute, even in aphorisms.…