Focus On - Soft Drinks by Occasion 2024

What shoppers want www.planforprofit.co.uk @PlanforProfitRetail @Plan_for_Profit By planning ahead and thinking about this year’s key occasions, you can tailor your soft drinks range and grow your sales and profits. Diwali (1 November) Diwali is a time of social connection, colour and celebration. Cultural and religious festivals are an excellent time for retailers and brands to actively engage with their diverse shopper base, says IGD. Easter (March 29 - April 1) Easter is the event 2nd most associated with specific food/drink after Christmas. According to IGD, Easter isn’t an event that shoppers associate with going out, with just 12% saying they would celebrate in this way. The at-home nature of the event highlights the importance of the Easter trading period where many retailers offer a full range of Easter confectionery, food and drinks to support the occasion at home. Offer adult premium soft drinks in multipacks to capture those trade-up opportunities Offer a broad range of soft drinks and mixers, including juices, to capitalise on common party favourites Page 7 Christmas (25 December) When focusing solely on the cost of Christmas food and grocery products, 40% of shoppers only bought essential food and drinks, compared to a quarter of shoppers the previous year. Despite the heightened demand for value, premium options also sell well, says IGD. Retailers should focus on helping shoppers save money where they can, while driving premium options on the areas where customers look to treat themselves. With more shoppers worried about the cost of Christmas and saving money top of mind, shoppers introduced additional savvy shopping techniques, from shopping earlier than normal to spread the cost of this occasion. Make sure you offer a balance of premium and value soft drinks at Christmas to cater for all shoppers Ramadan (10 March – 9 April 2024) and Eid al-Fitr (March 11) With Ramadan being a month-long event, shoppers can be reluctant to spend the same throughout the entire month. IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution) advises offering special prices and discounts to help sustain spend during the month and create more targeted offers during peak times such as the start and end of Ramadan to maximise spend. 66% of Muslim consumers look forward to shopping in-store this Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, so create impactful displays to attract these shoppers. With most shoppers planning for Ramadan weeks, if not a month prior to the event, make sure you are prepared with relevant soft drinks brands to help consumers stock up.