It’s the season when comfort-seeking shoppers come in looking for something hot. But that doesn’t mean neglecting the chiller – best-selling soft drinks can be a key part of hot meal deals that drive both footfall and basket spend.
As the winter chill sets in and your shoppers seek comfort, there’s a golden opportunity to literally heat up your sales. The colder weather isn’t just about cosy nights in for consumers, it’s a prime time to consider switching your sales approach to win footfall and boost basket spend during key seasonal moments. The secret? Upgrading your hot food offering with the nation’s favourite soft drinks.
Drive basket spend by pairing soft drinks with hot food
Did you know that more than a third of shoppers say they’d like to see a wider range of hot meals in-store this season [Carslberg Britvic/Censuswide]? This makes hot food one of the biggest growth opportunities for convenience retailers this winter. What’s more, you can make these warming options even more appealing to your shoppers when bundling them with a soft drink.
● Stock tip: You can pair hearty options with bold flavours such as Tango. Worth £114.6m in retail sales value and growing at +5.3% [NielsenIQ], Tango can add excitement to your meal deal offering.
Step-change your winter soft drink sales
While summer may be a peak hydration season, soft drinks continue to play a vital role in shopper behaviour during winter. Cola remains the top choice for 41% of consumers during this season [Carlsberg Britvic/Censuswide], and functional drinks like juices and kombuchas are gaining traction [Carlsberg Britvic/Censuswide].
● Stock tip: Consider Pepsi Max for your chillers: the No.1 best-selling soft drink brand in Great Britain [NielsenIQ]. Boost this further by stocking a range of Pepsi Max flavours like Lime, Mango, and Strawberries ‘N’ Cream, to suit different tastes and meal pairing.
More shoppers seek the perfect meal deal moment
For shoppers, lunchtime is the single biggest moment for hot food and drink sales – with 31% most likely to buy both together [Carlsberg Britvic/Censuswide]. This makes midday a prime time to spotlight bundled offers and value-driven combos.
● Stock tip: Complement warming lunch options with 7UP, the leading lemon and lime brand in Great Britain [NielsenIQ]. Its crisp refreshment can pair well with lighter meals.
Signpost your meal deal solutions
Not every store has chillers and hot food counters side by side, so clear signposting and effective point of sale are essential. Carlsberg Britvic offers a free point-of-sale kit* through its At Your Convenience platform, including posters, barkers, bollard covers and digital assets to help guide shoppers and highlight deals.
● Stock tip: For shoppers seeking functional refreshment, make sure your bundle includes Lipton Iced Tea in Peach, Lemon and Raspberry flavours. These on-trend options are useful for pairing in meal deals and can drive incremental sales.
Get a free meal deal POS kit to grow your sales
By offering hot food paired with best-selling soft drinks, and merchandising with intent, you can tap into seasonal shopping behaviours and drive real results. From impulse buys to bundled value, the opportunity is clear, and the tools are ready.
Head over to Carlsberg Britvic’s At Your Convenience platform for advice on growing your business. What’s more, you can claim your free point-of-sale kit* to help you launch value-focused meal deals in-store, featuring: four double-sided posters; two double-sided barkers; shopping list pads; manager’s notes; social media assets; and digital screen assets.
New member? You can also get a free** 12 pack of either Pepsi Max, Tango, 7UP or Lipton 500ml price-marked pack bottles when you sign up to the platform.
*T&Cs: Max 1 kit per outlet. 400 kits available on a first come first serve basis. No purchase necessary. Registration & email required. Visit atyourconvenience.com for Terms and Details. Promoter: Britvic Soft Drinks
**T&Cs: Subject to availability & while stocks last. x1 free case of registration stock per outlet. Maximum of 2 POS kits per outlet every 30 days & Kits must be of a different description (i.e. no duplicates). NPN. Registration & a valid email address are required. Visit atyourconvenience.com/terms-and-conditions for full Terms and Details. Promoter: Britvic Soft Drinks. One account per outlet. All orders are sent to the business address. For Independent venues only. Corporate customers please contact your head office / account manager for access to our services.
