Soft drinks are not just for kids

GLOBAL Brands is targeting adult consumers with its new range of premium soft drinks.
Franklin & Sons, which was launched at the end of June, aims to capitalise on what the drinks firm said is a “growing demand from adults for better quality and a greater choice of soft drinks”.

028_Franklins Range Shot (ingredients)
The five flavoured variants in the new soft drinks range are designed to appeal to adults

Recipes for the five flavoured variants are said to draw on “unique ingredients with local provenance”; the range includes Sicilian Lemonade & English Elderflower with crushed juniper; Wild Strawberry & Scottish Raspberry with cracked black pepper; British Dandelion & handpicked Burdock with star anise; Cloudy Apple & Yorkshire Rhubarb with cinnamon; and Ginger Beer & Malted Barley with a squeeze of lemon.

The Franklin & Sons drinks are available in a 275ml bottle designed to reflect the “heritage and history” of the brand, which is said to have been first established in London in 1886 by brothers, George, Frederick and Albert Franklin.
A series of sampling events was held over the summer to coincide with the launch; the events were backed by online activity, point of sale material and branded glassware.
Simon Green, marketing director at Global Brands, said the drinks are made with natural juices and contain no preservatives or artificial sweeteners.

“Adult soft drinks is an underdeveloped category and the Franklin & Sons range will help to unlock opportunities for operators with the delicious line-up of recipes that stand apart from the usual suspects,” he said.
“This is a carefully considered move into soft drinks and a great fit for Global Brands as a forward looking business where developing and acquiring new brands in premium segments is part of the growth strategy.
“The recipes offer year-round refreshment but are particularly well-suited to pubs and gardens for adults to enjoy a relaxing taste of summer, even if the sun isn’t shining.”