Fever-Tree natural colaprepares for summer start

Fever-Tree, an independent premium drinks company, is launching a natural cola brand in the UK market this summer.

It will aim to capitalise on the trend towards health and well-being in the drinks sector.

PepsiCo recently launched its healthy cola brand Pepsi Raw, and Red Bull is launching Simply Cola this month.

Fever-Tree specialises in premium mixers. It launched in Waitrose in 2005 and will be stocked in 400 Tesco stores from the middle of this month. Its products are also available in bars and restaurants in the UK and overseas.

In addition to natural mixers, last November Fever-Tree launched its low-calorie Naturally Light range. A spokeswoman says it is continuing to launch new flavours and products, with bigger bottle sizes to be made available for its tonic and lemonade products.

While the company would not reveal which retailers its new natural cola will be stocked in, it is expected to be on the shelves this summer, and will be supported by marketing yet to be revealed. It will contain cola, nut extract, vanilla from Madagascar and natural caramel.

In the first year of business, the company recorded sales of half a million pounds and claims it has since grown five times that figure. Its products are now exported to ten countries.

It currently has a rangeof six flavours, including what it claims is the world’s first all-natural, low-calorie tonic water.

The company’s co-founders are Charles Rolls, previously managing director of Plymouth Gin, and Tim Warrillow.