UK beverage can manufacturers’ body The Can Makers says the country’s drinks can market exceeded 9.5 billion units for the first time in 2013.
According to The Can Makers, 2013 empty can deliveries were up by 2.2% on 2012 in the UK.
Figures for the Beer and Cider categories increased by almost 5% to 4,440m cans, with Carbonated Soft Drinks “up marginally” to 5,149m cans, despite the UK suffering an extended 2013 winter and the coldest spring since 1962.
According to market analyst Nielsen, though the UK lager and ale markets were relatively flat in 2013, the market for cider in cans increased by 11%.
For cider, smaller can multipacks were particularly popular, with four-packs increasing by 8%, accounting for over a quarter of the UK market.
Within the overall sector, the smaller sized cans, eg 33cl, increased by 10% and larger multipacks also performed well.
In the CSD market, according to Nielsen, 50cl cans continued to grow faster than the category as a whole, up 21% on 2012, driven predominantly by energy drinks.
CSDs in the impulse sector showed the strongest performance as on the go consumption continued to rise in popularity, up 3%.
In grocery multiples, where 87% of can sales were in multipacks, 10-packs continued to be the fastest growing pack size.
Commenting on the figures, The Can Makers chairman Graham Fenton says: “It’s a real achievement in a year which has lacked the stimulus of big sporting events and saw the UK still suffering from tough economic times.
“Though the year got off to a cold start, a good British summer has undoubtedly given the market a much-needed lift, bringing more opportunity to enjoy picnics, barbeques and other occasions where drinks in cans are consumed.”
