Unsweetened carbonated soft drink entering the UK
Next month, the UK will see the arrival of CANS, a brand of unsweetened carbonated soft drinks that was created in the Czech Republic.
The soft drink, which blends effervescent bubbles, genuine fruit, and sparkling Alpine water, is made with just three ingredients and is free of artificial sweeteners, added sugar, and sweeteners.
Initially launching with three SKU’s – Apple, Cherry and Lemon (RRP: £1.39/330ml can) – the drinks will hit the market from 24th February. Starting with a D2C focus, the full range will be available to independents via wholesalers in the coming months.
The brand, which first launched to market in the Czech Republic 15 months ago, has seen strong early success, selling more than in million cans to date. 2025 marks the entry into two new territories, the UK and the US, in a bid to secure sales of 8,000,000 cans before the end of the year.
Co-founder and CEO Dominic Rice said: “Since we started our CANS journey 15 months ago, we have been shaking up the soft drinks category with our ‘non-sweet’ offering and we can’t wait to launch in the UK market. CANS does everything you would expect from a soft drink: quenches thirst, has a refreshing taste and yet comes without artificial additives, without sweeteners and without added sugar.”
Jaroslav Beck, co-founder, creator and main investor of CANS, added: “Our goal is to reduce global overconsumption of sugar by rethinking simple things and making them right. Why do we drink so much sugar in the first place?
“After the brilliant market launch in the Czech Republic in August 2023 with over 1 000 000 CANS already sold, which corresponds to a saving of 33 tonnes of sugar (equal to 8,250,000 sugar cubes) compared to conventional soft drinks, the launch in Slovakia and Germany followed in late 2024. Now the UK is the next step in CANS’ mission to create and grow the best possible non-sweet drinks and with that fully establish the non-sweet category itself. We can’t wait to hear what our new customers think.”
