THERE was a slight dip in the UK can market last year, according to new statistics reported by industry trade body the Can Makers.
A year of unpredictable weather and the UK’s wettest summer for three years were cited as reasons for a 1.9% fall in drinks can deliveries to 9.628 billion.
The Can Makers said the sector was also affected by the lack of a global sporting event on the scale of the 2014 Football World Cup, as well as an increase in the number of carbonated soft drink (CSDs) and beer cans filled abroad and imported to UK for retail sale.
Deliveries of cans for beer and cider were 4,454 million, a reduction on 2014 of 1.5%, however Nielsen reported strong growth in retail sales of cider in cans. This was led by the performance of fruit cider in 33cl cans which grew by 50% year on year. Craft beer in cans also performed well in 2015.
In the soft drinks sector, shipments of cans were down 2.3%, but retail sales of cans of soft drinks grew by 4.5%, with cans taking 1% market share from PET bottles. In both the soft drinks and beer sectors, there was an emphasis on 18+ size multi packs, reflecting the attractive retail propositions on offer.
Martin Constable, chairman of the UK Can Makers said, “Despite the unpredictable weather, cans have performed well in the retail market in 2015 with brand owners and consumers recognising their benefits for beer, cider and soft drinks.”
