Booker have refused to confirm whether they will increase the prices of their soft drinks in line with a rise in sugar tax in April.
The tax, also known as the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL), was introduced in 2018 to combat rising obesity rates. It applies to soft drinks containing at least five grams of sugar per 100ml. From 1 April 2025, the lower rate of 18p per litre will rise to 19.4p, while the higher rate will increase from 24p to 25.9p per litre.
When asked by our sister website Better Retailing whether they were planning to increase prices due to the levy, Booker declined to confirm if it would be increasing prices but stated it was focused on how to best serve its customers.
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It has previously been revealed that Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) had sent communication to wholesalers stating it was planning to increase the price of Monster Energy PMP lines due to the sugar tax. Several senior wholesalers warned this would lead to a squeeze in margin for retailers.
Meanwhile, Parfetts, AG Barr, Suntory Beverages and Food GB&I, Unitas, AG Barr and Carlsberg Britvic confirmed they would remain unaffected by the levy.
A spokesperson for SBF GB&I said: “Every single bottle and can of Lucozade and Ribena in all flavours and variants are not subject to the SDIL. Retailers can have confidence that they can continue to sell and advertise our drinks as normal.”
Gurms Athwal, head of trading at Parfetts, added: “There won’t be any price increases to the Parfetts own-label range as a result of the sugar tax. The range is compliant and, therefore, won’t be impacted by the tax rises.”
A spokesperson for Bestway said the increase to the SDIL would not affect its current range because its existing portfolio “already falls below the required sugar levels. However, if the changes to milk-based drinks are passed, the only product impacted would be our BestIn latte 250ml, which is already in the process of being reformulated,” they added.
