Latest news with #drinks
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dirty soda trend bubbles up to Canada with 'Mormon Wives' as inspiration
Jeremy Guenette was sitting in an Idaho parking lot waiting for his kids to finish back-to-school shopping two years ago, when he noticed business was booming at a nearby truck mixing colas, cream and fruity flavours. 'For about 45 minutes, I just watched people come and go from the Soda Tsunami. They probably had about 150 customers and I think maybe one went to the (adjacent) taco truck, so I was just very intrigued,' Guenette recalled. A few sips of a dirty soda later, he not only understood the hype but was frantically searching for an equivalent back home in Alberta. When none could be found, he opened Sip Soda Co. — an Edmonton-area shop that helped bring the hit drink north of the border. While dirty soda is still quite nascent in Canada, the fizzy drinks with fun names are rapidly growing in popularity. They're cropping up at summer fairs, making their way onto the menus of national chains like Crumbl and scaling social media trending charts. "The category remains too small to track on its own. However, their emergence is all part of a bigger trend that is taking place in beverages," said Vince Sgabellone, a foodservice industry analyst at research firm Circana, in an email. The trend he was referring to is the switch away from one of the biggest drink categories — brewed coffee — toward specialty drinks that customers see as 'new, different, unique, and yes in many cases, Instagram worthy.' "Dirty soda is very Instagrammable. They are colourful and entertaining,' Sgabellone said. 'I had one client tell me their daughter tries to match her beverage with her outfit. They are just fun." While one could attribute the dirty soda's march toward ubiquity as a reflection of the usual influence U.S. social media has on Canadian fast-food innovation, Guenette said it's actually "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" that got locals buzzing about the beverages. The reality show's stars are frequently shown sipping dirty sodas or visiting Swig, a U.S. chain founded in 2010 that popularized the drinks through Mormon communities, which do not drink alcohol, coffee or tea but can drink soda. "That created the perfect storm this year," Guenette said. "Last year, two out of every three customers would be like, 'What's a dirty soda?' This year, it's complete opposite and I really believe it's because "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" took off." B.C. sisters Mikayla and Brooklynn Cantelon were part of the wave. Experimenting at home based on what they had seen on the show and then sharing their concoctions with friends and on social media, convinced them they had what it takes to open Pop Culture Dirty Soda, a trailer that's been selling the drinks at events around B.C.'s Lower Mainland since May. While some customers are still puzzled about what a dirty soda is, others are trying to test out what they've seen on TV. 'People are coming to us and saying, 'Can you recreate Whitney's order? Can you recreate Taylor's order?'" Mikayla said, referencing "Mormon Wives" cast members. The Cantelons can do both – and then some. The sisters charge $4.50 for a base soda that customers then add syrups or creamers to for 75 cents each. Topping the drink with strawberry or cheesecake cold foam or a raspberry or peach puree costs $1.50 each while lining the cup with marshmallow fluff carries a $1 charge. They also have a roster of pre-set menu items including beverages referencing singers Taylor Swift, Gracie Abrams and Sabrina Carpenter. The premium items sell for $8.50 each, while the July bestseller — the cherry Bombshell made with Dr Pepper, cherry syrup, coconut cream and candy on top — goes for $6. The price point is higher than your standard fountain drink, making dirty soda attractive for restaurants, which can use it to upsell customers and attract a younger customer base Sgabellone said is more drawn in by colourful beverages. If dirty sodas keep increasing in popularity, they'll follow a pattern set by cold beverages that have come before them. Energy drinks and carbonated fruit juices have all gained more market share in recent years as they've joined the menus at fast-food giants like Tim Hortons. A recent Restaurants Canada report found carbonated soft drinks are now the second most ordered beverages in the country, behind coffee. Soda made it into 19.6 per cent of orders between March 2023 and 2024, sliding from 21.4 per cent a year earlier. However, even with the dip, its prevalence is now higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Dirty sodas could give the category a boost because they're easy to make, are crafted from affordable ingredients most restaurants already have on hand and are seen by customers as a "destination beverage." "More than ever, consumers are looking for new, exciting, different," Sgabellone said. "They will cross the street to get that." It's a good sign for the Cantelons, who are preparing to launch a second trailer, and Guenette who has been in talks to franchise his business with a new drive-thru model across the country. Hot on their heels is Crumbl, the fast-expanding cookie shop which recently introduced dirty sodas to its Canadian stores, as well as a slew of other independent upstarts and chains like McDonald's which have experimented with the drinks in the U.S. The competition has neither the Cantelons nor Guenette worried. They see it as a sign that they have a winning concept. 'It's been a blessing, to be honest. I love competition,' said Guenette. 'It keeps your head up, keeps you moving forward and it gets the best out of everyone.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 11, 2025. Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
I tested supermarket pre-mixed martinis… flavour punch from tasty £6 winner nails classic cocktail & is great value too
SHAKEN or stirred? The martini is having another moment with demand for James Bond's favourite cocktail on the rise. Sales of pre-mixed canned martinis have risen by 200 per cent at posh department store Selfridges over the past year, while bars in the capital have also seen an uptick in orders. If you want to enjoy the glam drink without splashing out or going out, the supermarkets have you covered. Here, drinks expert Helena Nicklin, above, rates them out of five. The Infusionist Passion Fruit Martini 70cl, £7.49, Aldi, 10% ABV ALDI'S famous Infusionist range covers a lot of bases in the pre-mixed cocktail department and this is a terrific, well-priced, ready-to-sip tipple. The vibrant, exotic and super-sweet cocktail formerly known as the Porn Star Martini — served with a shot of prosecco on the side in cocktail bars — will never be everyone's cup of seriously sugary tea, but the key to a good one is balance. With its punchy passion fruit, refreshingly balanced citrus and impressively boozy ABV, the Infusionist offering feels and drinks like the real deal. If it all gets a bit much, a small serving of Prosecco on the side, just as a mixologist would do on a night out, will dilute the tang nicely. 4/5 Passion Fruit Martini 75cl, £6, Morrisons, 8% ABV BRAND new to the Morrisons range, with mega shelf appeal thanks to its large, eye-catching purple packaging that has real party vibes, is this tasty tipple. And the great news is that as well as being cork-poppingly glam, it also really packs a real flavour punch. At 8 per cent ABV, the buzz is good and the passion fruit and lime is searingly tart and tangy, as it would be in a bar. The gold foil and cork make this feel like a real 'occasion drink' and it offers super value for the amount you get so would be great for a party or having friends over. It nails the classic cocktail stylistically, though it will always be too sweet for some. A fun fizz alternative that'll save you a fortune, too. 5/5 Passion Fruit Martini & Triple Distilled Vodka 25cl, £1.40, Sainsbury's, 5% ABV EXPECT a slight taste of real fruit with this which, considering the cost-saving price and when compared to the other 5 per cent cans I tried, is a considerable bonus. However, to sip, it tastes very sweet and feels a tad diluted in the glass. It's good value for money though, so if you had it well chilled, sitting on the beach, in the park or at a picnic, it is refreshing enough and highly glugg- able. A decent drop for not a lot of cash. A good one to stock up your fridge with for those evenings when you just fancy a little something with a bit of a different flavour. 3/5 Pink Passion Star Martini Cocktail 25cl, £2.50, M&S, 8% ABV THERE'S a whole lot of flavour — and booze — going on with this M&S classic canned cocktail. A huge whack of vanilla hits you up front and this is followed by a very pleasant raspberry flavour. The booze really tickles the back of your throat, which explains the higher price tag. With an 8 per cent ABV, this offering is on the higher side. Lots to like in theory and the packaging is good fun, too. Despite all that, it just doesn't feel quite right. It seems a bit out of balance and crazy when you start drinking. Sadly, overall this one was too much for me. 2/5 All Shook Up Passion Fruit Martini 25cl, £1.50, Tesco, 4% ABV TESCO'S tinned tipples had a makeover not so long ago and sadly, that seemed to also mean a chance to lower the ABV. While this is understandable given rising taxes and a need to keep costs down, this 4 percenter ABV-wise does not fare well. It's thin, sugary sweet and cordial-like — with not much actual flavour or punch going on at all. A real pity as the price is good, it contains real fruit juice and the packaging — in the style of a more famous brand — is grown-up and looks decent. But at the end of the day, this passion fruit martini still needs a bit of a shake up on the taste. 1/5 Passion Fruit Martini Classic 25cl, £1.59, Co-op, 5% ABV CO-OP'S prettily patterned tinned tipple sits right in between the more authentic, bottled style and the more squash-like, cheaper cans from other retailers. It looks very jolly on the shelf although perhaps gives off stronger beach bar than cocktail bar vibes, but it's all about the taste ultimately. To sip, there's less tartness here, which the purists won't like but others will, and it feels a bit more like a buzzy, tropical juice than a real cocktail. Still, it gives good bang for buck and, served chilled, it's a decent drop. One for those who prefer their cocktails on the sweeter side and for an excellent price too. 3/5 Paradise Bay Passion Fruit Martini 70cl, £3, Iceland, 3.4% ABV IF it's a brain-melting, super sugary, acidic tang you want from your booze buzz, this is it. This nicely packaged bottle is on the big side so it will do for topping up your cocktail glass more than once, and it really packs a flavour punch. That said, much of the taste is generic sweetness rather than anything like the proper flavour you'd get from slicing into and enjoying an actual passion fruit. A proper tooth-tingler that your dentist won't like, and as a result of all that saccharine — and the lower ABV — you can barely taste the booze. If you want a mixologist-style cocktail at home then there are far better options to be had. 2/5 Extra Special Passion Fruit Martini 70cl, £7.97, ASDA, 10% ABV WHILE this unsophisticated bottle may not appeal so much on the outside and could maybe do with a complete redesign, what's inside is excellent. Tropical and exotic, it hits all the right, sweet notes of the cocktail. It has a punchy ABV and feels warming and buzzy, rather than hot and chemically like some of the others. Just make sure you give it a really good shake before serving — it gives good texture when you do. It's a case of chill, shake, serve. Spoiler: if you're after something that tastes most like the real deal when buying a ready-to-drink option then opting for glugs in bottles rather than cans is the right way forward.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
We tried over 40 canned cocktails and mocktails – here's what's worth your money
Whether you're looking for an easy pour at the end of a long day or a good portable option for train rides, parties and picnics, canned cocktails have never been more popular. Most supermarkets now carry a wide range, though M&S has the most interesting, with options ranging from a sake spritz to a smoky pineapple daiquiri. For context, M&S has a quarter of the market share, which is enormous considering they have just four per cent of the overall grocery market. Clearly, its R&D team is having a lot of fun. Beyond own-labels, one of the best-known high-quality brands is Moth, which prides itself on using named spirit brands in its drinks, a welcome step up from the generic alcohol used in some options. Moth branding is recognisable: small (usually 125ml) cans with a textured black panel on the label. And it is much-imitated. But did the dupes come up to scratch? Read on to find out. How I tasted I tasted the cocktails in groups so all the versions of the same drink could be directly compared. Larger groups were tasted in ascending order of alcoholic strength, to be fair to the drinks with a lower abv, which were usually also the cheaper ones. Drinks with a similar abv were tasted blind against each other, the better to assess the dupes. For each group I then went back and retested to cross-compare products. Final notes were written sighted to allow inclusion of information about ingredients and packaging. Skip to: Margaritas Spicy Margaritas Piña Colada Strawberry Daiquiris Passion Fruit Martinis Paloma Bloody Mary Flavoured Daiquiri Negroni Mojito Low and no Others Margaritas The classic margarita is a short, sharp drink made by shaking tequila, triple sec and lime juice with ice and straining into a salt-rimmed glass. Some of the cans tested were, strictly speaking, Tommy's Margarita, where the triple sec is replaced with agave nectar.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
'Sober curious' lifestyle trend has hit demand for drinks, warns new Diageo boss
Diageo's interim boss has pledged to get it 'firing on all cylinders' after a slump in demand for its drinks. Chief executive Nik Jhangiani also admitted the Guinness maker would need to cut jobs as part of plans to save an extra £94million. But he insisted the FTSE 100 giant could eventually cash in on a trend for drinking in 'moderation', despite profits sliding 27.8 per cent to £3.2billion for the year to June, a steeper fall than analysts had predicted. Sales also dipped 0.1 per cent to £15.2billion during the year. Jhangiani explained the decline by saying 'the consumer wallet is under pressure'. But the group – which continues its search for a permanent chief executive – singled out a 'stand-out performance' from its Don Julio tequila and Crown Royal Blackberry whisky, as well as its ever-popular Guinness stout. Jhangiani, who took over last month after Debra Crew left suddenly, admitted there was 'clearly much more to do'. He said the business would increase its cost savings target to £470million over the next three years, up from £376million. This would include 'some' staff losses, he admitted, but said the programme was 'not really about job cuts or elimination of roles'. Diageo shares surged 4.9 per cent, or 89p, to 1904p following yesterday's announcement. The business has been hit by a cocktail of challenges including Donald Trump's tariffs and weak demand in key markets such as the US and China. But Jhangiani insisted there were opportunities to revive sales by 'sharpening our strategy to get the whole portfolio firing on all cylinders'. He said: 'We're monitoring changes in consumer behaviour, including moderation, which we see as a potential opportunity. Consumers who are moderating are not socialising any less.' As more drinkers opt for a so-called sober curious lifestyle, the group would explore how to improve its offer in lower alcohol and 'ready to drink' products. He also said there were opportunities to appeal to those who were focused on 'portion control, calorie control'. Matt Dorset at Quilter Cheviot said: 'Diageo continues to have some market leading brands and will need these to do a lot of the heavy lifting until a new chief executive can set a new strategic direction.'
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Diageo caretaker boss vows to get struggling Guinness maker 'firing on cylinders'
The new boss of Diageo has pledged to get the firm 'firing on all cylinders' amid a slump in demand for its drinks. Interim chief executive Nik Jhangiani on Tuesday admitted the Guinness maker would make some job cuts as it ramps up cost savings by £94million. But he insisted the FTSE 100 giant could eventually cash in on a trend for drinking in 'moderation' as profits slid 27.8 per cent to £3.24billion, tumbling further than analysts had predicted. Sales fell 0.1 per cent to £15.20billion in the year to 30 June as Jhangiani said 'the consumer wallet is under pressure'. But the group singled out a 'standout performance' from Don Julio tequila, and Crown Royal Blackberry whisky, as well as its best-known Guinness. Jhangiani, who took on the job last month after the sudden exit of its former chief executive Debra Crew, admitted that 'there is clearly much more to do'. He announced the business would increase its cost savings target to £470million over the next three years, up from £376million. This would include 'some' job cuts, he admitted, but said the programme was 'not really about job cuts or elimination of roles'. 'This could ultimately actually be about more numbers in terms of head count, as we look at more feet on the street, for example, including here in our home market,' he added. Diageo has been hit by a cocktail of challenges including US tariffs and weak demand in key markets like the US and China. But its boss insisted there were opportunities to revive sales by 'sharpening our strategy to get the whole portfolio firing on all cylinders'. He said: 'We're monitoring changes in consumer behaviour, including moderation, which we see as potential opportunity, not simply a headwind. 'Consumers who are moderating are not socialising any less across a broad range of occasions.' As more drinkers opt for a so-called sober curious lifestyle, the group will explore how to improve its offer in lower ABV (alcoholic strength) and 'ready to drink' products. He also said there were opportunities to appeal to consumers who were focused on 'portion control, calorie control'. These remarks follow bakery chain Greggs saying it is trying to entice customers who are on so-called 'fat jabs', despite their reduced appetites. Jhangiani said this could also include some acquisitions but that the group was pushing ahead with plans to shrink its portfolio by ditching some 'non-core' brands. He added: 'We are focused on what we can manage and control and executing at pace.'
