Us Brits love our seasons, whether it’s wrapping up in layers and watching the leaves fall in the autumn or hosting barbecues in the sunshine during the summer. We fully embrace each shift in weather and what accompanies it, including our choice of clothing, activity, food and drink.
So while we all love to warm ourselves up with a cup of coffee or indulgent hot chocolate in the thick of winter, we can’t help but enjoy refreshing juices, smoothies or milkshakes at the slightest appearance of sunshine.
Even when the weather is not as good as we hoped; crisp winter days are simply grey and drizzly, and the summer sun has hidden behind the clouds, most of us still hold tightly on to our seasonal favourites.
So, if you’re a bar, cafe, restaurant or any other food or drink establishment, it is essential to stock up on disposable paper cups so you can serve as many refreshing beverages as possible and give the customers what they want.
Who do smoothies appeal to?
The trick to knowing what to serve during the warmer months is fully understanding your clientele.
Smoothies have been marketed as the healthy alternative to milkshakes in recent years, packing as much flavour in each drink while also containing lots of fruits, vegetables and healthy nutrients.
Therefore, they are popular among a huge variety of groups, from parents giving their children a healthier option to puddings to clean eaters who want to enjoy a huge burst of nutrients in one snack.
As multiple fruits and veg can be hidden in a smoothie, it makes it easier to have your recommended five a day.
At the same time, establishments can cater towards the growing fitness community by adding some protein powder and healthy fats like nuts, seeds and avocados to have a drink that aims to replenish muscles.
What’s more, the choice of flavours is endless, as you can almost blend anything together to make a scrumptious drink. So, it is great to set your establishment apart from others by offering a unique beverage.
Serving smoothies is also an innovative way to use up any leftover fruit, veg and milk and still make a profit out of it!
Are juices still popular?
Nearly three-quarters of the beverages sold at coffee shops are actually cold, with this likely to be even higher during the summer, so it is certainly worth having some refreshing choices in your fridge.
Therefore, whether you serve freshly squeezed orange juice or create your own mix of juices, these are bound to sell out before you’ve even hit the lunchtime rush.
Although some people might avoid buying juices in favour of their trusted tea or coffee due to the high numbers of free sugars contained in a cup, there is also evidence to show that regularly drinking half a litre of fruit juice can reduce blood pressure.
Therefore, this is enough to encourage consumers to keep buying their favourite juice, particularly when the sun is high in the sky.
Nobody can turn down a milkshake!
Although milkshakes are not as healthy as smoothies or as refreshing as juices, to children, in particular, they are the king of all drinks.
Containing a variety of ice-creams, creams, milks, chocolate bars, fruit syrups, sources and other flavourings, milkshakes will always be a winner in the summer.
In fact, they were the third most popular non-alcoholic drink after coffee and water in a recent poll, with 58 per cent of surveyors claiming to love them.
The survey also found that 69 per cent of people prefer to order drinkable desserts rather than ones to eat, and 44 per cent will opt for this type of beverage to satisfy their sweet craving.
So despite not being the healthiest choice of drink, milkshakes remain hugely popular.
And when it is scorching hot outside and the need for something cooling and satisfying is strong, customers are more likely to grab a deliciously creamy milkshake than one of your puddings, so it’s certainly worth having the right drinks packaging in stock for when this happens.
If you would like to find out more about how Elpack Packaging Solutions can assist your business, or discuss your bespoke packaging needs, get in touch with our expert team today! Call us on 01425 524021 or drop us an email at info@elpack.co.uk
