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Analysis

The Iced Drinks Opportunity: Five insights shaping demand

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Analysis
The Iced Drinks Opportunity: Five insights shaping demand
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Consumer Behavior
02_Elements/Icons/Print Print
CPG Manufacturers Beverage/Alcohol Consumer Behavior United Kingdom

Iced beverages are experiencing growth, with younger, high‑spending consumers driving rising demand for iced coffee and tea. There’s strong appetite for flavour experimentation, brand influence, and seasonal innovation, with new opportunities for operators and suppliers to stand out. 

Content

NIQ’s Hot Beverages 2026 report, powered by CGA intelligence, is packed with essential intelligence on consumers’ habits and preferences that can fuel successful strategies across iced categories. It reveals accelerating take-up, with nearly a third of consumers now drinking iced coffee out-of-home—a 5 percentage point increase in just 12 months. There is similar momentum in iced tea, where consumption levels have jumped 6 percentage points year-on-year to 25%. Here are five insights to help businesses gain even more traction in 2026. 

1. A young and high-spending market 

NIQ’s demographic data shows iced drinks consumers are among the On-Premise’s most valuable guests. Those who buy iced tea spend an average of £175 per month on eating and drinking out, compared to £130 among all consumers. 53% of them are aged 18 to 34, which is an over-indexing of 19 percentage points. Iced drink buyers are also more likely than average to be city residents and parents. 

2. A thirst for innovation

Iced drink consumers are ready to switch up their choices. They are partly influenced by the weather, as more than two thirds of iced coffee drinkers say their selections change depending on the season. There’s strong appetite for innovation too, with well over a third of all consumers agreeing they more likely to experiment with flavours in iced coffees or teas. Venues need to be ready to satisfy this thirst for different offerings, and there is room to work with partners on flavours that grab the attention and appeal on social media. 

3. Fruity flavours to the fore

The Hot Beverages 2026 report shows classic flavours like chocolate, vanilla and caramel remain the most popular profiles in hot and iced beverages, but fruitier flavours are catching up. The number of consumers typically choosing summer-friendly flavours like apple, lime, strawberry and raspberry has increased by at least 3 percentage points year-on-year. There’s an opportunity to grow interest in these syrups even further as the weather hots up.  

4. Branding is vital

NIQ’s research highlights the power of branding. 32% of consumers agree they would be more likely to buy a hot or iced beverage if they recognised the brand of syrup that was included. This flags the importance of brand collaboration and the need for suppliers to align their brands with the right venues and audiences.   

5. More growth to come

Iced drinks are already among the fastest rising categories in the On Premise, and there’s more growth to come in 2026. Around a third of iced tea consumers expect to buy it more frequently this year, while only 9% will drink it less, and the trend is similar in iced coffee. These numbers make a powerful case for the inclusion of iced beverages on menus, but with more operators and brands moving into the market, competition is going to be intense. Staying on top of the latest trends and needs will be vital if businesses are to grow sales and share in 2026 and beyond. 

Discover the latest hot and cold beverage trends and access the new Hot Beverages 2026 report.

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