Less sugar, less calories

Consumption of wholesome non-alcoholic beverages (mineral water, carbonated soft-drinks and fruit juices) has been steadily growing in the past decade in Hungary; it almost doubled, thus reaching a standard European level. The annual per capita consumption will approximate 190 liters by 2006. The annually produced amount of 650-700 million liters of carbonated soft-drinks is sold at the domestic market. Until 2004 the share of carbonated soft-drinks was the largest in the market of non-alcoholic beverages (40%), but the share of mineral water grew to more than 40% last year, and this tendency seems to remain stable. Following the change of consumer habits, light-drinks with low calorie-content are in increasing demand. Sport drinks containing vitamins and protein are a growing opportunity. The capacity utilization of the Hungarian fruit-juice production is only partial. In 2005 80% of the 500 million liter output was sold domestically. There is no significant import in this product line. In the past two years environment protection fees regulations have caused serious problems for the profession.