Magazine: In colour, taste and effect – ice tea is so hot!

András Palkó
marketing operations manager
Coca-Cola HBC
Magyarország

András Palkó, marketing operations manager of Coca-Cola HBC Magyarország revealed to Trade magazin: the closure of hospitality units because of the pandemic entailed a 15-percent contraction in ice tea sales. He added that ice tea sales only grew in the discounter channel, by more than 10 percent in value and nearly 9 percent in volume.

Boglárka Bara, senior brand manager of Szentkirályi Magyarország added that Lipton products also performed below the expectations. The fact that consumer demand moved to discount supermarkets was very beneficial for private label products and low-priced ice teas.

Márton Vecsei
XIXO brand manager
Hell Energy Magyarország

Márton Vecsei, senior brand manager of XIXO at Hell Energy Magyarország Kft. reported to our magazine that XIXO managed to increase its market share in a contracting market. 250ml aluminium can product variants were the engine of this growth. As regards the number of ice tea products sold, XIXO was the best brand in 2020 and in terms of volume sales it became a leading brand.

Adrienn Horváth, marketing director of Márka Üdítőgyártó Kft. announced to us that Márka ice tea sales grew by 24 percent and this segment now constitutes 20 percent of the company’s total sales. Márka Üdítőgyártó Kft.’s sales increased by 37 percent in the first year of the pandemic. The main sales channel for the company is Hungarian-owned chains, namely supermarkets and independent wholesalers.

Expanding sugar-free segment

Boglárka Bara
senior brand managere
Szentkirályi Magyarország

Ms Bara explained that ice tea buying habits changed because of the lockdown: purchases are more planned than before, the number of buying occasions dropped, but the quantity bought per occasion doubled. Referring to NielsenIQ data she told that the sugar-free segment kept strengthening, as value sales were up 5 percent and volume sales grew by 6 percent; in the same period both value and volume sales of sugar containing ice teas were down 8 percent.

Adrienn Horváth 
marketing director
Márka Üdítőgyártó

Ms Horváth informed that peach and lemon are the most popular Márka ice tea flavours. The company also exports these to Italy. Strawberry is the third most popular flavour in the product portfolio. However, the sales growth was the biggest with the green tea and quince white tea products in 2020.

Mr Vecsei explained that XIXO ice teas are made with natural tea extract and fruit concentrate, and zero products are now available in three different flavours. Shoppers decide which ice tea to buy with three things in mind: taste, product composition and availability. XIXO ice teas are available in shops in 11 popular flavours, at affordable prices.

Surprising flavours and flavour combinations

Anna Cholnoky
brand manager
Maspex Olympos

Maspex Olympos Kft.’s NESTEA ice teas returned to the Hungarian market 2 years ago. Brand manager Anna Cholnoky said: they think it was an exceptional performance by the brand that on a shrinking and COVID-ridden ice tea market, NESTEA managed to increase both sales and market share. This growth was primarily driven by large-sized products. This year’s new product, black ice tea in mango-pineapple flavour is already available in shops.

Vilmos Várkonyi 
senior brand manager
Maspex Olympos

Brand manager Vilmos Várkonyi told that Kubu Play Ice Tea is available in peach and strawberry variants. They are special because they are made with caffeine-free black tea extract.

Coca-Cola HBC Magyarország has come out with a seasonal ice tea recently: FUZETEA Mango-Pineapple has exotic and refreshing taste, making the product the perfect choice in the hot summer months – informed Mr Palkó. He also spoke about how much FUZETEA believes in the power of surprising flavour combinations; this is why they have launched ‘The power of fusion’ campaign with Zsófi Mautner, Dóri Tomcsányi and Magdi Rúzsa recently.

Renewal inside and outside

In line with the latest consumption trends, as of May Szentkirályi Magyarország is decreasing the sugar content of Lipton Green ice teas, from 4.5 grams to 2.5 grams. In 2021 the company is a going to shoot a commercial that introduces the full Lipton portfolio – we learned from Ms Bara.

In 2021 the XIXO brand is undergoing a complete renewal, in both product packaging and communication. This summer the brand will try to reach as many consumers with its new-look ice teas as possible – explained Mr Vecsei.

Márka Üdítőgyártó Kft. has noticed how popular green and white ice teas are, so innovation work is taking this direction. More good news from Ms Horváth is that soon consumers can enjoy Márka ice teas without preservatives. //

Tea is also popular when it is cold!