Five new members join UNESDA:
Carlsberg, Monster Energy, Royal Unibrew, the Hungarian Soft Drinks Association and the Polish Federation of Food Industry Union of Employers
The Board of Directors of UNESDA, the European trade association representing Europe’s soft drinks industry, is delighted to announce that Carlsberg, Monster Energy and Royal Unibrew along with the Hungarian Soft Drinks Association (MAGYÜSZ) and the Polish Federation of Food Industry Union of Employers (PFPZ), are joining the organisation. With these additions, UNESDA Soft Drinks Europe will now have a total of 39 members1.
This expansion reflects the growth of the soft drinks sector and the importance of strengthening industry collaboration to advocate for sound and stable policies that provide businesses with the predictability needed to invest and thrive.
The European soft drinks sector makes a significant contribution to the European economy and society. The sector supports over 1.8 million jobs across its supply chain in Europe. With over 500 production facilities across the continent, it sources more than 85% of ingredients from European farmers and manufactures over 97% of its beverages within Europe2.
Peter Harding, President of UNESDA & CEO of Suntory Beverage & Food International, stated: ‘’The increase in new members is a recognition of the importance of our sector in Europe, and the key role that UNESDA plays in bringing the industry together to foster a cohesive and unified voice to advocate for supportive and stable policies. This is crucial for ensuring that we continue thriving and contributing to the prosperity and wellbeing of European citizens.’’
Consumers are embracing new consumption habits and lifestyle goals, driving innovation in the sector. Increased focus on health and wellbeing is accelerating the diversification of the soft drink portfolio. There is a greater demand for low-/no-sugar drinks and newer, refreshing options like functional drinks3.
Market and economic dynamics are also shaping the soft drinks category, particularly the rise of at-home consumption among younger generations. Furthermore, environmental expectations are influencing consumers’ beverage choices and the sector is actively responding with a broad range of actions4, from offering innovative sustainable packaging solutions and packaging-free alternatives (e.g. home soda dispensers, syrups) to decarbonising its operations, protecting the environment and preserving water resources.
Christian Wulff Søndergaard, Vice President, Head of Global Corporate Affairs of Carlsberg, affirmed: ‘’We are very pleased to become a member of UNESDA. Our membership marks a bright new chapter for us as we continue our growth in the soft drinks market and strengthen the importance of our business. We are eager to advance our common goals and foster a more diverse and sustainable beverage landscape for consumers. We look forward to all that we can deliver together.’’
Desmond White, Chief Commercial Officer, EMEA at Monster Energy, explained: ‘’We are delighted to join UNESDA at a time when the energy drinks category, in particular, is showing great potential to evolve in innovative ways. We believe our membership creates opportunities to address challenges and opportunities common to the category.”
Lars Jensen, CEO of Royal Unibrew, said: ‘’We are happy to join UNESDA. We have grown rapidly over the last years, and our membership fits our growth path as we see that, together with UNESDA, we can work on a supportive regulatory environment. An environment that supports the industry and creates a more sustainable and healthier food and drink environment for all Europeans.’’
Dr. Géza Miklósvári, President of the Hungarian Mineral Water, Fruit Juice and Soft Drink Association (MAGYÜSZ), noted: ‘’We are glad to be joining UNESDA. This gives us the chance to contribute to leveraging our industry knowledge and work at the EU level to accelerate positive change. We look forward to working side by side with our colleagues and EU policymakers.’’
Andrzej Gantner, Director General of the Polish Federation of Food Industry, commented: “Joining UNESDA is an important step for the Polish Federation of Food Industry. This membership not only strengthens the existing cooperation between our organisations but also amplifies the voice of Polish beverage producers at the European level. We hope that this will ensure that EU policies and initiatives increasingly consider the perspective of Polish producers, contributing to the continued development of our industry.”
Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages takes on a key role on UNESDA’s Executive Committee
UNESDA is also pleased to announce that Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages, a long-standing member, is joining the UNESDA Executive Committee. This demonstrates Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages’ deep commitment to shaping the association’s strategic priorities and driving its ongoing success.
Muriel Lienau, current CEO Nestlé Waters in Europe and future CEO of Nestlé Waters & Premium Beverages, states: ‘’We are honoured by the opportunity to join the UNESDA Executive Committee. This is an important strategic step for us as we are seeing the demand and expectation for both waters and non-alcoholic beverages undergoing significant transformation and catching more and more consumer interest. We look forward to working closely with our fellow board members to help lead the association’s strategy and contribute to its future achievements.’’
