When it comes to beverages, talking about soft drinks makes you think about wine. Italy is, indeed, the homeland of wine, which is more and more appreciated also outside our national borders. However, there are excellent, 100% products even among Italian soft drinks.
But what is intended by the term “soft drink”? This is what a refreshing, non-alcoholic drink is called, which can be still/flat, (that is with no carbon dioxide) or sparkling.
A soft drink is generally composed by:
- water (not less than 80%);
- sugar or sweeteners;
- flavouring substances;
- other edible constituents of vegetable origin (e.g. juices, mashed vegetables, tea or coffee infusions) and/or other elements to give you a spark, such as mineral salts or caffeine.
The most popular soft drinks are orange soda, lemon soda, co*ke, citron drinks, chinotto, and tonic water, but also ice tea, all sorts of alcohol-free aperitifs, and energy and sports drinks.
The beverage sector is dominated by large multinational corporations, like the Coca-Cola group (owner of the world-famous trademarks Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite, but also of Powerade, Burns, and Nestea to name a few), the PepsiCo group (known for the brands Pepsi, 7up, Gatorade and Lipton Ice Tea), the Austrian giant Red Bull, world-leader in the energy drink sector with its production of the same name, and the Orangina Schweppes group (producer of the famous drink).
In our country there are companies which produce world-famous Italy soft drinks too, so let us show you our selection: the best 5 brands of Italy soft drinks that are famous throughout the world!
Italy soft drinks: the best brands to drink like an Italian everywhere in the world
By offering these beverages, your customers will have the opportunity to enjoy the best Italian soft drinks no matter where they are in the world. Whether it’s a dinner with friends or simply a moment of relaxation, the Italian beverages we offer bring a special and authentic touch to every occasion.
San Pellegrino drinks brands
San Pellegrino is the most famous and traditional orange soda in Italy, with a history going back to 1932. The high quality of its ingredients gives this iconic, yellow-orange drink a genuine and natural flavor with small bubbles which are pleasing to both the palate and the eye. It’s delicate, with a slightly bitter note of orange that ripened in the sun and a medium level of sweetness, which gives the beverage a unique flavor that suits the taste of young and old.
The Italian soft drink San Pellegrino is delightful to the tongue, thanks to its genuine Italian taste. It’s enough to open a bottle to taste the incomparable Italian citrus anywhere you are in this world, making any moment special.
Campari – Crodino
Crodino drink is a bitter, non-alcoholic aperitif and is produced since 1964. The company is part of the Campari group since 1995.
It’s an Italian soft drink based on plant extract and sugar and is generally sold in 10cl bottles. It’s a brand leader in Italy and well-known and appreciated everywhere in the world. Crodino drink is the non-alcoholic aperitif by definition, the most sold and appreciated. The secret to its success is its unique and intriguing flavour, obtained through an extract which today is still prepared according to tradition, from a blend of herb infusions, plants and parts of fruits, all carefully selected.
The success of the drink brand is also the result of a brilliant market strategy: how can we forget the commercial Crodino drink? «L’analcolico biondo che fa impazzire il mondo!» (The yellow aperitif which drives the world crazy!).
After 13 years of visual advertising featuring a gorilla drinking a Crodino drink in a bar, the torch has been passed to an international testimonial: the American actor Owen Wilson. In the commercials, which were shot in Mexico City by the director Sebastien Grousset, the actor becomes the life of the party (on the beach or in an apartment) driving the world crazy thanks to Crodino.
San Benedetto drinks brands
The history of the San Benedetto group starts in 1956 with the construction of the first production plant where, still today, water from San Benedetto and Guizza springs are bottled.
In a few years, the company grew into what it is today: the second biggest distributor in Italy in the sector of non-alcoholic drinks brands, also thanks to a smart commercial policy and to the acquisition of new brands and springs. San Benedetto products are well known and appreciated also beyond borders: they are sold in over 100 countries!
The exports amount to about 6% of the production volume and to 7% of the total turnover, that is about 43,8 million euros. The main target markets, besides Western Europe (Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, and the United Kingdom) and Eastern Europe (Hungary, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Romania) are the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Israel, and, in south-east Asia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
San Benedetto Italy soft drink is one of the top sellers of the company: tasty and refreshing, it’s produced in numerous variants to suit everyone’s taste: classic, sugar-free, green tea with aloe, decaffeinated tea. Of course, they are all made from San Benedetto mineral water.
NERI – Chin8 Chinotto
The Italian fizzy drink Chinotto (Citrus aurantium, var. Myrtifolia) is a citrus fruit shaped like a ping-pong ball that grows on a tree whose flowers are often used as a decoration. It was imported from China (hence its name) in the 16th century by a Ligurian sailor, after which its cultivation spread throughout the Mediterranean basin to Turkey and Syria. Nowadays the cultivation of Chinotto is limited to Calabria, Sicily and Tuscany, with occasional patches in Liguria and along the French coast.
The company Neri, founded in 1949 by Pietro Neri, a daring entrepreneur, has made a name for itself in the realm of Italian beverages thanks to its innovative creations in the field of soft drinks. At the age of 30, Pietro Neri embarked on the production of a one-of-a-kind beverage that would soon conquer the market. This soft drink, with its color and consistency reminiscent of post-war American sodas, became an instant success.
The uniqueness of this soft drink lay in its distinctive and intense flavor, setting it apart from other products on the market. Its unique taste quickly caught the attention of Italian consumers, who embraced it enthusiastically.
The initial success led Neri to expand its product line, introducing three new beverages to the market. “Limoncedro” offered a refreshing combination of lemon and cedro, while “Aranciosa” presented an irresistible blend of juicy oranges. Additionally, Neri’s famous “Gassosa” stood out for its effervescence and sparkling taste.
Today, the Neri company continues to delight consumers with its wide range of high-quality soft drinks, ranging from classic to new varieties, satisfying the palates of anyone in search of an authentic and gratifying Italian beverage.
Chinotto was recently relaunched on the Italian market with great success; Chin8, from Neri, aims to strengthen its position in the Italian market, as well as to conquer the foreign markets, in particular the Australian, Canadian, and Middle-Eastern ones.
Tassoni Cedrata
The Tassoni cedrata, an iconic Italian soft drink, was born in 1956 as an evolution of the traditional cedrata syrup produced by the same company. This beverage immediately captured the hearts and palates of consumers thanks to its delicious taste, refreshing fizz, and thirst-quenching properties.
Tassoni Cedrata offers a unique flavor experience, with its base of Cedro, a fruit with citrusy and aromatic notes. The Cedro juice is skillfully blended with selected ingredients, creating a drink that stands out for its freshness and balanced flavor.
The Tassoni beverage quickly became a symbol of excellence in the world of Italian soft drinks. Its superior quality, combined with the company’s passion and attention to detail, has made Tassoni Cedrata a preferred choice for consumers seeking a unique and authentic beverage.
Today, over half a century since its creation, Tassoni Cedrata continues to be appreciated for its timeless quality and irresistible taste. It is a true classic among Italian beverages, accompanying moments of pleasure and conviviality for people of all ages.
It’s a non-alcoholic Italian fizzy drink, sweet but with a hint of acidity; the color is pale yellow. The flavor strongly reminds of citron fruits, from which Tassoni extracts the essential oils that give the drink its unique taste. This product was originally produced with citrons of the variety Cytrus medica, which is cultivated on the coast of Lake Garda. Today another variety is used, called Diamante, which grows in the sunny southern part of Calabria, in Italy.
Today Tassoni bottles 25 million units per year and has a turnover of 11,3 million euros. Cedrata Tassoni is sold and appreciated on all continents, as one of the best soft drinks!
Italian soft drinks for your international grocery store: conclusion
So, now that you know more about the most popular soft drinks brands, all you have to do is choose these fantastic products to add elegance, quality, and taste to your store abroad… Made entirely in Italy! Write in the comments which you like best, share your thoughts, and share the article if you find it interesting. Take a look at our offers page with a wide selection of Italian food brand
Also, make sure you visit our new website Italian Wine Lover, which is exclusively dedicated to the best Italian wine and stocks over 3000 labels.
Do you own an Italian store in another country? Do you own an Italian pizzeria or restaurant in another nation? Do you sell traditional Italian dishes, beers, or wines? On our website, you can find a large selection of wholesale bestprosecco spumante from the most well-known Italian brands. Do you wish to learn more about us? Now, read on to learn more about Italian food wholesalers.
See www.bell-italia.com visit our website or our Bell Italia Linkedin Company Page. If you prefer call us at +39 345 341 3539 Ezia Caputo and Giovanna Caprioli, our sales assistants, will describe how simple it is to become a customer and benefit from our amazing deals.
