All articles 
Christmas is a major opportunity for convenience retailers, with shoppers stocking up for celebrations, nights in and last-minute occasions. Getting your soft drinks range and merchandising right can help you make the most of this increased festive spend. From prominent displays and bigger pack formats to seasonal flavours and alcohol-free options, here are our tips for making your store Christmas-ready.
Promotional activity is playing an increasingly important role in symbols and independents. In Q4 2025, 32.7% of purchases in symbols and independent stores involved promotional activity, up from 31.6% a year earlier1.
Use high visibility locations and clear POS to draw attention to your festive soft drinks range. And show shoppers value by clearly communicating your offers.
With more opportunities to entertain and indulge, many shoppers feel more adventurous at Christmas.
Bolster your range by stocking limited edition festive specials which people will be on the hunt for. This year, Pepsi have brought their festive favourite Pepsi Zero Sugar Gingerbread flavour to the convenience channel, a flavour innovation that generated 63% incremental sales volume to the Pepsi range last year2.
Christmas isn't only about the big day. Parties, family get-togethers and nights in create plenty of opportunities for shoppers to stock up throughout the festive period.
Make sure you've got formats suited to sharing and entertaining, including larger bottles and multipacks. With 73% of adults intending to moderate their drinking over Christmas, make sure shoppers have exciting non-alcoholic alternatives for these festive celebrations too. Adult soft drinks like J2O, Britvic Mixers and no / low alcohol beers like 1664 0.0% and Poretti Alcohol Free are also key.
Claim a free trial case, free POS kits and more when you sign up to Carlsberg Britvic's trade portal for convenience stores.
Register now