Company: GlaxoSmithKline
Rsp: 99p/500ml bottle
Competition: Vimto
The sell: Adding a sparkling version was a “logical step for the brand”

The consumer
As a fan of its blackcurrant squash, I was pleased to discover Ribena has created an authentic sparkling version that retains the original flavour and hasn’t been over-sweetened or unnecessarily meddled with.

If you are the type of person who makes Ribena squash with soda water then this is for you. The raspberry version, however, is just too sweet for my taste and seems to have a slightly un-raspberry-like flavour. Four stars (out of five)
Russell Sayers, data integrity analyst, Brighton

The expert
The packaging of Ribena Sparkling is vibrant and appealing and features small print describing it as a ‘lightly carbonated juice drink’. I expected a much stronger hit of blackcurrant than was actually present, which is not surprising as the juice content is only 6%. However, the drink is very refreshing.

The carbonation level seemed higher than advertised to me - which was not a problem as I like fizzy drinks - but the sugar level is really high, with each 250ml bottle delivering nearly one third of an adult’s guideline daily amount. I liked the product, but would prefer a reduction in the sugar content. Three stars
Tina Hird, trading controller, Spar

The Grocer
I clearly remember drinking carbonated Ribena from a can as a kid. I didn’t like it much then, and I still don’t now, even though I drink regular Ribena. I’ve got a sweet tooth, but this was far too sweet for me. I took three sips then poured it down the sink. I’m sticking with still Ribena. One star
Beth Phillips, deputy news editor

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