A new trade association exclusively for the non-alcoholic drinks industry is expanding into the UK and Europe.
Called ANBA – short for the Adult Non-alcoholic Beverage Association – a first chapter of the organisation already operates in North America.
ANBA said it had been created “to tackle the absence of universal regulations, improve guidelines for international trade and market expansion, and provide a central entity for key stakeholders – consumers, retailers, suppliers and complementary industries”.
The American chapter of ANBA had “already worked to foster growth in the beer, wine, spirits, and ready-to-drink cocktails categories, and ensure that consumers have access to a wide range of high-quality non-alcoholic drinks for every social occasion”, it said.
Mark Livings, CEO of Lyre’s, will chair its board. He said non-alcoholic drinks founders had “universally recognised that together they are stronger”.
“With market share growing faster than regulation, this new ANBA UK/EU chapter has an important task to ensure regulatory landscapes remain fair and give consumers confidence in the quality of the products our members offer.”
The ANBA cited NielsenIQ data suggesting the global market for non-alcoholic drinks was likely to hit $30bn by 2025.
So far Lyre’s, Thomson & Scott, Savyll, lsh Spirits, Drop Bear Beers, Mocktails, Lucky Saint, Big Drop Brewing and Mindful Brands have signed up as members.
The association will allow suppliers that produce both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks to join as well. However, if a business takes most of its revenue from alcohol sales, it will be ineligible to be elected to the board.
This would ensure “that ANBA is a representative voice for producers that make their livelihoods from servicing this category, and the producers’ association remains unconflicted when speaking on matters of policy or on response to proposed legislation or regulation”, it said.
In the US, its members include brands such as Athletic Brewing Co, Ceria Brewing, Grüvi, H2OPS Sparkling Hop Water, Hella Cocktail Co, Partake Brewing and Ritual Zero Proof.
Non-alcoholic producers had “not had a voice” previously, added Amanda Thomson, founder and CEO of Thomson & Scott. “Instead, the big alcohol producers have spoken for us. This platform gives us the much-needed opportunity to put our flag in the sand on the issues that matter.”
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