What do UK consumers actually think when they see "no added sugar, no concentrates, no sweeteners" on a premium fruit drink? I ran a study with 6 UK consumers to find out how Cawston Press's core messaging lands with real shoppers. The findings are nuanced, occasionally brutal, and genuinely useful.
The Consumers
We spoke to 6 UK adults aged 28-53 from across England and Northern Ireland. The group included a cybersecurity analyst from Sheffield, a single dad and network engineer from Birmingham, a maintenance technician from Liverpool, a CAD technician from Croydon, a carers support coordinator from Armagh, and a marketing professional from Manchester. All are budget-conscious, health-aware, and sceptical of premium pricing claims.
Question 1: The "No Sugar, No Concentrate" Message
We asked consumers for their honest reaction to Cawston Press's core claim. The verdict was unanimous: "no sweeteners" is the winner. As Marta from Sheffield put it: "I can taste that fake stuff a mile off and it tastes metallic."
But "no added sugar" triggered scepticism. Gareth from Northern Ireland was blunt: "Gut reaction? Marketing. No added sugar sounds grand, but it's still full of fruit sugar and it's still a can of pop."
Key insight: Lead with the sweetener-free angle over "no added sugar."
Question 2: The Price Premium Problem
Daniel from Manchester didn't mince words: "At £2 a can, I'm out. That's 'nice branding, but I'll drink tap water' territory." The sweet spot is £1-1.20 for single cans, under 90p in multi-packs.
Key insight: The £1.50-£2 price point is above threshold for regular purchase.
Question 3: Heritage and Gifting
The heritage story earned respect, but limited trust: "It's a trust boost, not a free pass." On gifting, the verdict: "awkward" as standalone gifts.
Recommendations
Lead with "no artificial sweeteners" over "no added sugar"
Price multi-packs to hit under 90p per can
Consider smaller 150-200ml format
Back heritage claims with sustainability credentials
Conclusion
Cawston Press has genuine strengths: the no-sweetener message lands, heritage provides credibility, and the product is seen as higher quality. But there's a price disconnect. The opportunity: lean into sweetener-free messaging, be transparent about sugar, and find price points that justify the premium.
This study was conducted using Ditto's synthetic consumer research platform. Book a demo at askditto.io.
What the Consumers Said
Gareth McAlister, 53, Armagh: "Gut reaction? Marketing. No added sugar sounds grand, but it's still full of fruit sugar and it's still a can of pop."
Daniel Whitaker, 33, Manchester: "At £2 a can, I'm out. That's 'nice branding, but I'll drink tap water' territory."
Marta Kowalska, 28, Sheffield: "I'm not paying an artisan tax for a sugar hit."
