Carlsberg Britvic Named PepsiCo’s Europe’s Bottler of the Year 2025 

April 24, 2026 – In the world of global beverage giants, the lines between beer and soda are increasingly blurred.

While most people associate the name with pilsners and pubs, Carlsberg Group—through its partnership with Britvic—has just proven it’s a heavyweight in the soft drink arena.

PepsiCo has officially named Carlsberg Britvic its “Europe’s Bottler of the Year 2025,” a title that isn’t just a corporate pat on the back; it’s a reflection of serious commercial momentum that outperformed expectations across the region.

Carlsberg Group is a global brewing powerhouse, but its multi-beverage strategy has become a critical part of its identity. By managing a vast portfolio that includes iconic soft drinks alongside its legendary beer brands, the company has built a resilient supply chain that can pivot to consumer trends in real-time.

This award underscores that the long-standing collaboration between Carlsberg Britvic and PepsiCo is doing more than just moving units—it’s actually gaining ground in a crowded market.

The standout star of this success story is undeniably Pepsi MAX. In the UK, the brand hasn’t just survived; it has thrived, firmly establishing itself as the leader in the carbonated soft drink category. This is a significant shift in a market where traditional sugary favorites once reigned supreme.

By focusing on availability and cultural relevance, Carlsberg Britvic has turned a “sugar-free” alternative into the primary choice for millions of consumers.

• Accelerated Performance: While the company has seen steady gains for years, the report highlights a significant acceleration throughout 2025.
• Share Gains: The UK operations specifically delivered consistent increases in market share and consumer penetration.
• Value and Volume: Success wasn’t just in the number of bottles sold (volume) but also in the overall financial health (value) of the portfolio.

Why does this matter for the average consumer? It shows that the “multi-beverage” model is working. When a company can leverage the same distribution networks for both an afternoon soda and an evening beer, they become incredibly difficult to compete with.

The announcement reflects a level of strategic execution that most companies only talk about in boardroom presentations.

Is this the peak for the partnership, or just the beginning of a broader takeover? As Carlsberg Britvic continues to push for greater availability across Europe, the competition will need to do more than just lower prices to keep up.

This award proves that when you nail the execution and the partnership, the results follow naturally.