Robinsons and J2O drinks maker Britvic took a heavy knock to sales as the most recent lockdowns on pubs, cafes and restaurants saw the business struggle.
But bosses said they were hopeful for a summer of drinking again and expect to see strong pickup in energy drinks as bleary-eyed commuters start returning to the office.
Sales for the six months to the end of March fell 11.7% to £617.1 million, with pre-tax profits down from £53.6 million to £42.7 million in the period.
There was stronger growth in the company’s At-Home channels – sales in supermarkets and convenience stores – which were up 6.2% compared with the overall soft drinks market, which only grew 1.6% in the period.