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Why the next innovation in drinks won’t be a drink – Comment

Chris Tyas
Last updated: 06/10/2026 at 5:45 PM
By Chris Tyas
6 October 2026
6 Min Read

Maybe brand owners don’t need to spend quite so much time inventing new liquids? Maybe there’s more growth to be found in changing the way existing ones fit into people’s lives? After all, lack of choice is hardly the problem.


'Innovation' in Scrabble tiles
Credit: Markus Winkler/Pexels

Maybe brand owners don’t need to spend quite so much time inventing new liquids? Maybe there’s more growth to be found in changing the way existing ones fit into people’s lives? After all, lack of choice is hardly the problem.

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For years, drinks innovation has mostly meant putting something new inside the bottle: a fresh flavour, botanical, limited edition or twist on something consumers already know. Which is why I was interested in what Diageo has been saying recently.Under new CEO Dave Lewis, the British multinational’s strategy talks about building a “full price and format ladder” and serving consumers across a wider range of occasions. In July, it also launched ‘Small Bottles Made for Big Plans’ (below) in the UK, giving 20cl and other smaller formats more visibility across 230-plus stores at supermark

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Chris Tyas
ByChris Tyas
Chris Tyas is chief strategy officer at independent creative agency Impero - the creative agency for impatient brands.
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