Organisers running self-serve breaks
Individual cans let guests take a fixed portion without anyone pouring. Plan where the drinks will be kept before and during the break, and check the label on the packs supplied.
Who is each format for?
Caterers staffing a buffet or reception
A sharing bottle is an option when staff can pour and replenish glasses. Check its opening instructions: Marks & Spencer describes its 1.32L Sparkling Brazilian Orange bottle as pressurised and says not to shake it.
Organisers offering a fizzy alternative
Make the distinction from still orange juice clear on the drinks list. For example, Sainsbury's describes Sanpellegrino Orange as a sparkling beverage containing 16% orange juice from concentrate, rather than as plain orange juice.
What should you check before ordering?
Confirm the requested drink category first, then match the pack format to how refreshments will be served.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Drink category | Read the product description and stated juice content. Marks & Spencer lists 13% orange juice from concentrate and 5% comminuted oranges in its Sparkling Brazilian Orange can; check whether a sparkling drink meets the brief. | If the event calls for still orange juice, I need to confirm that before ordering a fizzy alternative. |
| Serving format | Compare individual can sizes with the bottle size and opening directions. Marks & Spencer says its 1.32L sparkling bottle is pressurised and must not be shaken. | For guests serving themselves, I want fixed portions without a pouring station. If staff are serving drinks, a sharing bottle may fit the set-up. |
| Ingredients and nutrition | Compare sugar information on the same per-100ml basis, then read the current ingredients for sweeteners and pulp. Check the exact pack rather than assuming drinks with similar names have the same recipe. | I want to offer a drink whose ingredients fit the event brief and describe it accurately to attendees. |
| Allergen information | Keep information for the exact product being served accessible. Follow Food Standards Agency allergen guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or Food Standards Scotland guidance in Scotland. | Guests may ask what is in the drink, so service staff need information that matches the packs supplied. |
Common ordering mistakes
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Assuming “sparkling orange” means plain orange juice
A fizzy orange drink can contain only a stated proportion of juice. Sainsbury's lists 16% orange juice from concentrate in Sanpellegrino Orange, while Marks & Spencer lists 13% orange juice from concentrate in its sparkling Brazilian Orange can.
Specify either still orange juice or a sparkling orange soft drink in the catering brief, and check the description of the exact product ordered.
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Putting a sharing bottle at an unattended station
A bottle requires pouring rather than providing fixed individual servings. Marks & Spencer also instructs users to open its pressurised 1.32L Sparkling Brazilian Orange bottle with care and not to shake it.
Use individual packs when guests need to take their own portions; consider the bottle where staff will manage pouring and follow its handling directions.
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Comparing drinks by name instead of label
Orange-flavoured fizzy drinks need not have the same juice content, ingredients or sugar values. A figure per can also cannot be compared directly with a figure per 100ml.
Compare nutrition values on the same basis and check the current pack for juice content, sweeteners and serving instructions.
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Using a product listing as the only ingredient reference
Attendee information needs to correspond to the drink actually served, including its ingredients and allergen information.
Keep the delivered packaging or current supplier information available to service staff. Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland guidance addresses allergen information for both prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink.
Relevant drink brands
These examples illustrate different drink styles and serving formats; brand inclusion does not mean a particular product is in the Joybuy selection below.
Sanpellegrino
Sainsbury's describes Sanpellegrino Orange as a sparkling orange beverage with 16% orange juice from concentrate.
- Its listed 330ml can size offers an individual portion.
- Its sparkling-beverage description does not make it a substitute for still orange juice when that is what the brief requires.
Orangina
Tesco describes its Orangina 6 x 330ml product as a sparkling orange juice drink with citrus pulp, sugar and sweeteners.
- Pulp gives organisers a specific ingredient and texture to consider when choosing the drinks list.
- Check the handling directions on the exact pack before setting up an unattended station.
M&S
Marks & Spencer lists Sparkling Brazilian Orange in a 330ml can and a 1.32L bottle, providing individual and sharing formats.
- The can listing states 13% orange juice from concentrate and 5% comminuted oranges.
- The 1.32L bottle is pressurised; Marks & Spencer says to open it with care and not to shake it.
Fentimans
Sainsbury's lists Fentimans Sparkling Orange Blossom as a 250ml orange-blossom-flavoured drink containing 5% orange juice from concentrate.
- The orange-blossom flavour gives the drinks list a different citrus-style option.
- Its stated orange-juice content and flavour mean it should not be described as standard orange juice.
Joybuy options for individual servings
These multipacks contain individually portioned fizzy orange or orange-and-fruit drinks for a self-serve conference break. Check that a soft drink, rather than still orange juice, meets the event brief.
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Fanta Orange 8 x 330ml
The eight individual 330ml cans suit a self-serve break where guests take their own drink. This is a fizzy orange soft-drink option, not still orange juice; check the delivered pack's ingredients and allergen information before service.
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Tango Orange 24 x 330ml
This 24-can pack provides individual 330ml fizzy orange soft drinks for a self-serve station. It does not fulfil a request for still orange juice. Check the current pack label for ingredients, sweeteners and allergen information.
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Orangina Orange Cans 24 x 330ml
This pack provides individual sparkling orange drinks with citrus pulp for portioned service. Its instructions call for shaking before opening, an extra step to plan for at the drinks station. Compare juice content and sugars using the exact pack label rather than values from a different multipack listing.
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J2O Orange & Passion Fruit 12 x 250ml
The twelve individual 250ml cans are an option when an orange-and-passion-fruit drink suits the refreshments list. This mixed-fruit drink is not an orange-only or still-juice choice. Its instructions call for shaking before serving; check the delivered pack's ingredients and allergen information.
Conference catering questions
Is a sparkling orange drink the same as orange juice?
Do not assume so. Sainsbury's describes Sanpellegrino Orange as a sparkling beverage with 16% orange juice from concentrate, and Marks & Spencer lists 13% orange juice from concentrate in its Sparkling Brazilian Orange can. If the catering brief says “orange juice”, confirm whether a fizzy soft drink is acceptable.
When should a conference use cans instead of a sharing bottle?
Choose individual cans when guests will serve themselves or fixed portions matter. A sharing bottle suits a staffed pouring point; Marks & Spencer says its 1.32L Sparkling Brazilian Orange bottle is pressurised, should be opened with care and must not be shaken.
What should caterers check about allergens?
Use information that matches the exact drink being served and make it available to staff handling guest queries. Food Standards Agency guidance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Food Standards Scotland guidance for Scotland, address allergen information for both prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink.
Is an online nutrition panel enough for a conference order?
Use an online panel to compare candidates, then check the ingredients and nutrition information for the packs supplied before service. Compare sugar figures using the same measure, such as per 100ml, rather than comparing a per-can figure with a per-100ml figure.