Managers organising self-service drinks
A 330ml can gives each guest an individual portion and keeps the drink's on-pack information with it. Check that the supplied cans can be displayed and stored as their labels direct.
Who are these cans for?
Hotels offering both regular and zero-sugar cola
These are distinct choices, not interchangeable recipes. Tesco Groceries lists 35g sugars per 330ml can of Coca-Cola Original Taste; Pepsi UK lists 0g per 330ml can of Pepsi MAX.
Teams catering for varied flavour preferences
A non-cola drink gives guests another flavour route. Where a cola without caffeine is wanted, Pepsi UK also identifies a Pepsi MAX No Caffeine variant; check the exact variant when ordering.
What should you check before ordering?
Start with the drinks you want guests to be able to distinguish, then compare the actual can and case formats available from your supplier.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugar choice | Read sugars per 100ml and per 330ml can on the exact product. Tesco Groceries lists 35g per can for Coca-Cola Original Taste; Pepsi UK lists 15g for Pepsi Classic and 0g for Pepsi MAX. | I want guests to be able to tell a regular cola from a zero-sugar one, rather than assuming every cola has the same sugar declaration. |
| Caffeine and ingredients | Confirm whether the selected variant contains caffeine. Pepsi UK describes Pepsi MAX No Caffeine as caffeine-free; its product information also lists sweeteners and a source-of-phenylalanine statement. | Some guests may want cola without caffeine. I need the buffet labels to identify that variant accurately and the pack information to remain available. |
| Flavour and format | Compare cans per pack and millilitres per can. Tesco Groceries has listed Fanta Orange and Dr Pepper in 24 x 330ml packs, but Sprite in an 18 x 330ml pack. | I want a non-cola choice without mistaking a smaller case for the same number of breakfast portions. |
| Service information | Check the delivered ingredients, allergen information and storage directions. GOV.UK guidance says food businesses must provide allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink and consider supplier traceability in their food-safety procedures. | Staff need to answer questions about the drinks on the buffet and keep track of which products were supplied. |
What can complicate the choice?
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Treating every multipack as the same number of portions
Tesco Groceries has listed Fanta Orange and Dr Pepper as 24 x 330ml packs, while its Sprite listing was 18 x 330ml. Those cases would supply different numbers of cans.
Check both pack count and can volume when planning how many portions to order.
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Assuming cola variants have the same ingredients
The cited Coca-Cola and Pepsi products have different sugar declarations. Pepsi UK also distinguishes standard Pepsi MAX from Pepsi MAX No Caffeine, and lists sweeteners and a source-of-phenylalanine statement for those variants.
Identify regular, zero-sugar and caffeine-free drinks accurately at the station, using the delivered packs to check the wording.
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Assuming a supermarket listing matches a hotel order
A retail pack listing identifies a format, but it does not establish what an approved hotel supplier will deliver.
Confirm the exact product, case size, order terms and delivery arrangements with the intended supplier.
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Overlooking drink information because the cans are sealed
GOV.UK allergen guidance applies to food businesses serving prepacked as well as non-prepacked food and drink; it also calls for staff allergen training.
Keep the original product information accessible to staff and include canned drinks in the hotel's allergen-information and supplier-traceability processes.
Which brands offer relevant choices?
These brand examples illustrate different drink and pack formats; confirm the exact variant offered by your supplier.
Coca-Cola
A regular-cola reference: Tesco Groceries lists Coca-Cola Original Taste in a 24 x 330ml pack.
- The Tesco listing states 35g sugars per 330ml can, making the served portion straightforward to identify.
- Coca-Cola GB lists caffeine flavouring for Original Taste; this is not the zero-sugar cola route.
Pepsi
Pepsi UK provides product information for Pepsi Classic, Pepsi MAX and Pepsi MAX No Caffeine.
- Pepsi UK lists 15g sugars per 330ml for Classic and 0g for Pepsi MAX, so the variants can be distinguished by their declarations.
- Pepsi MAX and Pepsi MAX No Caffeine list sweeteners and a source-of-phenylalanine statement; standard Pepsi MAX is not the caffeine-free variant.
Sprite
A lemon-lime non-cola option; Tesco Groceries has listed Sprite as 18 x 330ml and Sprite Zero Sugar as 8 x 330ml.
- The flavour offers an alternative to a cola-only buffet selection.
- Those listed pack counts differ from a 24-can case, so check portions per order.
Fanta
Tesco Groceries has listed Fanta Orange cans in a 24 x 330ml multipack.
- The listed format offers an orange-flavoured, non-cola choice in 330ml cans.
- Check the ingredients and nutrition declaration on the exact Fanta variant delivered.
Dr Pepper
Tesco Groceries has listed a 24 x 330ml Dr Pepper multipack and an 8 x 330ml Dr Pepper Zero pack.
- The standard listed pack provides another non-cola flavour choice.
- The standard and Zero listings have different case sizes; check the exact supplied variant's ingredients and nutrition.
Joybuy cans for the breakfast buffet
These 24 x 330ml packs cover regular cola, zero-sugar cola, a caffeine-free cola variant and two non-cola flavours. Choose the mix according to the distinctions guests need and confirm the delivered labels before service.
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Pepsi Max Caffeine Free 24 x 330ml
A cola option for a buffet that calls for a caffeine-free variant. The 24 x 330ml format provides individual cans; check the delivered pack's sweetener and phenylalanine information when identifying it for guests.
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Pepsi MAX 24 x 330ml
A zero-sugar cola route in 24 individual 330ml cans. Pepsi UK lists 0g sugars per 330ml for Pepsi MAX; standard Pepsi MAX is not its caffeine-free variant and lists sweeteners and a source-of-phenylalanine statement.
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Coca-Cola Original Taste 24 x 330ml
A regular-cola choice in 24 individual 330ml cans. Tesco Groceries lists 35g sugars per 330ml can for this Original Taste format, while Coca-Cola GB lists caffeine flavouring; do not label it as a zero-sugar option.
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7UP Zero 24 x 330ml
A lemon-and-lime alternative to cola in a 24-pack of 330ml cans. Check the delivered can's ingredient information, including its sweetener and phenylalanine statements, before describing the choice at the buffet.
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Tango Orange 24 x 330ml
An orange-flavoured non-cola option in 24 individual 330ml cans. Check the delivered label for its sugar, sweetener and caffeine information rather than presenting it as a zero-sugar or caffeine-free choice.
Frequently asked questions
Should a breakfast buffet offer both regular and zero-sugar cola?
Offer both if guest demand calls for a regular cola as well as a zero-sugar choice. The variants are not interchangeable: Tesco Groceries lists 35g sugars per 330ml can of Coca-Cola Original Taste, while Pepsi UK lists 0g per 330ml can of Pepsi MAX. Check the supplied products' labels when identifying them at the buffet.
When would a caffeine-free cola be useful?
Add one when guests need to be able to choose cola without caffeine. Pepsi UK describes Pepsi MAX No Caffeine as caffeine-free and zero-sugar; it also lists sweeteners and a source-of-phenylalanine statement, so check that the ordered pack is the intended variant.
Do staff need allergen information for sealed cans?
Yes. GOV.UK guidance says food businesses must provide allergen information for prepacked and non-prepacked food and drink, and that staff must receive allergen training. Keep the cans' product information accessible within the hotel's service process.
How should unopened cans be stored for breakfast service?
Follow the storage instructions on the supplied drink and the hotel's food-safety procedures. Chilled-food display guidance should not be applied to every canned drink without first checking how that particular product must be stored.