Households changing their squash choice
If you are replacing sugary squash for regular home use, compare the sugars and energy in the prepared drink rather than relying on a diet or no-added-sugar label alone.
Who is this for?
Bulk buyers short on cupboard space
If you want fewer repeat purchases without storing more bottles, compare the stated dilution and prepared-drink yield alongside bottle size.
Shoppers checking ingredients
If someone in your household avoids particular sweeteners or allergens, read the declaration on the exact bottle or bundle before buying multiples. Ingredients differ between the products discussed here.
What matters when choosing?
Compare the drink as you will prepare it, then check how much the pack makes and whether its ingredients suit your household.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared nutrition | Check sugars and energy per diluted serving or per 100ml of prepared drink. Sainsbury's lists 0.5g sugars and 4 kcal per diluted 250ml serving for its Summer Fruits quadruple concentrate; Tesco lists 0.8g and 5 kcal per 250ml serving for Vimto No Added Sugar Squash. | I want a flavoured drink without added sugar, but I still need to know what is in the glass I make. |
| Prepared yield | Use the bottle volume and exact mixing directions to compare prepared litres. Sainsbury's lists 1 part squash to 19 parts water and 120 servings for each cited 1.5L quadruple concentrate; Tesco gives 1 part squash to 4 parts water for the cited 2L Vimto bottle. | Cupboard space is limited, so the amount of drink a bottle makes matters more to me than bottle size alone. |
| Ingredients | Read the current sweetener and allergen declarations on the exact format. Tesco's cited Vimto product lists barley, while Marks & Spencer's cited Orange Squash lists sulphites. | Someone in my household needs to avoid a particular ingredient, so I cannot assume every no-added-sugar variety has the same recipe. |
| Pack practicality | Check the number and size of bottles, space available to store them, and any directions for storage after opening. | I would rather buy several bottles at once, provided I can store them and use them as directed. |
Bulk-buying mistakes to avoid
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Choosing by bottle size alone
A bigger bottle can make less prepared drink than a smaller concentrate. Sainsbury's cited 1.5L quadruple-strength squashes state a 1:19 dilution, while Tesco's cited 2L Vimto squash states 1:4.
Calculate prepared litres using the directions on the bottle you intend to buy before comparing packs.
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Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
No added sugar does not mean identical nutrition across products. Tesco lists 0.8g sugars and 5 kcal per prepared 250ml serving for the cited Vimto squash; Sainsbury's lists 0.5g and 4 kcal for its cited Summer Fruits squash.
Compare figures for the diluted drink on the same serving or volume basis.
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Ordering multiples before reading the ingredients
Sweeteners and allergens vary by product. The cited Vimto squash lists barley, and Marks & Spencer's cited Orange Squash lists sulphites.
Check the current ingredient and allergen declaration for the exact bottles in your order.
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Assuming every format has the same recipe
Joybuy's Robinsons Summer Fruits 6 x 1L listing names aspartame and saccharin, whereas Robinsons' Summer Fruits Mini page names sucralose and acesulfame K. The Mini ingredients should not be applied to the six-bottle pack.
Use the information for the exact format, and ask the retailer or manufacturer if its listing conflicts with the bottle label.
Brand and retailer references
Robinsons
Its cited Summer Fruits products include a six-bottle no-added-sugar pack and a separate Mini format.
- Joybuy lists the Summer Fruits pack as 6 x 1L and states 2 kcal per 100ml of diluted squash.
- Robinsons lists different sweeteners for its Summer Fruits Mini, so check the ingredients for the format you buy.
Sainsbury's
Its cited Blackcurrant and Summer Fruits no-added-sugar squashes are 1.5L quadruple concentrates.
- Sainsbury's states 120 servings and a 1:19 dilution for each cited bottle.
- Check the ingredients on the chosen flavour rather than treating the two bottles as interchangeable.
Vimto
Tesco's cited Vimto No Added Sugar Squash is a 2L mixed-fruit option.
- The listed mixing direction is 1 part squash to 4 parts water.
- The cited product lists barley; check its allergen declaration if that matters to your household.
M&S
Marks & Spencer describes its cited 1.5L Orange Squash as double strength, with 20% fruit and no added sugar.
- The stated fruit content gives shoppers a specific figure to compare.
- The cited product lists sulphites and is marked not suitable for babies.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists no-added-sugar squash in several bottle sizes, including cited 1.5L and 1.75L products.
- The range gives shoppers different pack sizes to assess against their storage needs.
- Use each product's own dilution directions when comparing how much drink it makes.
Joybuy squash options
These options include no-added-sugar multi-bottle packs and a larger single bottle for households buying squash for repeat use. Compare the directions and ingredients for the exact product before deciding how many to buy.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 6 x 1L
Six 1L bottles offer a multi-bottle format for repeat household use. Joybuy lists 2 kcal per 100ml of diluted squash and names aspartame and saccharin in the ingredients; check the exact pack label and mixing directions before comparing yield.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Real Fruit Lemon Juice Squash 6 x 1L
This six-bottle lemon squash pack is an option when you want several 1L bottles at once. Check the exact pack's dilution directions and prepared-drink nutrition before comparing its yield or nutrition with another squash.
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Ribena Concentrated Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Squash 1.5L
This is a larger single bottle rather than a multi-bottle pack. Use its own mixing directions and prepared-drink nutrition when comparing it with concentrates or bulk packs, and check the current ingredients if you avoid particular sweeteners or allergens.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit No Added Sugar Squash 6 x 850ml
Six 850ml bottles provide a multi-bottle option in this flavour. Read the exact bottles' dilution directions, prepared-drink nutrition and ingredients before comparing the pack with other bulk formats.
Common questions
Does no added sugar mean no sugar or calories?
No. Fruit ingredients can contribute sugars, and the prepared drink can contain calories. Tesco lists 0.8g sugars and 5 kcal per 250ml serving for its cited Vimto No Added Sugar Squash; Sainsbury's lists 0.5g and 4 kcal per diluted 250ml serving for its cited Summer Fruits concentrate.
How can I compare the amount of drink bulk squash makes?
Multiply the concentrate volume by the total parts specified in its mixing directions, then compare the resulting prepared litres. Using Sainsbury's stated 1:19 dilution, either cited 1.5L quadruple concentrate makes about 30L; using Tesco's stated 1:4 dilution, the cited 2L Vimto bottle makes about 10L. Follow the directions for the exact product you buy.
Should I check the label when reordering the same squash?
Yes, particularly if sweeteners or allergens matter in your household. Check the current bottle's ingredients and preparation directions rather than applying the details of another flavour or pack format to your repeat order.
Is every no-added-sugar squash suitable for babies?
No. Marks & Spencer marks its cited no-added-sugar Orange Squash as not suitable for babies. Check the age-related wording and preparation instructions on the specific product rather than assuming a no-added-sugar claim answers that question.