Car boot sellers serving varied visitors
Concentrate can be mixed for several servings, but the bottle size alone will not tell you how much finished drink to prepare. Check the dilution direction and have enough water and cups at the pitch.
Who is choosing the drinks?
Hosts choosing drinks without added sugar
The front-of-pack claim is only part of the choice. Read the sugars and energy figures for the diluted drink, alongside the sweeteners in the ingredients list.
Organisers checking ingredients for guests
Formulations differ by product and flavour. Keep each labelled bottle at the serving point so you can check ingredients and warnings before offering a drink.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the flavour and ingredient list, then use each bottle’s dilution directions to work out what you can serve at the pitch.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and sweeteners | Read the exact ingredients list. Compare sugars and energy on the same diluted-drink basis, rather than comparing concentrate with a prepared serving. | I want a drink without added sugar, but I also want to know what sugars and sweeteners are in the glass. |
| Batch preparation | Check the bottle size and dilution ratio. Tesco Groceries lists Robinsons Summer Fruits at one part concentrate to four parts water; Waitrose & Partners lists Belvoir Lemon & Lime at one to six. | There must be enough water, cups and preparation time for the number of drinks I expect to make. |
| Flavour | Choose the stated fruit flavour and check its particular recipe. A citrus cordial and a mixed-fruit squash need not contain the same sweeteners or other ingredients. | Visitors may prefer different flavours, so I would rather identify each bottle clearly than treat all fruit concentrates as interchangeable. |
| Ingredient warnings | Check the physical pack for allergens and other warnings. The product information for the options discussed here includes examples listing sulphites, barley or a phenylalanine warning. | If someone asks about a drink, I need its original label to hand before serving it. |
| Opened bottles | Read the storage and use-after-opening directions for each flavour. Waitrose & Partners lists refrigeration and use within three weeks for Belvoir Lemon & Lime. | I may have concentrate left after the sale, so I want to know how the opened bottle must be stored. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming no added sugar means no sugars or sweeteners
Fruit ingredients can contribute sugars, and recipes labelled no added sugar can contain sweeteners. Belvoir Lemon & Lime and Robinsons Summer Fruits list different sweeteners in their product information.
Compare the ingredients and the sugars figure for the prepared drink on the exact bottle you intend to serve.
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Counting bottles instead of prepared drinks
Concentrates need water, and dilution instructions differ. A bottle that looks smaller may make several servings when prepared as directed.
Use each label’s ratio to plan the finished volume, then bring enough water and serving containers.
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Assuming every fruit squash has the same ingredient warnings
The product information for Robinsons Summer Fruits lists sulphites; the Ribena Blackcurrant example has a phenylalanine warning; and the Tesco-listed Vimto mixed-fruit squash lists barley.
Keep the original packaging available and check the precise flavour and variant before answering ingredient questions.
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Forgetting storage and stall arrangements
An opened bottle may need refrigeration and have a stated period for use. Selling or supplying prepared drinks can also bring food-safety responsibilities that depend on the activity.
Check the bottle’s storage directions and ask the relevant local authority and event organiser about requirements before the sale.
Brand and retailer references
These examples show why the recipe and serving directions matter more than a brand name alone; check the exact pack when choosing a flavour.
Robinsons
Tesco Groceries lists Summer Fruits No Added Sugar Squash in a 1L bottle, with a direction to dilute one part concentrate with four parts water.
- The listed Summer Fruits product gives nutrition per 250ml diluted serving.
- Its ingredients include sucralose, acesulfame K and sodium metabisulphite; check the exact pack for ingredient needs.
Belvoir Farm
The Waitrose & Partners listing for Lemon & Lime No Added Sugar Cordial describes a 500ml citrus cordial diluted one part to six parts water.
- The listed recipe uses steviol glycosides from stevia and gives nutrition per 100ml diluted.
- Once opened, the listed bottle needs refrigeration and use within three weeks.
Ribena
Waitrose & Partners lists an 850ml Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Squash with a direction to add at least four parts water to one part squash.
- The listed product states its blackcurrant juice content and dilution direction.
- Its product information includes sulphites and a phenylalanine warning; instructions for other Ribena variants should be checked separately.
Vimto
The Tesco Groceries listing for No Added Sugar Mixed 725ml describes grape, blackcurrant and raspberry flavours.
- The listed product gives a one-part-concentrate to four-parts-water direction.
- Its ingredients include sweeteners and barley, so check the precise product label before serving.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists no-added-sugar squash and cordial options across several brands and its own label.
- The range offers different flavours and formats to compare.
- Recipes and ingredient details belong to individual products; use the physical pack for the final check.
Joybuy squash options
These no-added-sugar squash concentrates offer fruit-flavour and pack-size choices for preparing car boot sale drinks. Check each variant’s own dilution and ingredient directions when planning what to serve.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 1L
A 1L concentrate for preparing several drinks. Tesco Groceries gives a one-to-four dilution direction for the matching Summer Fruits 1L product; its ingredients include sucralose, acesulfame K and sulphites. Check the pack’s directions for storage after opening.
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Ribena No Added Sugar Blackcurrant Concentrate 1.5L
This 1.5L blackcurrant concentrate directs you to add at least four parts water to one part squash. Its product details list sodium bisulphite, sweeteners and a phenylalanine warning; check the exact pack and use its diluted-drink figures for nutrition comparisons.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
An orange-flavoured 1L concentrate for visitors who prefer citrus. Its product details list sweeteners and sulphites; check this variant’s dilution direction before working out how much water to bring.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 6 × 1L
Six 1L bottles offer a larger quantity for an event. This variant’s product details list aspartame, saccharin and sulphites, with a phenylalanine warning; check its own dilution and storage instructions rather than using those for a different Summer Fruits pack.
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Ribena No Added Sugar Pineapple and Passion Fruit Squash 850ml
An 850ml concentrate with pineapple and passion fruit juices listed in its ingredients. Its product details direct refrigeration after opening and use within 21 days, and include sulphites and a phenylalanine warning. Check the pack when planning dilution and comparing nutrition for the prepared drink.
Questions about serving cordial
Does no added sugar mean the prepared drink is sugar-free?
No. A no-added-sugar cordial can still contain sugars from its ingredients and may contain sweeteners. Read the sugars figure for the drink as diluted and check the exact bottle’s ingredients.
How can I compare nutrition between two concentrates?
Compare figures on the same prepared-drink basis and follow each bottle’s dilution direction. Tesco Groceries lists Robinsons Summer Fruits at 5 kcal per 250ml diluted, while Waitrose & Partners lists Belvoir Lemon & Lime at 3 kcal per 100ml diluted; those different serving sizes are not a like-for-like comparison.
Should I check food-business rules before selling diluted cordial?
Yes. Food Standards Agency guidance says registration applies to businesses selling food or drink, including those operating from temporary premises. Ask the relevant local authority whether your planned car boot sale activity requires registration, and check the event organiser’s conditions before serving.
What ingredient information should I keep at the serving point?
Keep the original bottle or packaging for every flavour so you can check its ingredients and warnings against the drink being served. If you sell prepared drinks, ask the relevant local authority which allergen-information requirements apply to your activity and how to provide that information to customers.