Purchasers serving a mixed meeting group
You need enough drink for the expected attendance and a way to prepare each jug consistently. Keep the current packaging available so colleagues and visitors can check ingredients before choosing a drink.
Who is choosing the drinks?
Teams looking for no-added-sugar refreshments
A no-added-sugar claim is a useful starting point, not a statement that the prepared drink contains no sugars. Compare the nutrition panel at the labelled dilution and check which sweeteners are used.
Hosts planning a smaller client-facing meeting
A cordial with a different flavour or serving style may fit the occasion. Check how many glasses the bottle makes and whether its after-opening instructions work with how often you hold meetings.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the number of drinks you expect to make, then compare labels for the prepared serving rather than judging concentrates by bottle size alone.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars in the glass | Compare sugars per prepared serving at the stated dilution. Read the ingredient list as well as the no-added-sugar claim. | I want a flavoured option for people avoiding added sugar, without assuming that every no-added-sugar drink has the same total sugars or sweeteners. |
| Serving yield | Use the labelled number and size of servings, then allow for attendance and refills. Tesco lists 50 servings for its 750ml Quadruple Strength Orange squash; Waitrose & Partners lists 60 for its 1.5L Essential Apple & Blackcurrant squash. | For a larger meeting, I need to plan the number of glasses rather than count bottles. |
| Preparation | Follow the ratio on the exact bottle. Tesco specifies 1 part squash to 19 parts water for its Quadruple Strength Orange product; Sainsbury's specifies 1 part cordial to 4 parts water for its Lime Cordial. | Drinks prepared in separate jugs should have a consistent strength, especially when more than one person is serving them. |
| Ingredient suitability | Check the current label for declared allergens, sweeteners and any stated dietary suitability. Keep the product information available where drinks are served. | Some attendees may need to avoid particular ingredients or prefer a different sweetener, so I want them to be able to identify what is in each drink. |
Common mistakes when planning refreshments
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
Fruit ingredients can contribute sugars to a drink labelled no added sugar. Products can also use different sweeteners.
Compare sugars for the prepared serving, read the ingredients and offer plain water as an alternative.
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Planning from bottle size alone
Concentration changes the number of prepared drinks: Waitrose & Partners lists 60 servings for its 1.5L Essential squash, while its Belvoir Lemon & Lime cordial listing gives 14 servings per bottle.
Use each bottle's serving count and dilution directions to plan for attendees and refills.
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Putting out a jug without ingredient information
Ingredients differ across products, and someone choosing from an unlabelled jug cannot readily check whether it meets their requirements.
Keep the current bottle or ingredient information at the serving point, identify what is in each jug and provide plain water.
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Using one dilution ratio for every concentrate
Different ratios produce different serving yields and change what a prepared glass contains. Waitrose & Partners lists a 1:6 dilution for Belvoir Lemon & Lime cordial, compared with Tesco's 1:19 instruction for its Quadruple Strength Orange squash.
Measure each drink according to its own label and identify the prepared jug or dispenser.
Brand and product-line references
These examples illustrate different formats and dilution requirements; check the current label of the exact product you intend to serve.
Robinsons
Waitrose & Partners lists Robinsons Double Strength Blackcurrant as a no-added-sugar squash with 40 servings from a 1L bottle when diluted 1:9.
- The listed Blackcurrant product is labelled suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
- Check the ingredients of the exact Robinsons flavour and pack before serving; the Blackcurrant serving figures do not apply to every variant.
Tesco
Tesco lists 50 servings from its 750ml Quadruple Strength Orange No Added Sugar squash.
- The stated 1:19 dilution gives a specific measure for preparing meeting drinks.
- Follow that product's instruction when planning its yield; do not apply the ratio to another squash.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists a no-added-sugar Lime Cordial containing 30% fruit juice from concentrate.
- The product gives a 1-part-cordial-to-4-parts-water preparation instruction.
- Check the current ingredients and prepared-drink nutrition if either affects your choice.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists 60 servings for its Essential No Added Sugar Apple & Blackcurrant Squash.
- The listing states 4kcal and 0.50g sugars per prepared 250ml serving at its specified dilution.
- Those figures describe the Essential Apple & Blackcurrant product, not other Waitrose squashes.
Belvoir
Waitrose & Partners lists Belvoir Lemon & Lime No Added Sugar Cordial as a smaller-bottle option that can be mixed with still or sparkling water.
- The listing gives 14 servings per bottle at a 1:6 dilution.
- Its instructions say to consume it within three weeks of opening; consider whether you will use the bottle in that time.
Joybuy squash options
These no-added-sugar squash concentrates are options for preparing flavoured drinks at a work meeting. Check the current pack before serving, particularly when attendees have ingredient restrictions.
No image availableRobinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 6x1L
The six-bottle pack is an option when several jugs may be needed. Check the pack's dilution directions before estimating how many prepared drinks it will make, and review the ingredients for attendees avoiding sweeteners or sulphites.
No image availableRobinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
This 1L orange squash offers a no-added-sugar flavoured option for a shared jug. Use the current pack directions to plan servings and check its ingredients for sweeteners and sulphites before serving.
No image availableRibena No Added Sugar Blackcurrant Concentrate 1.5L
The 1.5L blackcurrant concentrate is another format for preparing meeting drinks. Check its dilution instructions and prepared-serving nutrition when planning quantities, and review the current ingredients before offering it to a mixed group.
No image availableRobinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 1L
This single 1L bottle suits a meeting where a six-bottle pack is unnecessary. Follow its own preparation directions and check the current label for sweeteners, sulphites and sugars in the prepared drink.
No image availableRobinsons No Added Sugar Real Fruit Lemon Squash 6x1L
The six-bottle lemon squash pack offers another flavour for a larger meeting. The listing descriptions conflict on sweeteners and allergen information, so check the current pack label before serving; use its directions rather than assuming a serving yield.
Questions about serving cordial at meetings
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean the prepared drink contains no sugar?
No. The claim does not rule out sugars from fruit ingredients. Compare the nutrition panel for the drink at its stated dilution: Waitrose & Partners lists 0.5g sugars per prepared 250ml serving of its Essential Apple & Blackcurrant squash.
How much concentrate should I buy for a meeting?
Plan from the labelled serving count, expected attendance and likely refills. For example, Tesco lists 50 servings for its 750ml Quadruple Strength Orange squash, while Waitrose & Partners lists 14 servings per bottle for Belvoir Lemon & Lime cordial. Use each product's dilution directions to make those servings.
What should I check for attendees with ingredient restrictions?
Read the current label for declared allergens and sweeteners, and keep it available beside the prepared drink. Do not assume another flavour or pack has the same ingredients; plain water gives attendees an alternative.
Can I make the cordial with sparkling water?
Check the directions for the exact product. Waitrose & Partners says Belvoir Lemon & Lime cordial can be mixed with still or sparkling water; that instruction should not be assumed for every squash or cordial.
How long can I keep a bottle after opening?
Follow the storage instructions on that bottle. Waitrose & Partners says its Belvoir Lemon & Lime cordial should be consumed within three weeks of opening; do not apply that period to other products.