The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

UK mead producer Lyme Bay has expanded its portfolio with the launch of two low-alcohol sparkling meads, as it looks to position the traditional honey-based drink alongside ready-to-drink (RTD) formats amid rising demand for lighter alcoholic options.

The company said it has introduced Raspberry Lemonade Sparkling Mead and Strawberry & Elderflower Sparkling Mead in 330ml cans at 3.5% ABV, broadening its range beyond bottled formats traditionally associated with the category.

Lyme Bay, which describes itself as the UK’s largest mead producer, says the move is aimed at bringing mead to more casual and everyday drinking occasions, reflecting wider shifts in consumer behaviour towards lower-alcohol, flavour-forward beverages.

“Interest in mead has grown significantly in recent years,” managing director Wolfgang Sieg-Hogg said, adding that the new products are designed to appeal to younger consumers and drinkers familiar with flavoured RTDs and sessionable beers.

The sparkling meads are built on Lyme Bay’s traditional mead base, fermented from honey and water, with fruit and botanical flavours added to create lighter profiles. Raspberry Lemonade combines raspberry and citrus notes, while Strawberry & Elderflower blends fruit juice with floral elements.

Produced at the company’s winery and meadery in Axminster, Devon, the launches expand one of the UK’s most extensive mead portfolios, which already includes traditional, flavoured and liqueur-style meads. Lyme Bay produces more than 250,000 bottles of mead annually.

The products are available direct-to-consumer via the company’s website at an RRP of £2.75 per can.

Heritage categories such as mead are increasingly being repositioned through modern formats and flavour innovation, as producers seek growth in a drinks market shaped by moderation, convenience and premiumisation rather than volume consumption.