Carlsberg Britvic-owned Plenish has released a Dark Cocoa and Sea Salt Almond Drink, its first flavoured plant-based drink. The cocoa comes through Tony’s Open Chain, the sourcing initiative set up by Tony’s Chocolonely. The drink is sold through online grocer Ocado and the Plenish website, with an RRP starting at £2.50.
The recipe uses almonds, cacao, sea salt and brown sugar, keeping to the no-oil, no-additive approach the brand applies across its range. It contains 3.2g of sugar per 100ml, which Plenish says is 30% less than most chocolate-flavoured plant-based drinks on the UK market.
Sugar content as the selling point
According to Plenish, the UK flavoured plant-based drinks segment is worth £19.2 million and is growing by 12% year-on-year, faster than unflavoured products. The company also cites figures showing that 23% of consumers are trying to reduce the sugar in their diets.
“We know today’s consumers are increasingly looking for ways to enjoy their favourite treats while also maintaining their health goals,” said Russell Goldman, Managing Director of Breakthrough Brands at Carlsberg Britvic.
Plenish launched in 2012 and was acquired by Britvic in 2021. It became part of Carlsberg Britvic when Carlsberg completed its takeover of Britvic in January 2025.
A new UK Mission Ally
Tony’s Open Chain buys cocoa from partner cooperatives in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. Member companies, known as Mission Allies, commit to its five sourcing principles. These include fully traceable beans, payment of the Living Income Reference Price on top of certification premiums, and long-term purchasing commitments with cooperatives.
“No single company can fix the broken cocoa system alone”
Kitty Pandya, Partnerships Manager at Tony’s Open Chain, stated, “What excites us most about Plenish joining Tony’s Open Chain is what it means for cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. No single company can fix the broken cocoa system alone, and that’s exactly why Tony’s Open Chain exists.
“The more companies that commit to traceability and higher prices for farmers, the louder the message becomes: change is not just possible, it’s already happening. We are delighted to welcome Plenish to Tony’s Open Chain as a Mission Ally.”
