Some attribute our love for icy drinks to social media, younger consumers and evolving palates.
When summer arrives, Paul Volk thinks the rich and creamy milkshakes Triple O’s churns out are an ideal way to beat the heat.
But even in the depths of winter, the sweet treats are just as big of a hit at the Vancouver-headquartered fast-food brand that’s in the midst of an Alberta and Ontario expansion.
“Our shakes are popular year round and I never really questioned why that is,” said Volk, director of operations for Triple O’s owner White Spot Ltd. “A consumer has so many options there in front of them now that I don’t really think the season matters as much.”
Triple O’s is not alone in experiencing the year-round cold beverage boom some attribute to social media, younger consumers and evolving palates.
Executives from the world’s biggest quick-serve and convenience store brands have touted growing all-season demand for icy drinks ranging from smoothies and slushies to cold brew coffee and carbonated juices in recent months.
Hot coffee is still the most common drink ordered in the country, but a recent Restaurants Canada report showed it’s slipped in popularity at quick-serve establishments between March 2022 and 2023. Cold beverage categories like iced and frozen coffee, milkshakes and smoothies, and energy and sports drinks have all gained ground.
In its first quarter ending March 31, Tim Hortons owner Restaurant Brands International alone saw cold beverage sales grow 12 per cent year-over-year. A quarter earlier, they were up 19 per cent, largely because of the company’s sparkling quenchers.
“Cold will for sure play a big role in our growth in the years to come,” Axel Schwan, president of Tims’ Canadian operations, said when the company was marking its 60th anniversary in May and the 25th birthday of its most famous cold beverage, the iced capp.
Source: The Canadian Press
