The pressed juice and soft drinks company kicks off 2026 by entering the growing no/low alcohol category
British soft drinks business Cawston Press is pleased to announce its expansion into the fast-growing no/low alcohol drinks category with the acquisition of LOAH, a fruit-forward 0.5% beer brand. Terms of the transaction are undisclosed.
LOAH founder Hugo Tapp will continue to lead the brand retaining operational responsibility for brewing, innovation, and brand development, with the integration enabling LOAH to benefit from shared resources in supply chain, distribution and marketing.
With nearly one in three Brits embracing a Dry January in 2026, the addition of LOAH to the Cawston Press portfolio comes off the back of peak seasonal interest in alcohol moderation, with the intention of capitalising on the year-round rise of no/low alcohol consumption and popularity in ‘zebra striping’ drinking habits.
Recent research shows 35% of UK drinkers rank taste as their number one consideration when buying alcohol, ahead of price (28%), highlighting the growing consumer expectations for flavour in their beverages. LOAH’s fruit-led, flavour-first approach directly responds to this trend, bringing premium taste to the no/low beer category.
LOAH beers are naturally brewed to under 0.5% ABV, crafted with carefully selected hops to complement the natural fruit flavours. The range, including Peach Pale Ale, Blood Orange IPA and Lime Lager, is crafted to appeal to a variety of palates, and is both gluten free and vegan, meeting growing consumer demand for accessible, high-quality no/low beverages.
Steve Kearns, Managing Director of Cawston Press said: “This move is a true reflection on consumer drinking habits today. The lines between soft drinks and no/low alcohol are blurring and this makes LOAH a great strategic fit for us – it’s a brand built on fruit, flavour, and quality, just like Cawston Press. We see real opportunity to help build LOAH through our established grocery and impulse distribution channels, whilst extending the portfolio we can offer to on-trade customers, helping operators create interesting, independent-led menus crafted to serve multiple drinking occasions”
Hugo Tapp, Founder of LOAH, said: “Over the last five years, we’ve watched no/low-alcohol beer shift from a token presence to a dynamic category. Working with Cawston Press will allow us to take our beers to the next level, with a reformulated range that tastes better than ever. Joining the Cawston family gives LOAH the chance to reach real scale while staying true to its mission: to make alcohol-free beer more fruitful.”
The updated LOAH range will be available to trade customers via Cawston Press with immediate effect.
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