Raise a tinnie, Britain! To mark 40 years since it first brought its iconic canned cocktails to the high street, M&S has unveiled The United Tin-dom report: first-of-its-kind nationwide research revealing the UK’s tinnie preferences.
Britain’s favourite supermarket has been at the heart of the tinnie trend since May 1986, being the first to launch canned cocktails in the UK that year. M&S now sells over 15 million tinnies every year, equal to one every second – enough to stretch from London to Greece if laid end to end.
The new research reveals that regional tastes vary widely across the UK, with the Mojito ranking as the top choice in over a quarter of the country’s regions (28%), while nearly 1 in 4 regions (24%) now favour a Spritz, including the Hugo and Limoncello Spritzes that M&S launched last year – highlighting just how firmly the Spritz trend has taken hold across the nation.
However, when it comes to the nation’s favourite, one classic still leads the way: M&S’s iconic Extra Dry Gin & Tonic, which is still the nation’s best-loved cocktail overall. Affectionately known as a ‘gin in a tin’ by many customers, M&S’s G&T tinnies became a cultural moment in 2019 after they were enjoyed on screen by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Andrew Scott in the hit BBC series Fleabag, with sales rising by 24% as a result.
M&S has mapped the nation’s cocktail tastes and it is clear we are a nation that is delightfully divided when it comes to our favourite tinnies:
The Mojito leads in over a quarter of regions (28%), topping the list in areas including Bristol and Bath, East Anglia and the West Midlands
This includes the capital where the Mojito is the tinnie of choice in North, South and East London – beaten only by the classic G&T in Central and West London
Down south, the Piña Colada takes the crown in multiple regions including Essex, Southampton, the Isle of Wight and South Wales, showing a clear preference for tropical flavours
At the other end of the country, the Piña Colada also reigns as the favourite cocktail in North and East Scotland, including Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen
Up north, Spritz cocktails are firmly on the rise, with nearly 1 in 4 regions (24%) now favouring Hugo and Limoncello, making it one of the UK’s fastest growing tinnie trends. The Hugo Spritz and Limoncello Spritz are now top cocktails in multiple regions, including:
Manchester (Hugo Spritz #1)
Liverpool and Merseyside (Hugo Spritz #1)
Leeds (Limoncello Spritz #1)
Newcastle and the North East (Limoncello Spritz #1)
Sheffield and South Yorkshire (Limoncello Spritz #1)
Glasgow and Western Scotland (Hugo Spritz #1)
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland stands out for its love of fruity serves, with the Pink Passion Star Martini cocktail ranked number one, and the Strawberry Daiquiri close behind
The Extra Dry Gin & Tonic is the favourite travel tinnie for those on journeys, taking the top spot at rail stations, airports, service stations and petrol garages
Jenny Rea, Lead Product Developer for cocktails at M&S Food, said: “We know the nation loves a cocktail in a can and it’s safe to say our tinnies have achieved cult status over the last four decades. It’s great to see that the Gin & Tonic is still going strong 40 years after we launched it, however The United Tin-dom research also really shows just how much tastes have evolved since the ‘80s. I’m particularly excited to see how our new tequila-based tinnies go down with shoppers this summer given that tequila continues to be a massive trend in cocktails.
“Spritz cocktails have completely taken off in the past year, with newer serves like Hugo and Limoncello quickly becoming go-to favourites across the UK, especially in the North. As a proud northerner myself, I was especially pleased to see the Limoncello Spritz coming out on top in Leeds – it’s a great example of how these lighter, fresher flavours are catching on.”
With Brits continuing to embrace high quality cocktails at home and on the move, M&S has launched a Limited Edition of its iconic Gin & Tonic in retro St Michael packaging to celebrate the 40th anniversary. And with tequila continuing to have a real moment – sales in the Foodhall are up 50% year on year, while margarita sales are up 75% – M&S is riding the wave by launching three new additions: a Tequila & Tonic, a Tequila Spritz, and The Marksologist Tequila Selection 3-pack – offering something for every taste.
Beyond tequila, M&S is also launching a Peach Bourbon Smash in The Marksologist range, and an alcohol-free Lime Margarita for those looking for non-alcoholic options.
