Feedback thread for Appletiser Product Test

[AnnMumsnet]

Many thanks for taking part in the Appletiser product test - please find below the questions that Appletiser would like you to answer. Please add your feedback once you've been able to try the drinks.

There are a number of questions as Appletiser are so keen to know what you think - please feel free to use these either as a prompt - telling us your overall views using these as a guide, or to answer each question individually.

If you have any other comments please add them below - they genuinely would like to know how they could improve on both the product and how it is promoted to both women such as yourself and to families.

Everyone who adds feedback to this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky winner will win a £250 voucher for the store of their choice.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?

I forgot all about it.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)?

Definitely taste. The packaging is good too, I do like a glass bottle.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)

Cost would pt me off tbh. I would buy for special occasions but not everyday. I preferred the apple and the pear ones.

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?
During pregnancy or if in the pub. It makes a nicer substitute for a glass of wine.

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?

bbq, pasta or nice salad.

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?

Ds1 loved it DS2 wouldn't touch it due to it being fizzy! DH loved all flavours too.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?

I guess it would compare to something like Shloer, which I've never liked.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?

I think you need to emphasis the lack of sugar/sweeteners. Push the 100% fruit!

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?

Push the 100% fruit and look at cost!

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?

Yep, definitely

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?
I'm not a big apple fan so an apple flavour drink would always be at the bottom of my list.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?
Apple aside, the flavours. Really liked the bottles, they helped to make it seem quite a 'grown-up' drink. Also like the fact that there were no added sweeteners or similar.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?
Cost!

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?
As an alternative to a non-alcoholic drink with a meal. As a treat for the family at other times.

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?
On a lovely summer day, served straight from the fridge with a BBQ.

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think? Husband and son both tried and enjoyed, fav flavours were pomegranate and apple.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?
The branding immediately made me think of Schloer although I think the appletiser range is nicer and is what I would choose in future.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?
Improve the mango flavour. We really weren't keen on it in this house, I was surprised by this as we had expected it to be a favourite.
Cost?

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?
Promote it as a non-alcoholic option to drink during pregnancy and when breast feeding.

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?
Certainly.

Ok, had the big tasting session over the weekend with my DH and parents, so now ready to report back!

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?

Cost, primarily. I always remember liking it as a child, but it was definitely something for a 'special occasion' rather than just an everyday drink.

It doesn't help that, as I noticed on Saturday, at my local supermarket it's hidden in a dark little corner at the bottom of a row of shelves, so not easily noticeable for an impulse purchase.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?

I'd say the presentation in the tinted glass bottle with the recognisable shape is probably what makes it what it is at present, rather than just any old fizzy fruit drink. The flavour obviously is important too!

My favourite flavour is probably still the regular Apple, to be honest. I found it the most refreshing, hard not to keep going back for more!

The Pear flavour wasn't bad, but I'm just not a huge fan of pears!

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?

To be honest, I find all the flavours a little too sweet. Far as I understand the sugars are all the natural ones that occur in fruit, but still... A bit too sticky and sweet for my tastes.

The Mango, Mandarin & Apple was fairly refreshing, but a bit non-descript in terms of the flavours.

For the Raspberry & Pomegranate, I found the Raspberry overwhelmed the Pomegranate, and it was probably the worst for being sweet and sickly.

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?

At a summer BBQ is probably the most likely, followed up by with a meal out where either I'm the designated driver or (as currently) pregnant and limiting alcohol intake.

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?

Apple: Probably the most versatile. Would go nice at a BBQ or with chicken, also matches nice for a picnic. Delicious with a cheese board as well.

Pear: Similar to Apple, I'd say! Pear goes pretty well with similar foods and might actually be better than apple with cheese.

Mango, Mandarin & Apple: It'd probably work best as a fruit punch style drink served alongside crisps and other nibbles.

Raspberry & Pomegranate: I'm not sure why, but if I was going to drink more of this one I'd probably serve it with breakfast of all things! As a posh version of morning fruit juice.

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?

My husband and parents all sampled the drinks as well. They gave the following feedback:

• The Peartiser smells just like pear drops, but doesn't taste like them.

• The Mango, Mandarin and Apple could make a good alternative to alcoholic fruit punch.

• Can't taste the Pomegranate in the Raspberry & Pomegranate drink.

• They're all a bit too sweet.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?

I like the Cranberry and Lime flavour from Feel Good Drinks, probably because it's sharper and less sweet! Their Lemonade is good too.

I've tried the Schloer drinks too, but find those too sweet. (I'm sensing a theme here!)

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?

Make the drinks less sweet and a little sharper! Also, push the fact that sugar (presumably) isn't added, as it's not clear.

Though looking at the nutritional values, the quantity of natural sugars contained is actually quite scary...

If you're genuinely pushing to be a 'wine replacement' drink, I'd also concoct some deeper flavours. Cherries, plums, etc. Ones that could be an alternative to red wine, as at present none of the drinks would really go with a meal comprising of red meats, and I really couldn't imagine sipping one in front of the fire on a winter evening with a nice square of dark chocolate either.

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?

I'd probably introduce more versions, to be honest. A cheaper 'everyday' drink sold in plastic bottles or cans, pushing the healthy aspects of it. (i.e. natural fruit sugar, no sweeteners, etc.) The sort of thing that could be drunk in the middle of the afternoon of a regular day, without thinking it should be saved for something special due to the cost.

I'd then also market a 'deluxe' version in a really fancy bottle, maybe with a cork and foil like a bottle of sparkling wine, for people to buy as a present or for special occasions such as Christmas, where it wouldn't look out of place next to Champagne. It'd also then be appropriate for people to bring it as a gift when coming to dinner to a tee-total household or where the host is pregnant.

(And I'd make the deluxe version aimed more at adults, so less sweet. )

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?

I'd definitely recommend the Apple flavour. The others... Maybe. Depends what the occasion was they were being used for!

Hope that's helpful.

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?

Price, the bottles are not big enough.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?

Mandarin,mango and apple was my favourite. Not too sweet, could taste the fruit.
Natural ingredients part of the 5 a day good incentive.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?

Cost- too expensive.
Bottles too small.
Pear- really did not taste good. Very artifical. The nose reminded me of cod liver oil/ rescue remedy.

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?

Special occasion- big family do.
A nice option for non drinkers.
On offer

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?

chicken, cheese, pork. soups, lunches.

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?

Liked all the flavours minus the pink one- too sweet.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?

Sainsburys own- natural ingredients, cheaper.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?

Make the bottles bigger and cheaper.

The packaging and gorgeous box was a lovely surprise and made me feel special

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?

Push the natural ingredients

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?

Yes.

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?

Too expensive for a soft drink.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?

The best thing was the 'poshness' of the bottles, I only tasted the apple and pear.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?

Too expensive. Too sweet according to my husband. Too fizzy according to my children . I am a weight watchers leader and thinkthat the 3 points for the bottle is a bit high, I would rather spend it on wine

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?

Personally, In think I would have drank them in pregnancy. Probably noother times.

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?

I don't know TBH. I can never 'match' wine with food either.

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?

I gave the two pink ones to my sister. No-one else liked the green ones apart from me.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?

Never drink that kind of drink. Just water diet coke and tea.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?

I like the bottles, they look high quality. Reduce the price if possible.

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?

The natural ingrediants, and push the fact it is a great drink whilst pregant, ie no caffeine or alcohol.

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?

Probably.

Q1: They are not on my radar. Hardly surprising when you have to look for them on the bottom shelf of Morrisons.

Q2:The natural ingredients are obviously a huge plus. They all tasted nice to us although I liked the Pear (used the vouchers to relace our bottle which had leaked). The Mango lacked a bit of flavour and the pink one was probably my least favourite. They aren't too heavily carbonated, making them suitable for quite young children.

Q3: The bottles are really heavy and may put people off who have to lift heavy shopping bags. There isn't much to go around for a family of four.

Q4: Like everyone else, I think they'd be nice at BBQs, and at parties as a alcohol replacement. I also think they'd be nice at Christmas as a reminder of warmer days!

Q5: Most, to be honest. They are obviously good with light, summery food, but they be a light accompaniment to heavier stuff in the Winter too.

Q6: DS1 (8) really liked it and he doesn't usually like fizzy drinks. In fact he liked it so much he asked for it in his sports bottle when he played footbal which makes a change from the usual crap he asks for but never gets-- drinks. DS2 (4) thought it nice as well. DH liked them all and thought them a good substitute for a glass of wine with a meal.

Q7: We don't drink a lot of carbonated drinks, mainly cordial.

Q8: Make sure you don't have to root around the bottom shelf for it in supermarkets. Provide canned versions in newsagents, improve your ad campaigns. I saw your ad in Good Housekeeping recently and took note because of this survey. The ad was, to be honest, totally insipid and lacklustre. I would never even have noticed it ordinarily which is a shame because you have great product. Why not sponser some events? A garden at Chelsea, kids football tournaments? Scala do a similar thing at rugby events and really push their products there.

Q9: I think you've made a really good start here and are on the right track. Thank you for the drinks because we all really enjoyed trying them and chatting about them.

Q9: Yes.

Ballsed up the striking out

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons? Expense and just not generally looking for them. They tend not to be in a great place in local Asda.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour? They're lovely and refreshing, I really enjoyed the Mango and Apple ones, they were great with some ice cubes (plus the baby kicked a lot after them). I didn't like the Raspberry one, it was far too sharp for my tastes. It's great that they include proper fruit though, the one of five a day is a good thing.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on? As I said earlier I didn't like the Raspberry one, it was far too sharp for my liking. I'm not really a fan of those flavours generally anyway, so it was bound to be a bit hit and miss. I don't like the fact that the bottles are so small for what you pay for them. I had a look in the supermarket and they were £1.80 a bottle. That is very expensive and I would expect more for my money to be honest.

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range? Probably for an informal party I was going to or a summer BBQ.

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?

Apple - Pasta and Pesto.
Pear - Cheese and Crackers, salad type foods.
Manderin - I would say this would be more for a desert type menu but not with chocolate though. More like cheesecake.
Raspberry - I'm not sure, I think this could be quite versitile. I would say more heavier foods like Pork and meat based dishes. It has similar flavours to wine.

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?
Some friends did and they seemed to enjoy it, my friend from Brazil really enjoyed the Raspberry one. She said it was really refreshing and sweet.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?
I would probably buy Shloer because it's cheaper and it comes in bigger bottles. Plus a lot more people seem to like Shloer than Appletiser, I tend to think of Appletiser as something of an acquired taste. No one I know seems to drink it a lot.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?
Urmm I'm glad you're doing the cans, how about a sugar free version for all those diet coke fans out there, I'd buy that. Try and market it as a posh grown up fizzy drink, I've seen Shloer do that and it works for them. Maybe make the bottles bigger and Summer/Christmas party season would be a great time to try out the whole 'grown up' drink angle. Make it look as if it's a treat for someone to buy it.

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?
Market it as an alternative to wine, a lot of pregnant people don't drink alcohol and need an alternative for parties. I'd go with that angle and I would posh up the packaging a bit more, take the one of five a day thing and approach it from that direction. As in 'treat yourself and helps you on your way to five a day' as well as no caffine, coke can't do that can they.

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends? Yeah I would actually, I've really enjoyed the drinks and would buy them again in future.

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons? Haven't seen it in the places we buy drinks.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?
Best thing - ingredients, but is it really 1 of your 5-a-day?
Appletise

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?
The mango one was way too sweet. All of them contained a fair amount of sugar.

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?
In the pub / cafe, etc

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?
Picnics, barbecues, lunch, treats.

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?
The DC and DH tried them all. DD ordered an appletise in the pub following tasting!

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?
Less chemicals so preferable to most fizzy drinks.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?
Like the packaging, haven't seen much advertising apart form stuff we were sent.

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?
Emphasise no chemicals, less sugar and real fruit used. Offers in supermarkets. - I often buy stuff I don't normally get if it's on special!

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?
Yes
Add message | Report | Contact poster By annmar Fri 18-Jun-10 13:20:31

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?

hadn't seen in in ages, of course since testing it i've seen gallons of the stuff on the supermarket shelves!

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?

fruit content, and very refreshing. I really liked the mango one.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?

i wasn't too sure of the peartiser, not entirely sure why!

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?

we had them with a bbq, but the appletiser was really nice following my recent chemo, hit the spot for fizziness without any strange aftertaste!

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?

the fruity ones are nice for picnicy type things and the appletiser is nice with bbq's

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?

Chemo buddy tried the appletiser and liked it for the same reasons- no chemically taste

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?

i prefer it to shloer

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?

not sure about glass bottles, we don't have on-site collections of glass recycling so i prefer plastic for safety and ease of recycling.

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?

market the one of your 5 a day thing.

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?

yes, have done already!

Just leaving a message to do this later as feeding Erin. One of my fruit ones arrived leaking, anyone else receive a leaky one?

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?

Its in an area of the supermarket I tend to miss as we generally stick to fruit juice, water and alcohol as drinks.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?

I liked the fact that it was just fruit juice and bubbles. The bottle also has a nice shape to it and looks good on the table at meals. I liked the Appletiser the best, fresh, light and reminded me of my childhood.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?

I found the bottles to be a bit small, there was only enough for a smallish glass for each of us, not enough to do us for a whole meal. I didnt like the Raspberry one, it was too sweet and dry for my tastes. I also couldnt taste the mango in the mango version.

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range? Would drink with the evening meal

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?
I'd drink it with most meals

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?

My husband and children liked the mango one best, my daughter left most of her raspberry and pear ones.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?

Its similar to the schloer etc type of premium fruit drinks in glass bottles. I prefer Appletiser as it reminds me of my childhood and I prefer the flavour.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?
More marketing to parents. I avoid fizzy/overprocessed drinks for my children but there are occasions where it would be nice to have something different to water and fruit juice. I hadnt even considered buying appletiser before, I think mentally I had it pegged as too expensive and probably full of additives etc.

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?
Targeted advertising, money off vouchers etc

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?

Yes definitely

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?
Used to have it as a treat when I was a kid but never really thought to buy it as an adult.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?
Love the glass bottles, they make it seem a bit special! Favourite flavours are the traditional apple and the pomegranate and raspberry

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?
Bottles not very big, only get a couple of decent sized glasses out of it. Not so keen on the pear flavour

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?
Good for warm weather ? very refreshing!

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?
Salads and summer foods, bbq. etc

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?
All family tried it, apple went down very well and the fruit ones as well

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?
It is similar to Schloer but I find that a bit too sweet. However, that comes in larger bottles so you get more for your money.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?
Make a range of sizes, special offers or multipacks on smaller bottles (4 or 6 mixed bottles)

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?
Agree with one of the other posts for vouchers in bounty packs, also vouchers for supermarket parent and child schemes, push the fact that it is pure fruit

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?
definitely

The appletiser name always makes me think of the Tizer drink which i belive is stuffed full of additives, that's why I don't associate appletiser with being a healthy drink.

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?

Have tried before, tend to have at a pub instead of an alcoholic drink, great alternative.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?

Tastes are all just delicious and refreshing, lightly sparkled - yum. Nothing added, fantastic.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?

Cost - sorry, I cannot justify the cost without the help of the vouchers, as part of my regular weekly shop.

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?

Special occasions at home - guests staying or round for a meal. At a pub, see above.

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?

Unsure

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?

Children - loved it, especially Mango and Mandarin one.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?

This is one of my favourite fruit soft drinks. I love the fact that nothing is added in but some fizz. Otherwise, we are cordials and regular juice.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?

I didn't suffer from the leaky bottles, but gather this can be something of a problem. Retest your cap mechanisms if that is the case!

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?

More special offers....! Make it even clearer that there is nothing but juice and fizz in there.

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?

Yes, for taste etc absolutely. Price range though would need to be watched for those on a budget.

Hi there

I never received the appletiser box unfortunately! We were really looking forward to trying it out.

I loved mine- my favourite was the peartiser. I don't drink much, due to breastfeeding, and it gets very very boring having lime and soda all the time, so I will look out for appletiser and the rest in pubs now. I had previously dismissed it as just like J2o- ie all over sweet and cloying, but it is actually very nice.

DP had always thought it was apple flavour tizer .

The peartiser is lovely with gin. I am always on the lookout for a weak alcoholic drink that is nicer than shandy, and a small shot of gin in a large glass of peartiser really hit the spot :D

I like the glass packaging in general, but a plastic version would be good for picnics.

I would also love to see flavours like nettle or elderflower (I know-massive hippy!) that are a bit more grown up. Maybe special editions to go with the seasons? A pack of small bottles of various flavours, to take to a barbeque?

Atm I tend to go for the co-op elderflower fizzy thing (I forget the proper name!) when I want a special drink, but I could be persuaded to swap!

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?

We used to be given it when we were kids as 'champagne' - a special occasion drink. I think I'd forgotten about it, or thought it had gone out of production because I didn't come across it again until I saw a voucher or something in the bounty bag. Since then, it seems an expensive option for a fizzy drink - they don't last long in our house, and we prefer squash anyway if we want a refreshing drink.

Also, they're on the bottom shelf at the supermarket, so you don't see them unless you're looking for them.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?

The bottle is lovely and grown up! And the bubbles are small and fizz up your nose, not like big Coke bubbles that just make you burpy! And I love that it makes one of your 5aday! One of your 5-a-day from a fizzy drink???? My fave was apple, followed by the raspberry one, then pear.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?

They didn't travel well - but not a problem if you're fetching them yourself from the supermarket.

They're quite sweet. Lovely and refreshing, but sweet. I'd drink Appletiser at the (now rare trips to the) pub now, as I'm likely to be the driver for as long as I'm breast feeding. However, the only non-alcoholic drinks are sweet and it gets boring after a while. So a tangier version might be a nice change.

I don't actually know how much they cost, but I would think it's a lot for a soft drink. Maybe that's an unfair assumption, but the range (for me) has a high 'perceived' value in marketing-speak. I didn't like the mandarin one as much, although not because it was horrible, it was just my least favourite.

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?

When I'm the designated driver! Pub, barbecue, party etc. Or picnics, to make a nice change.

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?

Barbecue, salad

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?

DH says 'alright' - typical! Nice and sweet, and he didn't get acid attack which he normally does after fizzy drinks.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?

The only fizzy drinks we normally get are coke or fanta, and I wouldn't put Appletiser in that category (it would be an insult to Appletiser). I would compare it to Shloer, but I've never drunk that so I can't. And I can't see myself buying that now either.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?

A plastic bottle version would be nice to take on picnics. It would also make it more child friendly. Weirdly though, although I drank this as a child, I don't see it as a child's drink now. Maybe that's because I only have a baby, and haven't got to make decisions about her diet yet

Maybe if there were two types of packaging - for kids and grown ups? Or, rather than having two different designs (which is what it would need for an age split), there could be an 'everyday' bottle that is plastic/child friendly and a 'special occasion' bottle that is what is already there and looks impressive when you take it to a barbie at someones house.

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?

Child friendly bottles. Emphasise the 5 a day thing. Whenever I tell people that, they're amazed!

For me, I'd make it cheaper. But then, I'd make everything cheaper if I was in charge...

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?

Definitely. Already have.

Sorry for mammoth long answers

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?
I am not usually a big fan of fizzy drinks so they had really just fallen of my radar. And I don't like apple juice much

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?
Liked the bottles, loved the pear flavour and pomegranate ones chilled/over ice. Cost ok. Liked the pure juice idea - better than coke atleast!
Small bubbles.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?
Not keen on the mango one (v. sweet). Think they were all on the sweeter side. The apple one, chilled, was ok, but am not a big fan of apple juice normally, so this is a relative compliment

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?
At a cafe/restaurant as an alternative to water/wine. Might have as occasional treat at home or for parties.

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?
Most summer food, esp chicken/fish based dishes, BBQ... Also, curries and asian dishes (because of the sweetness of some of them)

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?
Friends and husband. Most liked the pomegranate flavour the most. All thought the mango flavour sweet - but some liked this.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?
I prefer Fentimans as it has more 'bite' but do like the idea of the pure juice element to appletise. Much prefer Appletise to coke/lemonade etc.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?
Improve awareness of the other flavours - none of the people I tried it with were aware they existed (and some though appletise was no longer available)

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?
Perhaps a plastic version but I liked the grown up feel of the glass ones - and that they can be recycled.
Emphasise as alternative non-alcoholic drink - chilled, on ice etc.

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?
Yes.

Q1 I think I had forgotten it existed and certainly didn't know about all the different flavours

Q2 Was amazed to find it is actually sparkling fruit juice, 1 of your 5 a day. I liked the mango one best but the Pomegranate was nice too. The bottle shape is good. And the cost seems comparable to other similar drinks like Shloer.

Q3 I found them fizzier than I like I was expecting slightly sparkling but I would describe them as fizzy. Although easily fixed I just open the bottle and leave it for a couple of days to go flatter. I wasn't keen on the apple. I thought that distinguishing the apple from the pear was impossible without actually reading the label.

Q4 As I am pregnant probably with a meal as a substitute when everybody else is drinking wine. Or just when I feel the need for something a bit more interesting than cordial.

Q5 The Pomegranate goes well with beef and the mango went well with tomato pasta. Was wondering if I could use the pear or apple with pork or chicken to cook with perhaps.

Q6 No.

Q7 I tend to buy Shloer purely because I was aware that it existed and hadn't realised so many flavours existed in the appletiser range. Will probably switch between the two now.

Q8 Point out that it is actually fruit juice with no nasties. Try to distinguish the pear from the apple packaging. Do some marketing - not sure what the target market is but it has completely passed me by so let's hope it isn't 30something, married women with children!

Q9 Market as a good alternative to an alcoholic drink with the added benefit of being one of your five a day. Something fruity and tasty and grown up. I always thought of appletiser being for kids.

Q10 Yes.

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?
I think it had dropped off my radar. Or maybe I knew about it, but it was something I associate with things like Lucozade - drinks from my youth? Not sure.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour? Favourite flavour by a mile was the Apple - lovely, not too sweet - like a Cox's Orange Pippin. Crisp and nice. I like the shape of the bottles as well, and the dark green.

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on? None of us liked the Mango, mandarin and apple very much. It tasted a bit artificial, although it wasn't. It smelt much nicer than it tasted - maybe too delicate a flavour to cope with the fizz?

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?
Before now, none. Now - I would use it as a substitute for something like Shloer - reasonably good quality soft drink for non-drinking adults at a social gathering.

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?
The apple version is very good with cheese.

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?
My two youngest sons tried the range. They liked it - youngest preferred the pear, although second-youngest claimed it looked like wee.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?
It compares very well, although my knowledge is pretty limited. Nicer than my usual lemonade, nicer than Shloer.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?
I think you should stick to the original and best apple version. You need to somehow make it more modern; maybe market it as a reasonable alternative to a glass of white wine? So less of a lemonade substitute, more of a grown up drink. The sharpness of the apple helps here.

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?
I have no idea, other than that it makes for a good wine substitute.

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?
Yes, I might. We don't often find ourselves recommending soft drinks to each other, though!

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?
A1 We don't tend to drink much fizzy/sparkling stuff in our house, usually opting for fresh juice. On the odd occasion we might fancy something sparkling, Schloer is usually cheaper/on special offer.

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?
A2. Really crisp, refreshing tastes. The bottle was nice enough looking though deceptively small - didn't seem to get much out of it. Ingredients - would be nice if the bottles were marked as suitable for vegans. Husband and I both tried all the flavours, and both agreed that the pear one was the best (by far!). This was nice as I don't much like pears - the texture puts me off, but as a sparkling drink it's fab!

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?
A3 The size of the bottles - you only get three or so glasses - not much, really.

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?
A4 Any, I guess (we polished off the lot in less than a week).

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?
A5 All!

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?
A6 There's only my husband and me in the house, and yes, he tried them all. He preferred the Pear, liked the Apple next, and then the Pomegranate and Raspberry, with the Mango and Mandarin being the least favourite, but still perfectly quaffable. I would agree 100% with his ordering.

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?
A7 Sainsbury's do a nice lightly sparkling Grape, Pomegranate & Rose Presse, which we occasionally have, it's been a while but from memory, I think it's less fizzy than Appletiser and Schloer, which is good for my liking.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?
A8 Bigger bottles. And make the screw caps work - one of our apple flavours was leaky because the cap was not sealed correctly - as seems to be a theme here.

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?
A9 Do more special offers, and make the bottles lighter (they seem quite heavy - lots of glass?).
What about a cardbox box like you get boxes of wine in?
For children, I'd like to see more children-friendly packaging.

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?
A10 Yes, absolutely.

Thanks for the free bottles, we enjoyed them a lot!

Q1: I forgot about it

Q2; The apple was my favourite, seemed slightly less sweet and fizzy than the others. Don't know the cost, bottle was fine - probably the no additives/sugar thing best thing about it

Q3: Didn't like the mixed up flavour ones - the mango, pomegranate etc. Much too sweet for me.

Q4: I haven't in the past. Now, I guess I might order it at the pub if not drinking alcohol, or keep in fridge.

Q5: I don't think anything would be good with the mixed-up flavour ones. With the pear and apple - a good salad, pork or chicken perhaps

Q6: yes dh, and all three children tried. We had a formal tasting session and I had to write notes and there was a terminal long discussion on the flavours. DS1 (12) loved the apple v. v. much indeed, ds2 doesn't like fizzy, and dd liked the apple and pear. DH liked the pear.

Q7. Oh not sure - I quite like those snooty Belvoir cordial drinks but pretty much only because they have a nice label. We don't have fizzy drinks often in our house.

Q8. Well I suppose given that I'd forgotten about them, I suppose publicity could improve. Packaging - hmm, rather staid isn't it?

Q9. By pushing the idea that they have no added sugar and no additives. Mind you, once tested - some of them are so powerfully sweet, that you couldn't possibly add any more sugar, naturally occurring or not.

Q10. Yes, I'd recommend the Pear and the Apple, but not the mixed-up crazy flavours ones.

Thank you v. much for sending!

Q1. It is quite expensive.

Q2. Best is the apple. I quite liked the little apple on the bottle

Q3. The mango one was a little bit odd in as much as you could not taste the mango plus it had an acrid after taste. The bottle is going to be difficult to recycle as there are no recycling bins in our locality.

Q4. I would not normally unless it was Christmas.

Q5.The apple would go with most things, the rasp and pom is excellent with rich dark chocolate cake, mango etc in a punch with a good dollop of vodka, and the pear with some good cheese.

Q6.The whole family tried the range and loved them. Dh liked the pomegranite one best.

Q7. I like AME and occasionally buy Schloer for birthdays etc.

Q8. Drop the price and perhaps larger, plastic bottles?

Q9. Tasters in supermarkets pointing out that the fruit content is one of your 5 a day.

Q10. Yes.

Thank you for the beautifully wrapped box which arrived just in time for my birthday.

Q1 If you haven't tried Appletiser before, or for a long time, what are the reasons?

Q2 What was the best thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which was your favourite flavour?

Q3 What was the worst thing about the Appletiser range (including the taste, the bottle, ingredients, cost etc)? Which flavour(s) weren?t you so keen on?

Q4 On what occasions would you typically drink a product from the Appletiser range?

Q5 What foods do you think the different Appletiser flavours would be good with?
I dont buy many fizzy drinks and dont think about it.

Q6 Did anyone else in your family, your children, or any of your friends try it? What did they think?

yes my DP and DC all tried some of each drink. they liked them all but the pear

Q7 How does the Appletiser range compare to other similar drinks? Is there a brand you prefer? If so why?
I can;t think of another fizzy fruit drink. i would say Schloer would be the closest.

Q8 What do you think Appletiser the company do to improve the product, packaging or marketing?
I love the glass bottles but i would imagine they would be more ecenomic and easier to store if they were plastic.

Q9 If you were in charge of selling Appletiser how would you try to encourage more mums, or mums to be, to buy Appletiser?
I would market it as a classy alternative to alcohol. much nicer than coke when breast feeding.

Q10 Lastly, do you think you would recommend the Appletiser range to your friends?
the mango and the pomegranet most definitly.