The skittle evolution retains Schweppes' iconic skittle shape while introducing a lighter, more practical bottle, shaped by direct input from bartenders across the UK.
Schweppes has unveiled Skittle Evolution, its first redesign of the 200ml glass bottle in a decade for the GB on-trade. The new bottle retains Schweppes' iconic skittle shape while introducing a lighter, more practical design, developed with input from the bartenders who serve it every day.
The redesign lands as part of Schweppes' wider global relaunch, With Time Comes Taste, built on the idea that great taste isn't rushed, it's developed and perfected over time. For the GB on-trade specifically, that philosophy has shaped a bottle built for bar service.
Schweppes was founded in 1783 by Jacob Schweppe, following his invention of the first industrial process to bottle carbonation, and was awarded a Royal Warrant by King William IV in 1836.
The skittle-shaped bottle has its own history within the brand: the original was blown and formed in a single piece by Jacob Schweppe in 1783, its curves designed to help create optimum effervescence.
Those curves were reinstated when the Skittle bottle launched in GB in 2016, and the shape has been synonymous with the brand ever since. Skittle Evolution is a refinement of that shape for a new generation: the brand's logo and 26° sash are pressed directly into the glass as three-dimensional detailing, catching the light rather than sitting flat on a label, alongside a simplified fountain motif, a quiet nod to the Schweppes fountain displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851.
The redesign focuses on ergonomics as much as aesthetics. A wider, steadier base and refined proportions make the bottle easier to store, stack and handle behind the bar, while the recessed sash gives added grip during service and a softened shoulder lets it sit comfortably in the hand and pour cleanly.
Additionally the new bottle is 15% lighter than its predecessor and now carries a fully paper label in place of the plastic label used previously, letting the glass, and the liquid inside it, do the talking.
The redesign reflects Schweppes' broader commitment to its relationship with the on-trade. Ahead of finalising the new design, the brand brought together ten bartenders, bar owners and industry consultants from across the UK, some of the most respected names in the on-trade, to feed into the final design and help ensure it met the needs of bars across the UK.
The rollout is phased, with the full range completing the switch by the end of the September. Availability may differ depending on your route to market partner.
Ioanna Topali, Senior Director Marketing, Coca-Cola Company GB, said: “The new Schweppes Skittle Evolution bottle brings together heritage and innovation in a way that reflects the needs of today's on-trade.
"By listening directly to bartenders, we've created a bottle that stays true to our iconic design while delivering a more practical and premium experience behind the bar.”