For cafés, restaurants, mobile caterers, and event operators, choosing the right wholesale drinks is essential. Drinks are often the highest-margin items on a menu, and with the right selection, you can boost average spend, reduce waste, and keep customers coming back. 

This wholesale drinks buying guide gives cafés and caterers everything they need to build a profitable, balanced drinks offering supported by expert insights from Magna Foodservice. 

Understand Your Business Type & Customer Patterns 

Drinks buying varies depending on the type of operation: 

Cafés 

  • Coffee-based syrups 
  • Still water 
  • Juice drinks 
  • Premium sparkling drinks 
  • Grab-and-go soft drinks 

Caterers (Events, Corporate, Weddings) 

  • Squash & cordials (large volume) 
  • Bulk bottled water 
  • Soft drinks multipacks 
  • Speciality syrups for mocktails 

Takeaways / Mobile Caterers 

Knowing your customer flow helps you buy the right drinks in the right quantity. 

Build a Balanced Wholesale Drinks Mix 

The ideal drinks collection includes a strong variety without overstocking. 

Fizzy Soft Drinks: The Core Sellers 

These remain the highest-demand beverages for most cafés and caterers. 

Recommended wholesale staples: 

  • Coca-Cola 
  • Diet Coke / Coke Zero 
  • Pepsi & Pepsi Max 
  • 7UP / Sprite 
  • Fanta 

These work for dine-in, takeaway and event catering. 

Explore our Soft Drinks range. 

Bottled Water: Essential for Every Business 

Stock both: 

  • Still water (most popular) 
  • Sparkling water (premium audience) 

Wholesale water sells consistently in all seasons and settings. 

Shop Still Water & Sparkling Water from Magna Foodservice. 

Fruit Juices & Juice Drinks: Perfect for Breakfast & Events 

Cafés especially benefit from offering: 

  • Orange juice 
  • Apple juice 
  • Tropical blends 
  • Lunchbox juice drinks 

Juices are also ideal for children’s meals, brunch menus and catering packages. 

Browse: Fruit Juices & Juice Drinks 

Squash & Cordials: High-Margin, High-Volume Options 

For caterers, these are essential due to: 

  • Low cost per serving 
  • Easy transport 
  • Long shelf life 

Schools, events and buffets rely heavily on squash. 

View: Squash & Cordials 

Syrups: The Secret Weapon for Premium Drinks 

Syrups allow cafés to create: 

  • Speciality coffees 
  • Milkshakes 
  • Mocktails 
  • Flavoured waters 
  • Dessert drinks 

They elevate menus and create high-margin signature items. 

Explore: Syrups 

Buy the Right Pack Sizes for Your Business 

Pack size matters more than most businesses realise. 

For Cafés 

  • 330ml cans 
  • 500ml bottles 
  • 1L syrups 
  • Single-serve juice cartons 

For Caterers 

  • Multipacks 
  • 1.5L shared bottles 
  • 5L cordials 
  • Bulk water 
  • Bottled drinks for events 

Buying the wrong pack size leads to waste or low profits. Choose based on your service type. 

Understand Profit Margins on Different Drinks 

Some drinks earn more profit than others: 

Highest Margin 

  • Squash 
  • Cordials 
  • Syrups 
  • Large bottles (shared) 

Medium Margin 

  • Fruit juice drinks 
  • Still water 

Lower (But Fast-Selling) Margin 

  • Branded fizzy drinks 
  • Energy drinks 

Cafés and caterers should stock a balance of fast sellers and high-margin items to maximise earnings. 

Keep Storage & Space in Mind 

Small cafés need compact stock; caterers often have more space. 

Small Cafés Should Prioritise 

  • Cans 
  • Individual drinks 
  • Slim bottles 
  • Shelf-stable juices 

Caterers Should Prioritise 

  • Large cases 
  • Cordials 
  • Multipacks 
  • Bulk water pallets 

A smart storage strategy avoids over-ordering and keeps stock fresh. 

Choose a Reliable Wholesale Supplier 

Your drinks offering depends on a consistent supply. 

The right wholesale supplier should offer: 

  • A wide range of soft drinks, water, juices & syrups 
  • Dependable delivery 
  • Competitive pricing 
  • Trusted brands 
  • Bulk and catering-friendly pack sizes 

At Magna Foodservice, cafés and caterers across the UK choose us because we supply reliable, high-quality wholesale drinks at excellent value. 

Conclusion: Build a Drinks Range That Boosts Profits 

A strong wholesale drinks strategy combines: 

  • Customer demand 
  • Smart product mix 
  • Profitable items 
  • Seasonal flexibility 
  • Reliable supply 

With the right wholesale drinks partner, cafés and caterers can offer a menu that satisfies customers and maximises revenue all year round.