South Side brings Watermelon Twist to shelves as hard soda brand surpasses 2,000 outlets
The new flavour is available nationwide through selected liquor retailers.
SOUTH AFRICA – South African hard soda brand South Side has launched Watermelon Twist, adding a summery watermelon variant to its growing portfolio as the brand continues to expand its presence across the country.
The new flavour follows a teaser campaign on social media that prompted consumers to speculate about South Side’s next product.
The launch reflects the growing importance of flavour innovation in the alcoholic ready-to-drink (RTD) category, where brands are increasingly using accessible fruit profiles and seasonal associations to attract younger, flavour-focused consumers.
South Side describes Watermelon Twist as delivering a familiar watermelon taste with a crisp finish and balanced sweetness.
The brand said the formulation avoids an artificial-tasting profile, positioning the new variant as an easy-drinking addition to its range.
The launch also comes as South Side reaches a significant distribution milestone, with its products now available in more than 2,000 retail outlets nationally.
The wider footprint gives the brand greater access to consumers while supporting its ambitions in South Africa’s increasingly competitive RTD market.
For South Side, the latest launch has also been shaped by direct feedback from its consumer community, which the company says has been calling for additional flavours.
“We’ve been listening to our community, and the demand for new flavours has been loud and clear,” said director Trent Varejes.
“Watermelon Twist proves we’re not slowing down. We’re evolving, staying irreverent and giving our community exactly what they’ve been asking for. This is just the warm-up.”
The comments suggest further flavour launches could be in the pipeline as South Side seeks to build momentum around its expanding portfolio.
Flavour diversification has become a key strategy across the broader RTD beverage sector, with brands competing through new taste profiles, limited releases and distinctive positioning.
Watermelon Twist is now available at selected retailers nationwide, including Tops at SPAR, Pick n Pay Liquor, Norman Goodfellows, Ultra Liquors and Liquor City.
The launch comes at a time when South Africa’s alcoholic beverage market continues to see strong competition between established producers and newer RTD brands, making distribution scale and continued product innovation increasingly important for companies seeking to secure shelf space and consumer attention.
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