Winner
Chosen by our judges:
Steep Soda Co, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire
The finalists
The top public vote-winners:
Steep Soda Co, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire
Round Corner Brewing, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Revival Rum, Brampton Ash, Northamptonshire
Saxby’s Cider, Farndish, Northamptonshire
The winner is Steep Soda Co – a bold, independent drinks maker led by Liam Willday and Laura Smith, who craft exceptional sodas with top-quality ingredients, creative flair and a spirit of collaboration.
The UK soda market may lag a step or two behind its US cousins, but Liam and Laura of Steep Soda Co. are running fast to catch up. Since founding the business in 2016, this talented duo have been shaking up the soft drinks scene with creativity, collaboration and uncompromising attention to quality.
Based in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, Liam and Laura press their own juices and build recipes with precision, avoiding the shortcuts of mass production. Lemons and blood oranges arrive from Laudani, a family-run farm in Sicily, and are transformed into sodas with minimal carbonation – allowing the fruit’s natural character to shine. Syrups don’t come close to their process.
Collaboration is at the heart of Steep Soda Co. They work regularly with fellow independents, creating distinctive sodas that celebrate shared values. A standout example is their partnership with our 2024/25 Food Producer of the Year, Mee Blueberries, which produced an outstanding blueberry soda.
What makes Steep Soda Co. so exciting is their commitment to building something different in an industry dominated by global corporate brands. From recyclable cans with protective linings to investment in top-notch kit, every choice reflects their care for flavour and sustainability.
You’ll currently find Steep Soda Co. stocked at places like Stonehurst Farm, Mountsorrel, but we’d love to see more local pubs, restaurants and shops getting behind this inspiring producer. If you spot their cans, pick one up – it’s the taste of independent spirit, bottled (or rather, canned) with passion.
In the end, our judges chose Steep Soda Co because their drinks embody what we value most – uncompromising quality, a genuine respect for ingredients, and a spirit of independence. Their commitment to collaboration and their refusal to follow the shortcuts of the corporate soft drinks world make them a shining example of how small producers can raise the bar and inspire others.
