McDonald's refreshes drinks line - FT.com McDonald's and Coca-Cola are to launch a fruit soda in an attempt to tap into the appetite for healthier diets. Fruitizz, a blend of grapes, apples and raspberries with fizzy water, will go on sale next week in all 1,200 McDonald's restaurants in the UK. The drink may be launched in other parts of the US fast-food chain's global empire. The product will be manufactured by Coca-Cola but, unlike most of its drinks, will not be branded or marketed by the US beverage maker. Coca-Cola said that it frequently manufactures beverage products for food service customers. The move comes as governments across the world are launching campaigns against obesity. Last year, McDonald's partially replaced fries with apple slices in its US Happy Meals, following calls from the US government and activist groups to sell healthier food to children. It offers fruit options in other markets, including the UK. McDonald's own research suggests children given the healthier drink - which it says counts towards one of the UK government's recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day - will stick with it rather than reverting to colas. A pilot project in restaurants in Wales showed that three-quarters of people who bought Fruitizz would buy it again. In the UK, family business, measured by those ordering a Happy Meal, makes up 30 per cent of sales, while the company says most of the meals sold are accompanied by a drink. McDonald's serves 2.5m customers a day in the UK. Drinks currently on offer include Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite, all of which are made by Coca-Cola, along with water, PepsiCo's Tropicana and Fruit Shoots. Fruitizz will be served via the soda fountain, like other fizzy drinks, which the company believes will be an important part of making it "more exciting and desirable." It will be priced in line with other sodas. The new drink, three years in the making, will be backed with advertising aimed at children as well as their parents. Jill McDonald, chief executive of McDonald's UK, said: "We tried and tested 80 formulations in order to create the right product that delivers nutritional benefit as well as a new, exciting taste." Separately yesterday, McDonald's reported disappointing comparable store sales in April. Same-store sales were up 3.3 per cent around the world, failing to meet the company's projections and the estimates of Wall Street analysts. McDonald's shares fell 2.1 per cent to $93.55 by the close.