UK startup ‘Onest Energy has been named Best Sports & Energy Drink at the UK Soft Drinks Awards 2026, less than a year after launching its first product.
The independent brand, founded by Maya Bedeau, also received recognition as a finalist in the Best Packaging & Label Design category, marking an impressive milestone for the business just eight months after entering the competitive energy drinks market.
Organised by FoodBev Media, the UK Soft Drinks Awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the UK beverage industry, with winners judged independently on criteria including taste, ingredient quality and overall brand execution.
Despite competing against some of the biggest names in the sector, ‘Onest Energy secured the top spot ahead of established international brands including NOCCO, Holy Energy and Ghost Energy.
Commenting on the award, founder Maya Bedeau said:
“We started ‘Onest with a belief that the energy drink market was ready for transparency and honesty – better ingredients, no nonsense, and a brand that customers can actually trust. Winning Best Sports & Energy Drink at the UK Soft Drinks Awards, against brands with decades of history and hundreds of millions in funding, means everything. It tells us the product is right. Now we continue to build the brand around it.”
The success highlights the growing appetite for independent food and drink brands that focus on simple ingredients, clear branding and product quality.
‘Onest Energy’s recipe combines 80mg of natural caffeine from coffee beans, magnesium citrate to help reduce energy crashes, and B vitamins (B3, B6, B12 and B7) to support energy production. Each can contains just 30 calories and 4g of natural sugar.
The range is currently available in two flavours:
- Sparkling Apple Berry
- Sparkling Tropical Peach
Alongside the category win, the brand’s recognition for packaging design demonstrates the increasing importance of branding and shelf appeal in today’s highly competitive food and drink sector.
For independent businesses, the achievement is another reminder that innovation, product quality and a clear brand identity can enable newer companies to compete successfully against much larger, well-established competitors.
As consumer demand continues to shift towards more transparent products with simpler ingredient lists, startups like ‘Onest Energy are proving that smaller brands can still make a significant impact within the UK’s food and beverage industry.
For more information about ‘Onest Energy, visit their website or follow the brand on social media.
