South Side adds Watermelon Twist as national retail footprint tops 2,000 stores

The South African hard soda brand expands its flavour line-up as it builds national distribution, invests in local production and eyes its next phase of growth.

Watermelon has long been shorthand for a South African summer. Now South Side is putting its own spin on it.

The South African hard soda brand has launched Watermelon Twist, a new watermelon-flavoured addition to its ready-to-drink (RTD) range, arriving as the brand expands its national retail footprint to more than 2,000 stores.

The launch follows a period of significant growth for South Side, including increased investment in local production and wider distribution across South Africa, as the brand looks to strengthen its position in the competitive RTD category.

Watermelon Twist brings a crisp, juicy watermelon profile to the range, with balanced sweetness and a clean finish. It joins South Side's existing line-up as the brand continues to build around flavour, accessibility and an intentionally irreverent identity.

Its arrival also follows weeks of teasing across South Side's social platforms, where the brand invited its community to guess what was coming next.

For South Side Director Trent Varejes, the new flavour is as much about responding to consumers as it is about expanding the range.

“We've been listening to our community, and the demand for new flavours has been loud and clear,” says Varejes. “Watermelon Twist felt like a natural next step for South Side. It's familiar enough to be instantly recognisable, but it gives us room to put our own personality behind it.”

The launch comes at an interesting time for South Africa's RTD market, where convenience, flavour innovation and changing drinking occasions are giving consumers more choice beyond traditional beer, wine and spirits.

For South Side, that means thinking beyond simply putting another flavour on shelf.

“Getting into more than 2,000 retail doors changes the scale at which we can operate,” says Varejes. “The focus now is on building a South African brand that can keep growing without losing the personality that got people interested in South Side in the first place.”

That growth has been supported by increased local production capabilities, allowing the brand to service its expanding retail footprint while continuing to develop its product pipeline.

Watermelon Twist is the latest step in that strategy, with further developments planned as South Side continues to grow its presence nationally.

“We're still relatively early in the South Side story,” adds Varejes. “There is a lot more we want to do across flavour, retail and the brand itself. Watermelon Twist is one part of a much bigger plan.”

South Side Watermelon Twist will be available at TOPS at SPAR, Pick n Pay Liquor, Norman Goodfellows, Ultra Liquors, Liquor City and selected retailers nationwide.