What’s the best thing to come out of the US? Brits say cola...

The British love American food and drink and, according to a new independent survey, their favourite American drink is cola – even if two per cent of the 1,000 people questioned think it comes from “Cola Island”.

The top five food and drink favourites from America were, in order of preference:

1. Cola
2. Chocolate, e.g. Hersheys
3. Burgers
4. Peanut butter
5. Cakes, such as Twinkies.

The survey was conducted on behalf of Cott Beverages Ltd, which has teamed up with Asda to launch one of America’s oldest and best known brands, RC cola, in the UK.

RC cola was created in 1905 in the same place as Coke; Columbus, Georgia - not Cola Island in the Caribbean, as almost two per cent of those questioned believed.

Sundeep Gill, assistant brand manager for Cott Beverages Ltd. said: “The rise in popularity in Britain of all things vintage American - think of Mad Men, cheerleaders and cupcakes – fits like a dream with the launch of RC(R) cola in the UK, as British consumers can now buy an American drink with the perfect retro look, feel and taste they’ve been searching for.

“Overall, the Brits voted for five of our favourite American things, with American films and TV programmes coming first and second, food and drink third.”

Northern Irish people in particular love their US food and drink, with 50 per cent of respondents declaring it their favourite thing to come out of America. And despite cola being as American as the Star and Stripes, 15 per cent of respondents thought it originated here in the UK, perhaps indicating that the ties between the US and the UK are stronger than we think. Central and Northern England, Scotland, Eire and Northern Ireland proved to be the biggest fans of cola, and over 40 per cent of people said they were keen to see more US products in Great Britain.