Soft Drinks

This report examines inflation levels and drivers globally and in key countries in Q4 2023 and 2024. Global inflation is moderating, although divergence remains among the key economies. Higher volatility in the energy markets and disruption of…

The juice category has grown significantly in Dominican Republic in 2022 and 2023 in retail volume terms. The category has seen even stronger growth in current value terms due to inflation-driven price rises. Juice drinks (up to 24% juice) has been…

RTD tea has seen significant growth in retail value and volume terms in 2023 as the category begins its recovery from the heavy losses seen in 2021 and 2022. Sales of RTD tea experienced a dramatic decline in these two years due to the withdrawal of…

Soft drinks has continued to see healthy growth in retail volume and current value terms in 2023. Sales have been supported by consumers returning to their old consumption habits now that the pandemic is over. Although sales have seen steady growth…

Retail volume sales of soft drinks slowed in 2023 over the previous year, while the on-trade made a return to pre-pandemic levels. Although rising health consciousness supported growth in juice to the detriment of carbonates, carbonates and bottled…

Sports drinks has seen strong growth in retail volume terms in 2023, which has been in large part due to the outstanding performance of the Generade brand from Industrias San Miguel del Caribe SA. The brand has energised the category thanks to its…

Bottled water is set to continue to experience total current value growth in 2023. 2022 marked a year of dynamic growth for bottled water, due to the return of on-the go consumption and a warmer and longer summer. In 2023, growth is set to continue,…

The cost of living increased sharply across the UK during 2022 and into 2023. Due to a strong increase in the overall cost of production, and rising unit prices, reaching and often surpassing 10% rises, carbonates is set to experience increases in…

After a year of falling off-trade volume sales in 2022, 2023 is set to see a continued decline in demand for concentrates. The decrease in off-trade volume terms is expected to be especially marked by the decline in powder concentrates, which is set…

2023 has marked another year of strong growth for energy drinks, which is expected to be amongst the strongest performers within the soft drinks industry. Energy drinks is set to experience double-digit growth in current value terms both on-trade and…

2023 has been a positive year for total volume sales of soft drinks; however, consumers are drifting away from traditional soft drinks such as juice towards more innovative products. In 2023, most juice categories are set to increase in off-trade…

In 2023, RTD coffee is set to experience strong double-digit growth in off-trade current value and volume terms. For several years now, RTD coffee has benefited from growing popularity and a surge in demand. This is due to several factors, including…

Following strong positive performances in 2021 and 2022, ready to drink (RTD) tea is set to continue to experience double-digit growth in current value sales both off-trade and on-trade in 2023. Due to a longer and warmer summer in 2022, RTD tea…

The soft drinks industry maintained positive growth in volume terms in 2023, although growth slowed from the previous year, as inflationary pressure undermined economic conditions. Nevertheless, the market did benefit from the revival of tourism.…

Despite inflation, total volume sales of soft drinks have remained resilient in the United Kingdom. 2022 and 2023 have been challenged by increasing prices, which have had a significant impact on the cost of living. Consumers have lost purchasing…

After experiencing significant off-trade and on-trade volume and current value growth in 2021 and 2022, sports drinks is set to continue to experience dynamic growth in 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the health and wellness trend, which…

Bottled water is set to maintain off-trade volume and current value growth in 2023. In Japan, where tap water is drinkable, the culture of purchasing bottled water for home use was for a long time uncommon. However, the Great East Japan Earthquake of…

Bottled water benefitted from increasing demand for convenience in 2022. A large proportion of purchases of still bottled water are made on impulse by consumers seeking to quench their thirst while on the go. Thus, this category saw strong growth as…

South Africa has been facing drinking water supply issues, supporting elevated demand for bottled water compared to pre-pandemic levels, including for still bottled water, despite declining off-trade volume sales as a result of a greater return to…

With the emerging inflation and competitive landscape being reshaped, private label is starting to regain shelf space in many categories, including bottled water. Since water is considered a basic and affordable product in consumers’ minds, private…

In 2023, total volume sales of carbonates are set to decrease compared with 2022. On-trade volume sales are expected to increase thanks to a continued rebound in demand after the lifting of pandemic restrictions. However, off-trade volume sales are…

Sales of carbonates have continued to decline in retail volume terms in 2023 with mounting health concerns and economic pressures taking their toll. Norway has continued to face elevated rates of inflation in 2023 while prices have risen across most…

Large category players are narrowing their offerings. As a result, Tab has been discontinued in South Africa. Leading player Coca-Cola seeks to strengthen its current brands and exclude low-performing ones. In its place, it has introduced a…

Across carbonates, reduced sugar options are gaining popularity in the United Arab Emirates. This trend is being widely supported by advertising and promotions. Hypermarkets and forecourt retailers are introducing floor and shelf banners advertising…

In 2023, liquid concentrates is set to see a decrease in off-trade volume and current value sales. This is mainly due to the decreased amount of time consumers having been spending at home in this year. Liquid concentrates saw a strong rise in…

Off-trade volume sales of liquid concentrates have continued to decline in 2023. This is due to negative pressure from the resumption of cross-border trade. Liquid concentrates are popular purchases when Norwegians go on day-trips to Sweden.…

In 2023, the average unit price of concentrates witnessed considerably faster growth compared to overall soft drinks in South Africa, although it remains considerably lower per litre (RTD) than the latter. The impact of the sugar tax (the Health…

Demand for both powder concentrates and liquid concentrates has been declining in the United Arab Emirates for several years. General health awareness and concerns around sugar consumption are discouraging local consumers from purchasing these…

Energy drinks is set to record falling off-trade volume sales in 2023, with price increases by leading manufacturers a major factor contributing to decline. In response to the rising costs of materials, packaging, and transportation, energy drinks…

Sales of energy drinks have rocketed in Norway over the review period with sales almost doubling in retail volume terms. Successful marketing campaigns have resulted in widespread adoption of these products with some consumers drinking one or two…

Switch Energy has introduced three new flavours to its range as limited editions. In 2023, the brand offered 37 different flavours compared to Monster Energy’s 18 flavours, and Dragon’s 17 flavours. Interest in Switch Energy peaked when it introduced…

Energy drinks in the United Arab Emirates are often marketed using images depicting young adult consumers as enthusiastic, fit, smart and adventurous. This type of advertising can attract children and teenagers, who are becoming increasingly…

In 2023, total volume sales of juice are set to decrease compared with 2022. On-trade volume sales are expected to increase thanks to a continued rebound in demand as the legal status of COVID-19 was downgraded to Class 5 in May. However, off-trade…

Sales of juice have continued to decline in retail volume terms in 2023. Sales have in part been negatively affected by the resumption of cross-border trade with Sweden. Although Sweden has also been impacted by elevated inflation it still continues…

Popular juice brand Liqui-Fruit (Pioneer Foods (Pty) Ltd for PepsiCo Inc) has been rebranded. Its packaging has switched from a colourful box to a white background where the logo’s colour is associated with the juice’s flavour. When compared to the…

Following global inflation and the challenge for low- and mid-income consumers to manage their expenses, all major private label lines of juice entered the United Arab Emirates, including Carrefour Fresh, Lulu Fresh, Spinneys Food, Spinneys Kitchen…

Off-trade volume sales of RTD coffee are set to record a slight decline in 2023. While increased opportunities to leave the home due to the containment of the pandemic drove sales, the summer heat dragged down sales. In 2023, Japan experienced an…

Off-trade volume sales of RTD coffee have continued to decline in 2023, while on-trade sales remain negligible. Sales have been negatively impacted by the resumption of cross-border trade, but also by the economic pressures facing the country. With…

Price per litre, RTD coffee is the most expensive category within soft drinks in the United Arab Emirates, followed by energy drinks. Its high price is driven by the premium nature of the product, a relatively small bottle size and the domination of…

Off-trade volume sales of RTD tea are set to record a decline in 2023. While increased opportunities to go out with the containment of the pandemic should have contributed to growth, the impact of the price increases, which began in 2022, was fully…

RTD tea has continued to post moderate growth in off-trade volume terms in 2023. Much of the RTD tea sold in Norway is for out of home consumption. As a result, sales have benefitted from the return of busy lifestyles in the post-pandemic period. The…

Rooibos tea continues to be a growing choice among South Africans due to its local positioning. It is also considered the more suitable option due to its pricing, antioxidant and hydrating effects. This supports the growth of rooibos tea, especially…

RTD tea in the United Arab Emirates is among three categories within soft drinks demonstrating double-digit growth rates in 2023. Its success is partly being driven by its novelty factor in the local market, in line with the continuing success of RTD…

In 2023, soft drinks is set to record opposite performances in the on-trade channel and the off-trade channel. On 8 May 2023, the Japanese government downgraded the legal status of COVID-19 to Class 5, the level of common infectious diseases. This…

Sales have continued to normalise in 2023 after the highs of the pandemic when consumers stockpiled supplies of soft drinks. Despite this, sales remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels in retail volume terms, supported by consumers…

The health and wellness trend is becoming increasingly entrenched in South Africans’ lives, although regular soft drinks such as carbonates retain higher share overall compared to reduced sugar options. While brands are adapting more to this trend,…

Demand for soft drinks in the United Arab Emirates (in both off-trade and on-trade channels) is growing in 2023, despite global economic challenges. The purchasing power of most local consumers remains high, as a major proportion of the population…

In 2023, off-trade volume and current value sales of sports drinks are set to record growth compared with 2022, due to an extremely hot summer. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the national average temperature from June to August was the…

Sports drinks has been one of the most dynamic categories within soft drinks in Norway with sales posting strong growth in retail volume terms despite the economic pressures facing the country. Sales have benefited from the increased focus on the…

While the growth of energy drinks remains more dynamic in South Africa, sports drinks remain popular with local consumers due to the greater participation in activities. Unlike energy drinks, sports drinks do not contain caffeine and work to aid…