Non-alcoholic beverage sales growth accelerated in the two-week period ending November 5, according to an analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
Total beverage retail dollar sales were up around 15% in the two-week period, picking up pace compared to 13.7% for the four-week period and 12.7% for the 12-week period. Volume sales during the two-weeks were up 0.2% (-1.2% in the four-weeks), while average pricing “remained robust and was broadly stable” growing 14.9% (+14.8% for four-weeks), Goldman reported.
On a three-year stack basis, total beverage sales were up 39.7% in the two-weeks, consistent with 39.8% growth in the four-weeks, with CSDs, sports drinks and energy drinks driving the performance.
CSDs
Carbonated soft drink sales increased 17.2% in the two-week period (+16.6% in the four-weeks), with volume growing 0.2% (flat for four-weeks) and a 17% jump in average pricing. The Coca-Cola Company reported sales up 19.7% in the period (+2.3% to volume, +17% to pricing), while PepsiCo was up 13.9% (-1.1% decline for volume, +15.1% pricing) and Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) grew sales 16.1% (-1.7% volume, +18.1% pricing).
Energy Drinks
The energy category saw sales accelerate, up 12.5% in the two-weeks versus +11.7% in the four-week period. Volume sales were up 2% and pricing climbed up 10.3%.
Monster Energy Company saw dollar sales accelerate +14.3% (+13.3% for the four-week period) while volume sales slowed slightly at +2.4% (+3.2% for four-weeks). Average pricing for the company grew 11.6%. Red Bull sales grew 8.5% in the two-weeks, with volume up by 0.5% and average pricing up 8%.
PepsiCo (Rockstar and MTN Dew) sales fell -2.5% in the two-week period against a double-digit -11.9% volume decline, but buoyed by +10.6% pricing improvement. However, sales for the conglomerate’s new distribution partner, CELSIUS, were up 128.6% with +117.6% to volume and just 5% average pricing increase. Starbucks, including select coffee drinks and its Baya energy line, was up 11.4% (+2% volume, +9.2% pricing).
Emerging performance energy brands continued to see strong dollar sales growth, including Nutrabolt/C4 (+98.1%), Ghost (+1,286%) and ZOA (+12.6%). However, Bang again reported sharp declines, down -37% with volume diving -41.4% against +7.6% pricing.
Bottled Water
Water sales accelerated 16.8% in the two-weeks (+13.7% for four-weeks), with volume up 0.6% and average pricing up 16.1%. Private label sales outpaced the category, up 27.6%, while Blue Triton Brands (+12.2%), Coke (+12.3%), PepsiCo (+9.8%), KDP (+22.5%), Niagara Bottling (+20.8%), and Danone North America (+23.5%) all reported robust gains.
Sports Drinks
Category dollar sales climbed 16.2% in the two-weeks (+12.2% for four-weeks), against +0.5% volume and +15.6% pricing. PepsiCo (Gatorade) grew 21.6% (+3.4% volume, +17.7% pricing) while Coke (BodyArmor and Powerade) dropped -2.9% (-9.6% volume, +7.4% pricing).
RTD Tea
Tea was up 12.2% in the two-week period (+10.1% for four-weeks), with volume down -0.2% and pricing up 12.4%. PepsiCo/Lipton sales were up 3.5% while Coke (+20.1%), AriZona (+13.7%) and Milo’s Tea Company (+33.3%) all saw double digit gains.
Sparkling Flavored Water
Dollar sales for sparkling flavored water were up 5.8% in the two-weeks (+4.9% for four-weeks). Volume sales fell -4.6% and average pricing jumped up 11%. Talking Rain (+0.2%), National Beverage Corp. (+3.1%), PepsiCo (+4.5%), Polar (+18%) and Spindrift (+46.2%) all reported positive sales growth, while Coke (-34.5%) and Nestle (-20.5%) experienced steep slides.
RTD Coffee
Coffee sales decelerated slightly but remained elevated, up 12.7% in the two weeks (+14.3% for four-weeks), with volume rising 9.8% and pricing up only 2.6%. Starbucks grew 15.7%, Danone was up 25.6% and Califia Farms increased 11%. Coke’s sales dropped -23.9% in the period.
Still Flavored Water
Sales were up 9.1% in the two-weeks (+7.1% for four-weeks) against -12.6% volume and +24.9% average pricing. Coke (+13.8%), PepsiCo (+17.1%), Hint (+6.1%) and good2grow (+12.8%) reported positive sales growth while Kraft Heinz declined -5.8%.