Non-alcoholic beverage sales accelerated in the two-week period ending April 8, bolstered by improved volumes in conjunction with a slight moderation in pricing, according to an analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
Dollar sales grew 14.3% in the two-week period, compared with 12.1% for four-weeks and 12.4% for 52-weeks. Meanwhile, volume sales – which have struggled in recent months due to inflationary headwinds – accelerated to +2.7% in the period compared to a -0.4% decline in the four-weeks and a -1.4% decline in the 12-weeks. Overall, average pricing “remained robust but decelerated slightly sequentially,” according to the report, up 11.6% in the period versus 12.5% in the four-weeks.
On a four-year stack basis, total dollar sales were up 42.6% in the two-week period, compared to 39.9% in the four-week period, driven by carbonated soft drinks (CSDs), energy drinks and sports drinks.
CSDs
The pace of carbonated soft drink sales accelerated, growing 18.7% in the two-week period (+16.2% for four-weeks and +14.7% for 52-weeks) against a 4.4% increase in volume and 13.7% increase to average pricing. The Coca-Cola Company continued to dominate the category, up 18.4% in the period (volume +3.7% and pricing +14.2%), while PepsiCo was up 14.4% (+2.2% volume and pricing +12%). Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) also reported double-digit dollar sales growth (+21.4%), while volume and pricing rose 5.7% and 14.9%, respectively.
Energy Drinks
Dollar sales for energy drinks rose 12.5% in the two-week period (+11% for four-weeks and +11.1% for 52-weeks) as volume grew 2.1% and average pricing was up 10.2%.
Category leader Monster Energy reported sales up 9.9%, while Red Bull saw sales increase 10.1%. Meanwhile, following former CEO Jack Owoc’s departure, Bang saw sales drop a steep -56.1% in the two-weeks (down by -55.7% in the four-weeks) as volume fell by -58.8% and pricing rose 6.6%. Last week, a California court issued a permanent injunction against Bang Energy producer Vital Pharmaceuticals (VPX), requiring the company to pull all products featuring the word “creatine” from store shelves.
PepsiCo’s portfolio (Rockstar and MTN DEW) rose 10.7% in the two-week period with a -4.6% volume decline offset by a 16% average pricing hike. Meanwhile, Starbucks dollar sales dropped -1.3% while CELSIUS was up 126.6% (+128% for four-weeks and +139% for 52-weeks).
Several other performance energy drink brands also announced strong dollar sales growth in the two-weeks, including Nutrabolt (+65.2% sales and +55.8% volume), Alani Nu (+28.1% sales and +34.6% volume), GHOST (+208.3% sales and +181.2% volume) and KDP (+21.4% sales and +1.7% volume). ZOA, however, reported sales down -43.2% (-45.1% for volume).
Bottled Water
Water sales grew 12.5% in the two-weeks (+9.8% for four-weeks and +14.1% for 52-weeks) as volume rose 3.5% and average pricing grew 8.7%. Private label sales outpaced the category, up 17.2% in the period (volume +8% and pricing +8.6%). Blue Triton Brands also outpaced the category, as sales grew 19.8% during the two-weeks. The Coca-Cola Company (+7.9%), PepsiCo (+6.9%), Nestle (+5.4%), CG Roxane (+2.6%), The Wonderful Company (+1.1%) and KDP (+0.2%) all reported positive dollar sale gains.
Sports Drinks
Sports drink sales were up 14.6% in the two-week period (+12.4% for four-weeks and +11.4% for 52-weeks) against a -3.6% volume slide and 18.8% increase in average pricing. PepsiCo (Gatorade) led the category as sales were up 10.7% though volume fell -7.1%, while The Coca-Cola Company (Body Armor and Powerade) sales fell -5.1% in the period and volume fell -10.3%.
Sparkling Flavored Water
Sales of sparkling flavored waters grew 6.7% in the two-weeks (+5% for four-weeks and +5.2% for 52-weeks) as volume decreased by -4% and average pricing rose 11.1%. Talking Rain (+0.2%), National Beverage Corp (+6.5%), Polar (+26.8%), Spindrift (+35.6%), Waterloo (+34.5%) and Wis-Pak (+47.9%) all reported positive sales growth while The Coca-Cola Company (-29.3%) and Nestle (-38%) faced declines.
RTD Coffee
Coffee sales rose 7.2% in the two-weeks (+6.6% for four-weeks and +8.9% for 52-weeks) as volume grew 3.1% and average pricing increased 3.9%. Starbucks (+10%), Danone North America (+18.6%) and Black Rifle (+37.2%) reported double-digit sales gains while The Coca-Cola Company (Dunkin’ and Costa) saw sales fall -17.9%. Meanwhile, Molson Coors reported single-digit sales growth of 1.1%.
Still Flavored Water
Dollar sales in the still flavored water category rose 4.7% in the two-weeks (+2.3% for four-weeks and +4.7% for 52-weeks) as volume dropped -10.8% and average pricing grew 17.4%. The Coca-Cola Company (+7%) and PepsiCo (+12.3%) both outperformed the category.