Non-alcoholic beverage sales remained “healthy but decelerated” in the two-week period ending September 23, according to an analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
Here are the highlights:
- Dollar sales were up 2.2% in the two-week period, compared with 4.3% for four-weeks and 10.2% for 52-weeks.
- Volume declines worsened, down -3.4% in the period versus a -1.2% drop in the four-weeks.
- Overall, pricing growth “remained healthy and broadly stable sequentially,” according to the report, up 5.6%
CSDs
Carbonated soft drink sales grew 2.4% in the two-week period, a slowdown from +4.5% in the four-weeks and +11.9% in the 52-weeks. Volumes declined -4.4% (worsening from -3% in the four-week period) while pricing stayed relatively flat at +7.1% compared to +7.7% in the four-weeks.
The Coca-Cola Company outpaced the category, up 2.8% in the two-weeks, while volumes fell -1.8% and pricing rose +4.8%. Elsewhere, PepsiCo sales were down -2.3% (-9.6% volume and +8.1% pricing) while Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) reported single-digit sales growth (+3.9%) with a -4.6% decline in volume offset by +8.9% average pricing.
Energy
The pace of energy drink sales slowed slightly, increasing 6.5% in the two-week period (+7.7% for four-weeks and +11.7% for 52-weeks). Volume rose by 5.7% (the only category other than coconut water to see increases in volume) and average pricing increased 0.7%.
Category leader Monster Energy reported dollar sales down -6.1% in the period, with volume falling -8.3% and average pricing climbing 2.5%. Red Bull was up 0.2% with volumes down -0.9% and pricing +1.1%.
Performance energy drink brand Celsius grew dollar sales +170.4%, with +135.5% volume and +14.8% average pricing growth. PepsiCo, the brand’s primary distribution partner, saw its energy portfolio of Rockstar and MTN DEW grow 1.2% with a -8.2% volume decline and a +10.2% price increase. Meanwhile, sales of Starbucks were down -37.6%.
A handful of other energy drink brands also announced strong dollar sales growth in the two-weeks, including Nutrabolt (+64.7% sales and +54.7% volume), Alani Nu (+51.5% sales and +54.6% volume) and GHOST (+75.1% sales and +68.6% volume).
Bottled Water
Water sales declined sequentially, falling -1.4% in the two-weeks against +1.6% for four-weeks and +8.1% for 52-weeks. Volumes were down -2.9% (+0.1% for the four-weeks) as average pricing climbed 1.6%.
Blue Triton Brands reported sales up 6.7% in the period (+4.4% volume and +1.7% average pricing). Meanwhile, The Coca-Cola Company (-4.1%), PepsiCo (-6.5%), Nestle (-7.9%) and KDP (-6.9%) all reported single-digit losses.
Sports Drinks
Sales of sports drinks are slowing again, up 2.1% in the period (+5% for four weeks and +8.9% for 52-weeks) against a -7% volume slide and a 9.8% hike in average pricing.
PepsiCo (Gatorade) led the category, though sales were down -1.4% (-10.6% volume and +10.3% average pricing), while The Coca-Cola Company (BodyArmor and Powerade) sales slipped -9.4%.
Meanwhile, fast-growing sports and energy drink brand PRIME significantly outperformed the category with dollar sales growth of +466.7% (+390.4% volume and +15.5% average pricing).
Sparkling Flavored Water
Sparkling water sales grew 1.2% in the two weeks (+2% for four-weeks and +4.5% for 52-weeks) as volume declined -5.9% and average pricing rose 7.6%.
The Coca-Cola Company (+8.5%), Spindrift (+23.6%) and Waterloo (+39%) all experienced double-digit dollar sales growth while Talking Rain (-3.8%) and National Beverage Corp (-7.1%) faced declines.
RTD Coffee
Coffee sales dropped -3.4% in the period, worsening from -2.5% in four-weeks and +5.8% in the 52-weeks. Meanwhile, volume sales dropped -6.4% and average pricing rose 3.2%.
Danone North America (+11.6%) and Black Rifle (+11.1%) reported growth while The Coca-Cola Company (Dunkin’ and Costa) saw sales fall -27.9%.
Coconut Water
Coconut water again saw the largest dollar sales growth among the major non-alc beverage categories, growing 14.2% in the two-weeks (+16% for four-weeks and +13.7% for 52-weeks) as volume increased by 11.6% and average pricing rose 2.3%.
Category leader Vita Coco (+14.6%), as well as Harmless Harvest (+15.4%) and C2O Pure Coconut Water (+17%), all outperformed the category.