Nielsen: Beverage Sales Up Double-Digits in July

Non-alcoholic beverage sales reported strong double-digit growth last month, with all channel dollar sales up 12.4% for the 4-week period ended July 25, according to an analysis of Nielsen data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

Overall beverage sales were up 13.2% for the two-week period ending July 25 and were up 7.2% for the 52-week period, suggesting “robust” at-home consumption, according to Goldman Sachs. Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) led growth rates, with total company dollar sales up 18.6% for the two-week period, while The Coca-Cola Company grew 13% and PepsiCo improved 11.6% in the same period. Monster Energy saw sales increase 7.5% in the two-weeks.

Total carbonated soft drink dollar sales were up 15.1% in the two-week period to $28.9 billion, with volume up 9.9% and price up 4.8% in the same period. KDP saw the strongest growth in the category, reporting a 22.1% increase to $6.7 billion, while category leader Coke saw dollar sales rise 14.5% to $11.9 billion. PepsiCo grew 11.6% to $8.5 billion.

Energy drink sales continued to trend upward with 11.1% growth to $13.5 billion during the two-week period. Volume grew 17.8%, while the average price once again declined, this time down 5.7%. Red Bull once again “significantly” outperformed, the report stated, with sales rising 21.1% in the two-weeks and 8.6% for the 52-week period to $4.7 billion. Meanwhile, category leader Monster delivered 7.5% growth to $5.4 billion, up 4.6% for the 52-week period.

Rockstar, now part of the PepsiCo portfolio, saw its sales fall 6.1% to $1.1 billion and the brand is down 7.9% for the 52-week period. In the company’s Q2 earnings call, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company is prioritizing a revitalization of the brand in a push to regain positive sales. Bang, now distributed by PepsiCo, fell 6.7% to $1.09 billion during the two-weeks, though yearly sales growth remains positive, up 31.1% for the 52-weeks.

Bottled water dollar sales improved 6% to $13.8 billion over the two-week period, again led by private label, which grew 6.7% to $3.9 billion. Nestle, which is in the process of divesting multiple regional water brands, reported a return to growth, up 0.2% in the same period, though sales remained down 1.4% over the 52-week period. Coke improved its water sales 6.5% to $2.4 billion and PepsiCo followed, up 5.4% to $1.6 billion.

Sparkling flavored water was up 22.5% to $2.9 billion, with volume up 20.1% and average price up 2.1% for the two-weeks. The data period predates last week’s announcement that KDP had acquired exclusive national distribution rights to Polar Seltzer. The conglomerate saw category sales fall 10.5% in the period to $72.3 million while Polar grew its sales 9.8% to $209.9 million.

Talking Rain led the sparkling water category with 30.1% growth to $626.8 million during the two-weeks. LaCroix-maker National Beverage Co. return to growth continued, up 24.7% to $490.7 million for the two-week period and up 1.2% for the 52-weeks. Coke’s entrance in the space via AHA delivered a 64% dollar sales jump to $185.8 million while Bubly-owner PepsiCo improved 20.4%. Nestle fell 6.6% for the two-week period, bringing down its 52-week growth to just 0.7%.

Sports drinks improved overall dollar sales 20.9% to $6.9 billion, led by 18.2% growth from Gatorade-producer PepsiCo in the two-week period. Coke’s sales in the category, via Powerade, grew 5.7% in the two-week period. BodyArmor was up 58.9% to $867.5 million.

Ready-to-drink tea grew 7.4% to $4.6 billion in the two-week period, led by PepsiCo through its Lipton Tea partnership which was up 7.7%. RTD coffee improved 19.4% in the two-week period to $2.7 billion, led by Starbucks and PepsiCo’s North American Coffee Partnership, which was up 22.3%.