Total non-alcoholic beverage sales continued to slow over the two-week period ended on December 26, according to an analysis of Nielsen data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.
Overall, and individually across the major beverage categories, sales softened during the middle and latter part of December. Sales grew by 6.7% year-over-year during the two weeks, a dip from 8.1% over the four weeks and 11.3% over the 12 weeks. However, all-channel sales are still up over the last 52 weeks, growing 9.4%.
Carbonated soft drinks were up 5.1% during the two weeks, decelerating from 7.2% in the four weeks and 10.3% in the 12 weeks. Over the 52 weeks, the category is up over 10%. Reduced calorie CSDs grew sales 8.1% with a volume increase of 6%, while average price rose slightly by two points.
At Coca Cola, total dollar sales for the company rose 3.9% year-over-year over the 2-week period, a continuation of its slide from +9.3% (12 weeks) and +5.8% (4 weeks). Sales of Coke’s full calorie CSDs were up 3% over the two weeks, while its reduced calorie soda portfolio increased 4.9% with an average price increase of 3.4%.
PepsiCo outpaced its main rival in CSDs over the two week period, growing overall carbonated beverage sales by 5.9%, with full-calorie sodas up 4.1% and reduced calorie sodas up 10.7%. Over the two weeks, average price was up 2.4% for reduced calorie CSDs and down 2.2% for reduced calorie.
Meanwhile, Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) performed even better: CSD sales were up 8% year-over-year for the two weeks, down from 10.5% over the four weeks and 15% over the 12 weeks. Regular CSDs grew sales 7.1% in the two weeks against 1.5% increase in volume and 5.5% growth in average price, while KDP’s reduced calorie portfolio expanded by 11.7%.
In energy drinks, Red Bull saw its sales decelerate though it continued to outperform the category as a whole, expanding sales 14% over the two weeks. Monster held at 8.4% sales growth — the same as over the four weeks — while rival Bang reported a sales decline of 3.3% (-2.4% for 52 weeks). For the category as a whole, sales were up 9% in the two weeks, with volume up 15.6% over that time. Pricing was down 5.7% during the period.
In other notable categories, sparkling flavored water (+18.6% sales over the two weeks), with a 4.5% average price increase and a 13.5% rise in volume. Spindrift led the way in terms of volume and sales growth (+43.1% and +59.7%, respectively), while Coke, Polar, PepsiCo, National Beverage Corp and Talking Rain all posted double-digit gains. In liquid coffee, which rose 22.8% over the two weeks, Danone led the way with 51.9% growth. Still flavored water was up 9% (+14.3% in volume), with Hint and Nestle each posting significant gains.
Growth was muted in bottled water, rising 0.3% over the two weeks (+4.3% over the 52 weeks), while sports drinks saw 12.9% increase during the period. The category is up 13.7% year-over-year during the 52 weeks.