Non-alcoholic beverage sales decelerated slightly over the two-week period ended on May 22, according to an analysis of Nielsen data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research. Sales were up 10.7% over the two weeks, down from 11.3% for the four-weeks and 11.1% for the 12-weeks. Sales have grown 11.5% overall from the same period last year.
How did the large corporations fare?
- Coca-Cola saw total company sales hold mostly flat over the two weeks (+3.1%) compared to the four-weeks (+3%). Volume was down just over 5% during the two weeks while average pricing ticked up slightly from 8% in the four-week period to 8.2% in the two-week period.
- Total company dollar sales growth for PepsiCo was flat from the four-weeks to the two-weeks, staying at 5.4%. Total volume was up by half a percentage point over the two weeks.
- Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) saw sales decline 0.7% over the two-weeks, a slight improvement over -0.9% growth over the four weeks; the company is still up 11.3% year-over-year.
Which categories have been growing?
- Bottled Water sales were up 23.2% over the two weeks (+5.9% for the 52-weeks). On a two-year stacked basis, sales were up 14.6% year-over-year for the two weeks. Nestle, which acquired premium water brand Essentia in March, saw sales (+22.1%) and volume (+23.1%) increase during the two weeks.
- Sports Drinks continued to climb: category sales grew 26.3% for the two week period, down slightly from 28.1% over the four weeks. BodyArmor continues to set the pace with 56.1% growth in sales over the two week period.
- RTD Tea sales were up 4.4% over the two-week period (+9.7% on a stacked two-year basis). While independent brand Milo’s Tea Co. continues to grow, KDP struggled over the two-week period as sales fell 15.8% and volume dropped 20.9%.
- The business of bubbles remains strong: Sparkling Flavored Water was up 3.7% over the two-week period (+28.9 stacked), basically flat with growth over the four weeks. The category is up 17.8% over the 52-weeks.
- RTD Coffee put up strong numbers over the two-week period, growing sales 21.6%. Much of that recent growth was fueled by Coca-Cola (+74.7% over the two weeks), though Danone made the biggest leap over the 52-weeks at +44%.
- Sales for Still Flavored Water were up 20.4% over the two weeks, compared to +22.1% over the four weeks.
Which categories didn’t grow?
- Total CSD sales dipped over the two-week period, falling 0.2% (down 0.4% over the four weeks). On a two-year stacked basis, sales are up 14.1% year-over-year for the two weeks and 15.7% for the four weeks. However, only Coca-Cola saw CSD sales fall during the two weeks (down 1.7%), with PepsiCo and KDP reporting 1.2% and 2.4% growth, respectively.
What about energy drinks?
- Despite “modestly decelerating” in the words of Goldman Sachs analysts, energy drink sales were up 15.9% over the two weeks, compared to +16.9% over the four weeks. Volume was up 13.2% for the category, while average pricing ticked up 2.4%.
- Sales of Red Bull were up 18.7% over the two weeks.
- Monster Energy reported 11.1% growth in dollar sales over the two weeks, down from 11.8% over the four weeks. Total volumes increased 8.3% and average pricing was up 2.5%.
- Bang Energy Drink led the way with 18.8% sales growth. The brand is up 4% over the 52-weeks.
- PepsiCo saw dollar sales of its energy portfolio — which includes Rockstar and MTN DEW Rise — fell 4.2% during the two weeks. On a two-year stacked basis, sales are down 12.6% year-over-year for the two weeks.