NielsenIQ: Non-Alc Beverage Sales Decelerate in Late June

Non-alcoholic beverage sales growth remained healthy despite some deceleration in the two-week period ending June 29, according to the latest analysis of NielsenIQ retail scanner data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

  • Overall dollar sales grew +3.5% in the two-week period, slowing from +4.2% in the four-week period, but up from +2.9% in the 12-week period.
  • Volume sales grew +2.8% in the two-week period, decelerating from +3.3% in the four-week period, while remaining up from +1.3% in the 12-week period.
  • Average pricing growth was “broadly stable,” according to Goldman at +0.7% in the two-week period and +0.9% four-week period, decelerating from +1.6% in the 12-week period.

CSDs

Carbonated soft drink sales grew +3% in the two-week period, slowing from +4.5% in the four-week period. Volume sales dropped -2.9% (-1.2% for four-weeks) while average pricing accelerated slightly at +6% (+5.7% for four-weeks).

The Coca-Cola Company outpaced the category at +4.1% (+5% for four-weeks) as volume dipped -1.7% and pricing climbed +6%. PepsiCo saw dollar sales growth fall -3.4% (+-0.2% for four-weeks) against a -8.2% volume dive and +5.3% average pricing. Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) grew +3.7% (4.6% for four-weeks) with volumes down -2.3 and pricing up +6.1%.

Among better-for-you brands, Poppi appeared unscathed by a recent class action suit as dollar sales grew +154.5% in the two-weeks, volume jumped +174.8% and average pricing slid -7.4%. Stevia-sweetened brand Zevia grew sales by 8.2% with volume gains of +2.4% and average pricing hiked +5.7%.

Energy Drinks

Energy faced declines, ending a sustained period of year-over-year growth as dollar sales were down -1.1% in the two-week period (-0.2% for four-weeks). Volume sales fell -2.3% (-1.3%) and average pricing was consistent at +1.2% across the two- and four-weeks.

Category leader Monster Energy, excluding Bang, fell -3% (-2.3% for four-weeks) as volume dipped -3.3% and pricing increased just +0.4%. Red Bull also faced a slump at -0.7% dollar sales (+0.6%) with -5% volume decline and +4.5% average pricing.

Celsius reported dollar sales up +15.9%, decelerating from +19% in the four-week period. Volume sales rose 17.7% and pricing fell -1.6%. Its distribution partner, PepsiCo (Rockstar and MTN Dew), continued to fall as dollar sales dropped -22.8% (-22.2%), in line with -22.8% volume and flat pricing.

Emerging performance energy brands Nutrabolt/C4 (+21.1%), Ghost (+10%) and Alani Nu (+57.1%) all gained in the two-weeks, while 5-Hour Energy (-9.4%), PRIME (-67.9%), Starbucks (-87.1%) and A Shoc (-83.8% to just $8.5 million in the trailing 52-weeks) all declined.

Bottled Water

Water grew +5.2% in the two-weeks (+5.3% for four-weeks) as volume was consistent at +6.1% in the two- and four-week periods. Average pricing declined -0.9% (-0.7%).

Private label products were up +7.3% (+7.8%) in the two-weeks alongside +7.6% volume growth and a -0.2% pricing decline. BlueTriton Brands grew +9.5% in the period (+8.5%) with +12.3% volume growth and a -2.5% slide in pricing.

PepsiCo (+4.4%), Nestlé Holdings (+1.2%), CG Roxane (+6.1%) and Danone North America (+12.3%) reported positive dollar sales growth during the two-weeks. Coke (-0.1%), Fiji (-7.8%), KDP (-6.3%), Niagara Bottling (-3.3%), Hint (-3.1%) and Liquid Death (-3.1%) all saw dollar sales decline.

Sports Drinks

Hydration beverages were up +9.1% in the two-weeks, accelerating from 8% in the four-weeks. Volume sales increased +6.3% (+4.9%) and average pricing rose +2.6% (+3%).

Gatorade (PepsiCo) grew +11.4% in the two-week period (+9.5%) against +6.6% volume growth (+4.3%) and +4.5% average pricing (+5%). Coke’s portfolio of BodyArmor and Powerade climbed +7.3% (+6.6%) as volume improved +6.9% (+6.6%) and average pricing inched up +0.4% (flat in the four-weeks).

PRIME was down by 29.7% in the two-weeks (-27.3%) as volume fell -29.4% (-26.2%) and average pricing was -0.4% lower (-1.4%). Electrolit grew +35.9% (+41%) with volume improving +30.3% (+34.8%) and average pricing up +4.4% (+4.6%).

Sparkling Water

Sparkling water sales decelerated slightly, up +8.9% in the two-weeks (+9.6%) with volume up +3.6% (+4.5%) and pricing growing +5.1% (+4.8%).

Category leader Talking Rain grew +4% (+6.2%) with +2.7% volume (+6%) and +1.2% pricing (+0.2%). Private label products were up +1.3% (flat for four-weeks) with volume down -2.2% (-2.5%) and pricing increased by +3.6% (+2.5%). LaCroix-maker National Beverage Corp fell -0.8% in the two-week period (-0.4%) while volumes improvement of +2.4% (+2%) was undercut by a -3.2% average pricing drop (-2.4%).

Nestlé Holdings (+1.6%), Polar (+1.7%), Coke (+27.3%), PepsiCo (+3.3%), Spindrift (+24.2%), Waterloo (+29.9%) and Liquid Death (+25.1%) all grew dollar sales in the two-week period.

RTD Coffee

Ready-to-drink coffee sales dropped -3.2% in the two-week period, accelerating slightly from a -3.4% decline in the four-week period. Volume sales were down -2.3% across both periods and average pricing was down by -1% (-1.2%).

Starbucks sales fell -8.1% in the two-weeks (-8.3%) as volumes dropped -11.8% (-12%) and pricing increased +4.3% (+4.2%).

Danone’s STOK grew +16.5% in the two-week period, the only tracked brand in the report to see positive dollar sales gains. Black Rifle Coffee Company (-4.8%), Coke (-7.3%), Califia Farms (-5.8%) and Kitu Life’s Super Coffee (-36%) were all down during the same time.

Coconut Water

Though smallest in dollar value, coconut water remained the fastest growing of the tracked categories, up +24.4% in the two-week period, accelerating from +22.8% in the four-weeks. Volume sales rose by +26.5% (24.2%) and average pricing fell -1.6% (-1.1%).

Category leader Vita Coco grew +21.7% (+19.5% for four-weeks) and Danone-owned Harmless Harvest was up +24.2% (+23.4%).

Goya (+28.4%), private label (+34.7%), C2O (+25.7%), Sun Hing Foods (+10.7%) and Brooklyn Bottling Group (+44.7%) all grew double-digits in the two-week period.