Non-alcoholic beverage sales accelerated slightly over the two-week period ending August 26, with volume sales picking up pace against slowing pricing increases, according to the latest analysis of NielsenIQ data by Goldman Sachs Equity Research.

• Dollar sales in U.S. retail rose 7.9% in the two-week period, compared to +7.3% in the four-weeks and +7.8% in the 12-weeks.
• Volume growth was up 1.8%, versus +0.4% in the four-weeks and -1.9% in the 12-weeks.
• Average pricing climbed 6.2%, slowing from +7% in the four-weeks and +9.6% in the 12-weeks.

This data set draws from all retail channels including convenience stores but may not be a complete picture of any brand’s total sales.

CSDs

Carbonated soft drink dollar sales were up 5.8% in the two-week period, a slight deceleration from +6.7% in the four-weeks. Volume sales worsened, falling -4.1% in the two-weeks compared to -3.7% while average pricing was up 10.2%, slightly decelerating from +10.8% in the four-week period.

• The Coca-Cola Company reported dollar sales up 5.9% in the two-weeks as volumes improved a mild 0.1% (an improvement over -0.3% for the four-week period) and pricing was up by 5.8%.
• PepsiCo posted +2% dollar sales against a steep -10.6% volume slide (versus a -8.7% drop in the four-week period) with average pricing accelerating by +14%.
• Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) grew sales 7.2% on -4.5% volume sales and +12.3% average pricing.
• Among better-for-you brands, stevia-sweetened soda maker Zevia was up 1.4% to around $146.4 million as sharp +20.8% pricing offset a -16.1% volume decline in the two-week period.
• Prebiotic soda brand Poppi was up 213.4% to around $96.5 million with volume rising by 239.1% and average pricing down -7.6%. Olipop was reported to grow 599.2% against a volume increase of 616.3% and average pricing -2.4%, however that data only reflects about $30.6 million in revenue while the brand has self-reported over $70 million in total sales last year and expectations of reaching $200 million by the end of 2023.

Energy Drinks

Energy drink sales jumped 10.9% in the two-week period, decelerating from +11.5% in the four-weeks. Volume sales were up 4.8% (+5.3% in the four-weeks) while average pricing grew by 5.8% (+5.9% in the four-weeks).

• Monster Energy saw sales fall -1.5% year-over-year in the two-weeks, hastening from a -0.9% decline in the four-week period. Volume sales were down -8.1% while average pricing grew by 7.1%. However, while the report itself does not clarify, that drop appears to be factoring in Monster’s recent acquisition of Bang, which is no longer listed independently in the data set and as of August 12 had seen sales fall -67.5%. Monster’s 52-week dollar sales were reported at over $7.9 billion in the latest report, while the previous Goldman Sachs report listed the company at nearly $7.3 billion and Bang at $635.3 million.
• Red Bull was up 4.1% in the two-week period, decelerating from +5.2% in the four-weeks, as volume declines accelerated to -2.2% (versus -1.1%) and average pricing was up by 6.5% (+6.3% for four-weeks).
• Celsius grew sales 168.4% to over $1.2 billion as +24.8% average pricing growth boosted already strong 115.1% volume growth. The brand’s exclusive distribution partner, PepsiCo – owner of Rockstar and MTN Dew – reported its energy dollar sales up 6.7% in the two-weeks to around $1 billion as volume fell -5.1% and average pricing increased by 12.5%.
• Innovation Ventures, the parent company of 5-Hour Energy, reported sales down -6.5% and volume down -4.8% with average pricing falling -1.8%.
• Other emerging performance energy drink brands continued to see double- and triple-digit sales growth, including C4 (+72.5%), Alani Nu (+50.2%) and Ghost (+106.2%). PRIME, which launched its energy drink line in January, was reported to have total 52-week dollar sales of around $106.1 million.
• A Shoc reported sales down -41.2% and volume down -43.1% with average pricing up 3.4%.
• Sales data for the Molson Coors-backed ZOA was not included.

Bottled Water

Water sales accelerated, growing +7.2% in the two-weeks compared to +4.8% in the four-week period. Volume sales grew 5% while average pricing was up 2%.

• Private label products grew 11% in the two-weeks with volume up by 10.1% and average pricing increasing just 0.8%.
• Blue Triton Brands posted 6.7% dollar sales growth against 1.8% volume improvement and +4.9% average pricing.
• Coca-Cola was up 7.7% in the two-weeks with volume up 0.7% and pricing up 6.8%. PepsiCo grew 3.4% with volume declining -11.4% and pricing up 16.7%.
• Fiji (-1.4%) and Nestle Holdings (-1.7%) were both down in the period, but CG Roxane (+0.5%), KDP (+2.8%), Niagara Bottling (+2.8%), Danone North America (+13.7%) and flavored water brand Hint (+0.4%) all saw positive dollar sales improvements.
• Supplying Demand, which online business profiles name as the parent company of Liquid Death, reported still water sales up 28.8% to around $47.5 million. Volume sales grew 11.9% and average pricing grew +15.1%.

Sports Drinks

Sports drinks were up by 15.4% in the two-week period (+10.4% in the four-weeks) with volume growth of 4.5% and an average pricing increase of 10.4% year-over-year.

• PepsiCo (Gatorade) was up 12.2% in the two-weeks, a strong acceleration from +6.5% in the four-weeks, while volume improved by 1.7% and average pricing grew in line with the category at +10.3%.
• Coke (BodyArmor and Powerade) slowed its dollar sales declines to -0.3% (compared to -3.2% in the four-weeks) with volumes falling -1.7% and average pricing up by 1.4%.
• PRIME continued its mid triple-digit growth streak, jumping 548.9% to $517.8 million in dollar sales, with volumes up 431.8% and average pricing increased by 22%.
• Electrolit also saw solid growth, up 43.2% in the two-weeks and 42.3% volume growth. Average pricing was up just 0.6%.

Sparkling Water

Sparkling water grew sales 4.7% in the two-week period (+3.7% in the four-weeks) against -2.9% volume sales and +7.9% average pricing.

• Most of the top brands in the category faced declining dollar sales in the two-weeks, including Talking Rain (-2.4%), National Beverage Corp/LaCroix (-4%), Nestle Holdings (-5.8%) and PepsiCo/Bubly (-2.8%).
• Coca-Cola/AHA (+17.1%), Spindrift (+30.4%) and Waterloo (+45.8%) helped drive the category’s dollar sales growth with double-digit gains.
• Liquid Death was up 89.8% to around $99.5 million, as volumes rose 71.7% and average pricing increased by 10.5%.

Coffee

Ready-to-drink coffee sales fell -1.4% in the two-week period, even with the four-week period, as volumes dropped -6.3% and pricing rose by 5.3%.

• Starbucks sales fell -0.4% (+0.2% in the four-weeks) with volumes down -6.8% and average pricing up 6.9%.
• Danone/STOK was up 14.1% in the two-weeks with volume growing by 7% and pricing up 6.6%.
• Coke’s coffee portfolio fell -24.5% with volume declines of -45.4% and average pricing increases of 38.4%.
• Black Rifle Coffee Company was up 14.5% in the two-weeks, bolstered by +7.4% volume and +6.7% pricing.
• Califia Farms coffee products fell -6% in the two-weeks with -11.4% volume and +6.1% pricing.
• Kitu Life, maker of functional brand Super Coffee, fell -40.8% to around $38.2 million in the two-weeks, with volumes declining -40.6% and pricing down by -0.3%.

Coconut Water

Coconut water reported the fastest category growth, up 21.8% to around $648.6 million (+20.3% in the four-weeks) with +20% volume growth and +1.4% average pricing.

• Vita Coco outpaced the category at +28% dollar sales growth and +22.2% volume, with pricing up by 4.7% in the two-weeks.
• Harmless Harvest (+14.2%), Goya (+21.5%), C2O (+24.3%), Sun Hing Foods (+24.3%) and Brooklyn Bottling Group (+13.2%) all reported double digit dollar sales growth.

Sales data for ready-to-drink tea was not included in the report.