Is your go-to soft drink one of the top sellers?

Soft drinks sales have skyrocketed recently. But what’s the best performer in this constantly climbing category?

If (like our consumer product advocates) you’re a loud and proud soft drink enthusiast, here’s all the inside info you need to know:

• The soft drinks sales surge
• Which soft drinks sold best?
• Why are soft drink sales on the rise?
• The future of soft drinks sales

The soft drinks sales surge

Last year, the number of Brits buying up cans, cartons, and bottles of their favourite soft drinks soared year-on-year.

The fastest-growing category within food and drink, soft drinks sales surged by 14.1% according to Britvic’s latest Soft Drinks Review.

This amounted to a tantalising £347.4 million in additional revenue for brands and traders, and an extra 67.9 million litres worth of shifted stock.

That being the case, it’s hardly a surprise that the most popular soft drinks brands sold at a faster rate than beer, wine, spirits, confectionery, crisps, snacks, and nuts combined.

And there’s more good news because, looking ahead, all signs point to continued growth! With £400 million growth potential estimated for the category, the soft drinks segment’s time in the spotlight looks unlikely to end any time soon.

Which soft drinks sold best?

So, exactly what sort of soft drink has been the surge’s biggest driver?

Well, it may or may not come as a shock to Britain’s busy consumers that energy drinks were the sector’s very best performers of 2022. In fact, this product category was responsible for an incredible 28% (or £96.9 million) of the soft drinks segment’s overall growth!

It’s unsurprising, then, that the list of the UK’s most in-demand soft drinks is topped by not one, but two leading energy drinks brands.

And, sitting comfortably in the number one spot is Monster Energy, which grew by £101.5 million in 2022, putting it head and shoulders above the nearest brand.

Based on research from NielsenIQ, this is exactly how much Britain’s biggest soft drinks brands grew in 2022:

1. Monster +30.6%
2. Red Bull +20%
3. Coca-Cola +4.6%
4. Lucozade +16.7%
5. Innocent +12%
6. Fanta +12.4%
7. Pepsi +3.7%
8. Tropicana -2.3%
9. Robinsons -2.9%
10. Schweppes -13.3%

Why are soft drinks sales on the rise?

There are a good few reasons behind the rise in soft drinks sales.

For one thing, they’re convenient and affordable. And, with options to suit almost any taste, soft drinks can provide whole swathes of consumers with a pick-me-up to be enjoyed throughout the day and on the go.

Plus, the wide range of new, lighter product options means that there’s plenty for the country’s increasingly health-conscious population to choose from.

And then there’s the fact that so many major soft drinks have been rebranded recently, including Fanta, Pepsi, and Robinsons squash, keeping them fresh and enticing in the minds of the consumers.

The future of soft drinks sales

The success of the soft drinks sector is unlikely to fizzle out.

Now, then, is the time to make the most of the upcoming category growth.

Did you know that we are the exclusive talent partner to Monster Energy, the UK’s favourite soft drinks brand?

We know what it takes to position organisations in this exciting sector as employers of choice. So, if you’re on the lookout for top talent to support brand growth, why not give us a call?

Call us: 0333 772 7200

Email: workwithus@advocate-group.co.uk