Britvic has published its 2010 Soft Drinks Report for the UK market. Here is a round-up of the figures.
- Soft drink sales in the UK totalled GBP8.5bn across all channels – up 2% on the GBP8.4bn in 2008.
- Soft drink sales in the on-trade grew by 3% to GBP2.4bn in the 12-month period, pushing the category ahead of spirits as demand for alcoholic drinks in pubs and bars has fallen.
- At GBP6.2bn, off-trade sales grew 2% in the challenging economic environment as consumers switched loyalties in the search for better value.
- Glucose and stimulant (energy) drinks and squash commanded the strongest value growth within the off-trade of 7%.
- Smoothies were the hardest hit in the off-trade with a double digit drop of 27% in volume and value as consumers continued to switch into more budget friendly sub-categories.
- Pepsi sales grew by 10% in 2009 in the on-trade to GBP475m (US$712m), overtaking Coca-Cola.
- Juice drinks sales declined by 2% over the year. Energy drinks also dropped 2% as consumers switched away from the ‘vodka and Redbull’ trend.
- Pepsi Max saw value sales increase 9%, making it the fastest growing major cola brand, while Coca-Cola retained its position as the top brand in the off-trade, followed by GSK’s Lucozade and Britvic’s Robinsons.
- Energy drinks continued to run out of steam in the on-trade, although at a slower rate. Sales followed 2008’s 7% decline with a 2% fall to GBP107m. Red Bull however, still leads the field with an 87% market share, but the brand is declining ahead of its peer group at 5%, as the ‘vodka and Red Bull’ trend slides out of vogue.
- The top supplier of 2009 by value was Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), followed by Britvic and GSK in third position. For volume, CCE retained the top stop, followed by Britvic and then Danone.