Within the last five years, global launches of carbonated drinks have grown significantly, according to a December 2012 report by the Netherlands-based
Innova Market Insights titled “Carving New Niches for Carbonates.” In fact, the United States remains the most active country in regard to carbonated product launch activity, it states. However, dollar sales for carbonated drinks decreased slightly by 0.8 percent to $28.7 billion, and unit sales decreased nearly 2 percent during the 52 weeks ending Jan. 27, compared with the prior-year period, in U.S. supermarkets, drug stores, mass market retailers, gas and convenience stores, military commissaries, and select club and dollar retail chains, according to SymphonyIRI Group, a Chicago-based market research firm.