2017 State of the Industry: Soft drinks experience modest volume declines
Craft, natural sodas stave off attrition
Although carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) still is among the top performing beverage categories, more than a decade of volume declines has challenged the established category as it competes with better-for-you beverages and premium products.
“The category continues to struggle,” said Gary Hemphill, managing director of research at New York-based Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) in Beverage Industry’s April issue. “Volume declined for the 12th year in a row in 2016, and we believe more declines are ahead. The category has seen declines mostly in the range of 1 to 2 percent annually over the last decade. While consumers still like and enjoy carbonated soft drinks, they are increasingly opting for alternatives.”