Thriving on its healthy halo, natural and better-for-you attributes, bottled water has experienced unprecedented success during the past few years. Last year, the category overtook carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) as the most-consumed beverage category on a volume basis.
“2016 marked a watershed moment in the U.S. soft drinks industry as bottled water finally overtook carbonates in sales volumes to become the most-consumed soft drink in the country,” states Chicago-based Euromonitor International in a February report titled “Bottled Water in the US.” “Consumers continued to exit the carbonates category because of health concerns about sugar and artificial sweeteners, turning instead to bottled water as a healthy way to stay hydrated. With public health concerns about sugar remaining high, these trends are unlikely to reverse anytime soon.”