As gyms and other facilities were forced to close due to the pandemic, one might presume that consumers’ fitness routines suffered as well. Surprisingly, that wasn’t the case. The number of consumers who maintained their fitness routines held steady at the beginning of the pandemic, according to Chicago-based Mintel’s March 2020 “Sports and Performance Drinks – US” report. As a result, sports and performance drinks have been able to sustain positive growth.
From 2015 to 2020, sports and performance drink sales increased 18 percent, according to Mintel’s February 2021 “Sports and Performance Drinks – US” report. Most recently, sports drinks led growth, with dollar sales increasing 11.8 percent in the 52 weeks ending Feb. 21, 2021, compared with the prior-year period, in total U.S. grocery, drug, mass market, convenience, military, and select club and dollar retailers, according to Information Resources Inc. (IRI), a Chicago-based market research firm. By comparison, IRI data shows that dollar sales of weight control and nutritional drinks increased 5.8 percent during the same timeframe. Current Mintel projections estimate sales of sports and performance drinks will increase 26 percent by 2025.