NEW YORK -- Packaged beverage sales in all channels of retail remained soft in February, according to Nielsen data, with the seven major subcategories all trending behind 12-week volume growth.
"Overall it appears results remain under pressure for nonalcoholic beverage manufacturers," Bonnie Herzog, senior analyst with Wells Fargo Securities, New York, wrote in a research note.
Nielsen data for the four-week period ending Feb. 25, 2017, show:
- Volume sales of carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) declined 3.0% during the period, compared to a 2.0% decrease for the past 12 weeks. Dollar sales were down 1.3%.
- Energy-drink volume sales remained soft at 2.0% volume growth, slightly behind the 12-week trend of 2.3% growth. Dollar sales were up 2.9% for the four-week period.
- Volume sales of still bottled water were up 5.9% during the four-week period, compared to 6.4% for 12 weeks. Dollar sales were up 3.1%.
- Growth of volume sales of sparkling and flavored waters, one of the bright spots of the beverage category during the past year, also slowed, up 6.2% during the past four weeks, compared to 6.9% growth during the 12-week period.
- Sports-drink sales volume was flat at 0.1% growth for the four-week period, compared to 0.8% for the past 12 weeks. Dollar sales were up a bit at 0.5%.
- Volume sales of ready-to-drink tea dipped 0.4% during the four-week period, compared to a slight 0.7% increase over 12 weeks. Dollar sales were up 2.5%, suggesting higher prices and consumer moves to more premium drinks.
- Beer, meanwhile, saw volume sales basically flat to down 0.2% during the four-week period, an improvement on a 12-week decline of 1.3%. Dollar sales growth also improved to 0.8% from a dip of 0.3% over 12 weeks, according to Nielsen data shared by analyst Vivien Azer of Cowen and Co., New York.
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