NEW YORK -- The energy-drink segment in convenience stores continued to rebound during March, while carbonated soft drinks and sports drinks saw their declines linger.
Here's a look at how the major categories performed, based on Nielsen data shared by Wells Fargo Securities, New York ...
Energy drinks saw both unit and dollar sales in convenience stores grow 3.9% during the four-week period ending March 24, according to scan data from Nielsen, New York. Much of the increase was driven by Monster Beverage Corp., which saw c-store unit sales leap 11.4% during the four-week period. Red Bull saw unit growth of 1.3% and Rockstar declined 7.5% during the month.
The unit growth for the full segment is a small improvement on 12-week sales trend of 3.8% and 52-week growth of 2.3%.
In all channels of retail, energy-drink sales were up 4.1% for the month.
Carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) saw unit sales in c-stores decline 4.4% during March, according to Nielsen, even as the Coca-Cola Co. slowed the decline of its low-calorie portfolio with the relaunch of Diet Coke.
Coca-Cola's low-calorie portfolio was generally flat (down 0.3%) during March, compared to a 4.9% drop during the past 52 weeks.
The overall decline of CSD sales is attributed to consumers seeking healthier beverage choices.
In all channels of retail, CSD unit sales were down 2.1% for the month.
After a brief respite, sports drinks returned to a declining sales trend in convenience stores, with units down 3.7% during March, compared to a 1.9% dip during the previous 12 weeks and a 5.1% drop over the past 52 weeks.
In all channels of retail, unit sales of sports drinks were down 4.8% during the month.
Beer sales in convenience stores were generally flat for the month, down 0.7% in units and up 0.8% in dollars. These numbers are a slight improvement on full-year sales, which were down 1.1% in units and up 0.4% in dollars.
In all channels of retail, beer unit sales were down 1.4% for the month.
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