ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Despite frequent reports about the decline of carbonate-soft-drink sales, the beverage category did actually grow in convenience stores in 2013, according to preliminary NACS State of the Industry (SOI) survey figures.
CSDs account for 34.3% share of the beverage category in c-stores, according to the data reported last week during the SOI Summit, and grew 0.7% in dollar sales and 0.2% in unit sales.
Gaining ground, however, are energy drinks, which make up the bulk of the alternative beverages subcategory. According to SOI data, alternative beverages now account for 24.6% share of all beverage sales in c-stores, up 6.8% in dollar sales and 8.6% in units.
“Alternative beverages now account for 72% of CSD sales,” said Kevin Smartt, CEO of Kwik Chek Food Stores, who presented the category numbers during the summit. By that, he meant for every $10 of CSDs sold in convenience stores, $7.20 in alternative beverages are sold, up from $6.40 in 2012. (See related graphic above.)
In other key beverage categories:
- Juice/juice drinks grew 3.9% in dollars and 2.2% in units.
- Bottled water drew 2.2% in dollars and 2.5% in units.
- Sports drinks grew 2.2% in dollar sales and 1.7% in units.
- Ready-to-drink iced tea grew 0.9% in dollar sales, but lost 1.7% in unit sales.
- Enhanced water grew 0.7% in dollars, but lost 0.7% in unit sales.
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