NEW YORK -- After several years of either weak growth or declines, beverage volume sales in the United States increased by 2.2% in the first six months of 2014, according to Beverage Marketing Corp.'s latest U.S. Quarterly Category Volume and Wholesale Dollar Report.
The largest single liquid-refreshment beverage type—carbonated soft drinks—continued to contract, however. Volume stood 1% lower in the first half of 2014 than in the first half of 2013, according to the report. Though its share of beverage volume remained formidable, its steady erosion persists.
Several beverage categories did perform well, buoying the overall beverage market. Bottled water, bolstered by both the large retail PET component, as well as the smaller imported and domestic sparkling segments, enjoyed market-beating growth. Ready-to-drink coffee accelerated rapidly, and energy drinks also displayed vibrancy over the first half of the year.
Total beverage volume's uptick in the first half of 2014 leads Beverage Marketing to expect the category to experience growth for the full year, in contrast to 2013's small downturn.
New York-based Beverage Marketing Corp. is the leading research, consulting and financial services firm dedicated to the global beverage industry.
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