Bottled Water
Sales of bottled water continued to slip, down more than 2%, in 2023, according to Circana. Nonflavored sparkling and mineral waters was the only segment with unit sales growth, Circana data showed. Coconut water and seltzer water showed steady growth in sales dollars and units in 2023, according to NielsenIQ data for c-stores and other retail channels. Tonic water grew in sales dollars but continued a downward trend in unit sales. The chart below shows data from the calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2023.
Specialty Beverages
Refrigerated ready-to-drink coffee is the only specialty beverage segment to see a decline in sales in 2023, dropping 48%, according to Circana. Energy drinks showed the strongest growth in sales at 14.6%. Unit sales declined for sports drinks, cappuccino/iced coffee, canned and bottled tea and refrigerated ready-to-drink coffee. Only energy drinks and refrigerated teas saw growth in unit sales. The chart below shows data from the calendar year ending Dec. 31, 2023.
Alcohol
Beer overall experienced a 5% growth in dollar sales in c-stores in 2023, according to Circana. Case sales declined in most segments, but crafts, imports, flavored malt beverages, cider and nonalcohol sold more cases in 2023. Table wine fell slightly in c-store dollar sales, but case sales were down 4.2%. Spirits continued to show strength, growing 20.6% in dollar sales and 28.1% in case sales.
Carbonated Soft Drinks
Carbonated beverages and soft drink sales increased 7.4% in c-stores and 9.2% in all channels in 2023, according to Circana and NielsenIQ. Unit sales rose modestly in c-stores at 0.9% and declined across all channels by 1.9%. The chart shows -store sales for the 13 weeks ending Dec. 31, 2023.
