Beverage Sales Struggle to Recover
By Steve Holtz on Feb. 09, 2017NEW YORK -- Following a tough December, beverages sales bounced back a bit this past month, although most categories continue to perform below historical averages, according to Nielsen all-channel data for the four-week period ending Jan. 28.
Here's a look at how three major categories are faring, according to research reports from Bonnie Herzog, senior analyst with Wells Fargo Securities, and Vivien Azer, managing director of Cowen Group, both in New York ...
Carbonated soft drinks
Dollar sales of carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) remained flat overall, while unit sales declined 3.1% in convenience stores during the four-week period, according to Nielsen data.
- Coca-Cola Co.'s CSD dollar sales grew 1.7% during the four-week period, compared to 0.9% for 52 weeks. Unit sales were flat at 0.3% growth during the past month and down 0.4% for the past 52 weeks.
- PepsiCo's CSD dollar sales declined 3.9% in January, compared to a 2.7% dip for 52 weeks. Unit sales were down 6.6% in January and down 5.5% for 52 weeks.
- Dr Pepper Snapple Group's CSD dollar sales were down 2.0% for the four-week period and flat to down 0.5% for 52 weeks. Unit sales dipped 2.4% for the month and 1.7% for the full year.
Energy drinks
Energy drinks generally kept their numbers in the black during the past month, though sales growth is well below historical averages. In January, energy-drink unit sales in convenience stores grew only 1.2%, and they were up 1.9% for the past 52 weeks, according to Nielsen.
- Red Bull saw c-store dollar sales grow 1.9% in January and 0.5% for the 52-week period. Unit sales in c-stores grew 2.1% during the four-week period and 0.6% over the past 52 weeks.
- Monster Beverage Corp. energy drinks were generally flat at 0.5% dollar sales growth in c-stores in January and up 3.5% for the past 52 weeks. Unit sales grew 1.4% during the month and 1.7% for the full year.
- Rockstar energy drinks, which performed well for much of 2016, saw c-store dollar sales slide 4.1% during the four-week period ending Jan. 28. For the full year, dollar sales growth was 4.5%. Unit sales of Rockstar declined 4.2% in January, according to the data, but was up 3.6% for the full 52-week period.
Beer
The beer category saw overall unit sales in convenience stores grow 1.3% during January, largely on the back of imported and craft beers, according to Nielsen scan data. Unit sales were flat at a 0.5% decline for the period.
- Anheuser-Busch's dollar sales in c-stores were generally flat with a 0.7% dip and a unit sales decline of 1.7% in January. Full-year dollar sales were flat at 0.6% and full-year unit sales were down 1.8%.
- MillerCoors' c-store dollar sales declined 3.4% for the four-week period, while 52-week sales were general flat at a 0.9% dip. Unit sales also declined 4.0% for four weeks and 2.2% for the full year.
- Constellation Brands saw dollar sales of its imported beers grow 21.8% for both the month and the full year. Unit sales increased 19.6% over the past four weeks and 19.0% for the 52 weeks.
More
In other beverage categories:
- Sports drinks dollar sales grew 4.6% in all channels of retail for the four-week period ending Jan. 28.
- Bottled water sales growth slowed in all channels, with dollar sales up 3.5% during the month.
- Still flavored waters saw dollar sales decline 4.7% over the four-week period, while sparkling flavored waters grew 15.0%.
- Ready-to-drink teas grew 3.0% in all channels.
- Ready-to-drink coffees grew 3.5%.