So where are all these soda drinkers going? Data from Beverage-Digest, an industry publication, on “liquid refreshment beverages” (a group that includes carbonated soda drinks, energy drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, ready-to-drink teas, juice drinks and other categories) goes back only to 2011, but since then, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Dr Pepper, Sprite and Aquafina have all experienced decreases in their market shares. Gatorade, Nestlé Pure Life, Dasani and Poland Spring, on the other hand, have all increased their market shares. Arizona has remained stagnant.
It’s worth noting that since 2011, Coca-Cola’s and Pepsi’s production volumes have gone down only 1 percent and 9 percent, respectively, while Diet Coke’s and Diet Pepsi’s volumes have gone down 16 and 17 percent, respectively, suggesting that it’s the diet soda drinkers who are leaving the market for healthier options.
So while it may seem like a blow to public health that diet sodas are less popular than they used to be, it could be a positive sign if there are a few more water drinkers in the beverage market.
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