A soft drink is a non-alcoholic drink that is usually carbonated or fizzy due to dissolved carbon dioxide. Soft drinks are consumed for its sweet flavors sweetened – either with sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners. Soda is one of the preferred drinks among Americans, especially kids.
Advertisement:
Soft drinks can also be flavored with fruit, cola, root beer, ginger, vanilla, or other flavors.
Examples:
Coca-Cola, Pepsi (cola flavors)
Sprite, 7UP (lemon-lime)
Fanta, Crush (fruit-flavored sodas)
Energy drinks and some flavored sparkling waters also fall under this category
Advertisement:
Image: pexels.com
What are the best-selling soft drinks in the US?
Coca-Cola is by far the top-selling soft drink in the United States, and had been the number one soft drink for decades. It is also the most consumed soft drink worldwide.
Recently, Dr Pepper has overtaken Pepsi to become the second-best-selling soda in the U.S., because of its strategic marketing, and innovative flavors.
Soft drinks can be bought from multiple places, but most customers buy them from grocery stores like Walmart, Kroger, Safeway, Food Lion, Shoprite, Stop and Shop, ACME, and more.
| Soft Drinks Market Share in the U.S. | 1995 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020 | 2023 |
| Coke | 20.80% | 20.20% | 17.50% | 19.50% | 19.20% |
| Dr. Pepper | 5.70% | 6.30% | 6.50% | 8.00% | 8.30% |
| Pepsi | 15.00% | 13.50% | 9.80% | 8.70% | 8.30% |
| Sprite | 5.10% | 6.60% | 5.80% | 7.80% | 8.10% |
| Diet Coke | 8.80% | 8.60% | 10.20% | 7.90% | 7.80% |
Because Sprite and Diet Coke brands belong to Coca-Cola, this company which was founded almost 140 years ago has a 35% Market Share of the U.S. Soft Drink Market.
Advertisement:
Keep in mind that the trend now is towards healthier beverages, with more companies focusing on low-sugar and healthier options.