Soft and hard seltzers gaining share and quenching consumer thirst
When companies ranging from PepsiCo and Coca-Cola add aggressively to their product portfolio it likely means we are at or near an inflection point in terms of consumer preference. That is what we are seeing with flavored seltzers given PepsiCo’s 2018 introduction of its bubly Sparkling Water, its more recent acquisition of SodaStream and Coca-Cola testing its Dasani PureFill machine. Those perusing the shopping aisles may have noticed the influx of seltzer flavors but the observant shopper probably noticed the growing number of hard seltzers being offers from Spiked Seltzer, Nauti, and others. One has to wonder how long it will be until these Guilty Pleasures catch the eye of companies like Molson Coors and Constellation Brands.
While sparkling water on the whole has seen impressive growth, canned sparkling water in particular has emerged as a huge contributor to category performance. Nielsen reference data by package type shows that while bottled sparkling water commands the majority of dollar sales (64% of all sparkling water sales were from bottled varieties), canned sparkling water has performed exceptionally well this year, up 43% from last year to reach sales of over $803 million. And the week ended Aug. 18, 2018, saw sales of over $21 million for canned sparkling water, up 39% compared to the same week last year, whereas bottled sparkling water is up 11% during the same period. Above and beyond the effects of rising aluminum prices, growth in canned sparkling water is driving the category’s profits.
Stretching across the store, hard seltzers is a category on the rise in the alcohol market. Within the last 12 months ended July 14, 2018, sales of hard seltzers are up 177%. In fact, hard seltzers now represent about 10% of all flavored malt beverage (FMB) sales.
Renewed interest in sparkling waters is yet another reflection of consumers’ ongoing shift toward opting to make healthier choices. The sparkling water category across traditional beverage and alcohol beverage categories taps into several health and wellness trends popular with Americans today, such as the appeal of a low carbohydrate and low calorie option would could potentially be seen as a low guilt beverage and an offering that is gluten free. Beyond the potential health benefits consumers see, these drinks can be refreshing, provide interesting flavors and, within the beverage alcohol market, its versatility could appeal thanks to its ability to be part of a cocktail mix.
Source: No Signs of Fizzing Out: America’s Love of Sparkling Water Remains Strong Through August
