The Future of Carbonated Soft Drinks 2026
Future growth in CSDs will hinge on permissibility, functional benefits and identity-led innovation as the category expands its role in everyday life.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Where we are now
- In the next two years
- In five years and beyond
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IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS
- Mintel's perspective
- CSDs will become vehicles for benefits
- The future of CSDs lies beyond refreshment
- Younger demographics will be the key adopters of functional carbonated soft drinks
- Graph 1: attributes that would make consumers buy one carbonated soft drink over another, by generation, 2026
- As beverage boundaries blur, benefits will become the new battleground
- Carbonated soft drinks will enter the protein era
- Carbonated soft drinks will tap into consumers' growing need for calm
- Permissibility will accelerate CSDs' growth
- Future permissibility will require more than sugar-free claims
- Naturally derived ingredients have a future role in carbonated soft drinks
- Functional cues will strengthen CSDs' permissibility
- CSD will earn a greater role in everyday reward and self-treating occasions
- Flavour experiences will drive occasion expansion
- Identity-led strategies will reshape CSD innovation
- Future CSD innovations will help consumers express who they are
- Brands that foster belonging will create deeper connection
- Private-label CSDs will compete through emotional connection
- Ingredients will help CSD brands express heritage and belonging
- Future CSD growth will come from translating cultural concepts into new markets
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IN FIVE YEARS AND BEYOND
- Mintel's perspective
- Need states will matter more than beverage categories
- Portfolios will span multiple benefit spaces
- Graph 2: most important benefits when choosing a non-alcoholic beverage, 2025
- CSDs will become vehicles for nourishment
- CSDs will compete with foods, not just beverages
- Participation will become a new way to socialise
- The age of participation will create new occasions for CSDs
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Key takeaways
Discover the future trends in the global carbonated soft drinks market with Mintel’s Future Of report. The report identifies the key consumer and industry trends that will impact the CSD market over the next five years.
The most important upcoming trends in the soft drinks market are analysed and succinctly presented alongside relevant insights from Mintel’s consumer data. So you can understand how consumer demands will change and identify future innovation and growth opportunities.
This report also presents Mintel’s analysts’ pick of the most innovative and inspirational launches in the global CSD market. Understanding the future of the carbonated soft drinks industry has never been so simple.
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