A comprehensive view of the UK carbonated soft drinks market, covering market sizing and forecasts, consumer behaviour, social-led discovery, on-premise opportunities, and the role of health and natural positioning.
UK
Carbonated Soft Drinks
simple
UK Carbonated Soft Drinks Market Report 2026
A comprehensive view of the UK carbonated soft drinks market, covering market sizing and forecasts, consumer behaviour, social-led discovery, on-premise opportunities, and the role of health and natural positioning.
"2025 marked a return to volume growth for CSDs amid hot summer. Engaging the young through emerging channels is crucial. The on premise holds scope for trading up."
Sam Fryers, Research Analyst
Report Coverage (at a glance)
UK carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) market sizing and forecasting, with historical context and forward-looking outlook.
Retail and on-premise dynamics, using Mintel’s channel definitions for where CSDs are bought for off-premise vs on-site consumption.
Market definition clarifying what’s included/excluded (eg diet variants and cocktail mixers included; tonic water excluded; iced tea and kombucha included within CSDs).
Consumer usage, attitudes and behaviours drawn from Mintel-commissioned research among UK adults.
Competitive and segment context (eg cola vs other carbonates), plus brand performance tracking.
Key Insights Featured in this Report
Analysis of what supported the category’s return to volume growth in 2025 and the implications for the period ahead.
Exploration of younger adults’ central importance to CSD consumption, and what this means for brand engagement strategies.
Assessment of how social media shapes discovery of CSD brands/flavours, and what “social-first” marketing can look like.
Evaluation of on-premise opportunities, including the role of unique listings, customisation and elevated serves in driving relevance and trade-up.
Consideration of “natural” positioning and clean-label cues as an area to support premiumisation and innovation.
How this Report Supports Your Strategy
Benchmark the UK CSD market’s size and outlook to support planning and budgeting.
Build targeting and messaging strategies using consumer research on CSD usage and attitudes.
Shape a content and creator strategy aligned to how consumers discover new CSD options online.
Identify routes to grow out-of-home sales through differentiated on-premise propositions (eg custom serves and exclusive variants).
Pressure-test innovation and positioning against competition from adjacent soft drink categories.
Who is this Report For
Brand, marketing and social teams building discovery and engagement strategies (including creator and live formats).
Category, commercial and sales teams planning retail performance and brand benchmarking.
On-trade / route-to-market teams developing differentiated on-premise programmes.
Insights and strategy teams needing robust consumer research plus market sizing/forecasting for decision-making.
Innovation and product teams exploring permissible whitespace around “healthier” and “natural” propositions.
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