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Report
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The caffeine content of energy drinks plays a central role in their core proposition of boosting alertness. However, there's substantial interest in lower- and caffeine-free variants among users, suggesting that…
UK
Sports and Energy Drinks
simple
UK Sports and Energy Drinks Market Report 2025
"Hit by PRIME’s struggles, the market is regaining momentum in 2025. NPD responding to concerns around sugar, caffeine and UPFs is crucial to keep consumers engaged."
UK Sports and Energy Drinks Market – Trends and Analysis
The caffeine content of energy drinks is central to their appeal for boosting alertness, but there is growing interest in lower- and caffeine-free options among users. This highlights an opportunity for further new product development (NPD) to cater to this demand.
Sports drinks face challenges with low consumer trust in their ability to support hydration, both within and beyond their core sports context. This scepticism leaves them vulnerable to competition from other soft drinks that are now exploring similar hydration benefits.
Energy drinks have untapped potential in the alcohol moderation space. While they are not commonly consumed on nights out, over half of users find the idea of sophisticated-looking energy drinks as an alternative to alcoholic beverages appealing.
The trend toward alcohol moderation is expected to grow as health becomes a greater priority for consumers, creating an opportunity for energy drinks to position themselves as a stylish and health-conscious alternative.
To remain competitive, energy drink brands should explore innovations that address both the demand for lower-caffeine options and the opportunity to align with the alcohol moderation movement, while also differentiating themselves from sports and soft drink competitors.
Key Topics Analysed in the Report
Overview of current market performance and the outlook for the next five years
Key new product development trends in the category
Usage of sports drinks and energy drinks, including key occasions
Reasons for not drinking sports and energy drinks
Behaviours relating to sports and energy drinks, including role of flavour NPD in driving engagement
Attitudes towards sports and energy drinks, including role as alcohol alternatives
Report Attributes
Details
Published Date
August 2025
Data Range
2019-2030
Measurement Metrics
Revenue in £
Consumer Data
2,000 internet users aged 16+, April 2025
Number of Pages
89
Market Segmentation
Energy Drinks, Sports Drinks
Leading Brands in the UK Energy Drinks Market
Red Bull, Monster, Lucozade, Boost, Relentless, Rockstar, Purdey’s
Leading Brands in the UK Sports Drinks Market
Lucozade, Powerade, PRIME Hydration, Boost
Collapse All
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Opportunities for the sports and energy drinks market
Hydration holds potential for sports drinks
Strong interest in lower caffeine variants
Energy drinks can tap alcohol moderation
Market dynamics and outlook
Market size & forecast
Market predictions
Value sales forecast to reach £4.5 billion by 2030
Market must respond to new regulations and health interest
Red Bull and Monster continue to dominate energy drinks, posting double-digit value growth
Graph 1: leading brands’ sales in the energy drinks retail market, by value, 2022/23-24/25
Lucozade continues to dominate sports drinks; Powerade enjoys rapid growth
Graph 2: leading brands’ sales in the sports drinks retail market, by value, 2022/23-24/25
What consumers want and why
Young people and men remain core category users
Graph 3: usage of sports drinks and energy drinks at least once a week, by gender and age, 2025
Desk work/study and manual labour are the top usage occasions
Graph 4: sports and energy drinks usage occasions, 2025
Perceived lack of relevance is main barrier to sports and energy drinks usage
Graph 5: leading reasons for not drinking sports and energy drinks, 2025
New flavours fuel switching between brands
Graph 6: behaviours related to sports and energy drinks, 2025
Alcohol moderation holds potential for energy drinks
Graph 7: attitudes towards sports and energy drinks, 2025
Innovation and marketing
Flavour innovation and celebrity tie-ups continue
Red Bull and PepsiCo continue to dominate adspend
Graph 8: above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on sports and energy drinks, by advertisers, 2021-25
MARKET DYNAMICS
Market size
Volumes sales recover in 2025
Graph 9: total value and volume sales of sports and energy drinks, 2025
Cool summer weather in 2024 dampened demand; warmer weather and NPD support growth in 2025
Market forecast
Value sales forecast to reach £4.5 billion by 2030
Volumes forecast to show modest growth
Modest volume growth ahead
Inflation and premiumisation will drive value growth
Market segmentation
Sports drinks lose share over 2023-25
Graph 10: total sports and energy drinks volume sales, by segment, 2023-25
Graph 11: total sports and energy drinks value sales, by segment, 2023-25
PRIME’s decline took its toll on the sports drinks segment
Market share
Red Bull and Monster continue to dominate, posting double-digit value growth
Graph 12: leading brands’ sales in the energy drinks retail market, by value, 2022/23-24/25
Alcohol brands invest in energy drinks
Lucozade continues to dominate sports drinks; Powerade enjoys rapid growth
Graph 13: leading brands’ sales in the sports drinks retail market, by value, 2022/23-24/25
Powerade and Boost grow, boosted by marketing
The PRIME bubble burst in 2024/25
Market drivers
Only three in ten see finances as healthy
Graph 14: the financial confidence index, 2016-25
Need to cater to health focus endures
Graph 15: how often people try to eat healthily, 2019-25
Scrutiny of UPFs affects drink choices
Government measures on HFSS food and drink slow to roll out
Ban on energy drinks for under-16s, an extension to the SDIL’s scope is under consultation
Slowing growth in key age groups ahead
Graph 16: population, by age, 2020, 2025 and 2030
WHAT CONSUMERS WANT AND WHY
Usage of sports and energy drinks
Nearly three in five people use sports and energy drinks
Young people and men remain core category users
Graph 17: usage of sports drinks and energy drinks at least once a week, by gender and age, 2025
More frequent usage among those with ‘healthy’ finances
Graph 18: usage at least once a week of sports drinks and energy drinks, by financial situation and employmeny, 2025
Occasions for drinking sports and energy drinks
Desk work and study are most common sports drinks occasions…
Graph 19: when sports drinks are drunk, 2023-25
…and top occasions for energy drinks
Graph 20: when energy drinks are drunk, 2023-24
Room for sports drinks to further tap hydration’s links with supporting cognitive performance
Partner with yoga studios and wellness clubs to tap growth in flexibility workouts
Look to on-pack promotions and ingredient choice to drive relevance
Low-impact exercise rarely features in sports drink messaging
Graph 21: types of exercise typically done, by age, 2024
Reasons for not drinking sports and energy drinks
Most non-users feel they don’t need sports or energy drinks
Not needing sports or energy drinks is top barrier to usage
Graph 22: reasons for not drinking sports drinks in the last three months, 2021 and 2025
Graph 23: reasons for not drinking energy drinks in the last three months, 2021 and 2025
Hero water to connect with non-users on hydration
…and drive refreshment connotations
Dilutable versions of sports drinks well-placed to tap everyday hydration/refreshment needs
Humantra water enhancers exemplify everyday dehydration cues in messaging
Hydration focus in other soft drinks categories stands to drive perceived relevance of the benefit beyond exercise
Preferred caffeine content in energy drinks
Lower-caffeine energy drinks hold untapped potential
Caffeine moderation extends to energy drinks
Graph 24: preferred caffeine content in energy drinks, by all adults and energy drinks users, 2025
Lower-caffeine energy drinks spark wide interest
Low-caffeine claims and tangible comparisons warrant visibility on pack
Behaviours related to sports and energy drinks
Flavour NPD remains crucial, fuelling switching between brands
New flavours fuel switching between brands
Graph 25: behaviours related to sports and energy drinks, 2025
Flavour NPD is a must
Fruit flavours lead among emerging and novel sports and energy drink flavours
Graph 26: flavour landscape for sports and energy drinks, 2025
Limited editions remain a key means to drive interest
Less sweet options appeal in sports and energy drinks
Look beyond citrus and highlight drinks being less sweet
Less sweet drinks can address concerns over sugar and sweeteners
Attitudes related to sports and energy drinks
Energy drinks face a poor image of social acceptability
Graph 27: attitudes towards sports and energy drinks, 2025
Alcohol moderation holds potential for energy drinks
For key younger age groups, refreshment and fun are crucial for drinks in pub/bar settings
Graph 28: qualities sought in drinks when socialising in a pub/bar, by age, 2025
Link energy drinks to positive emotions to encourage usage as an alcohol substitute
Sleek packaging design can bolster energy drinks’ appeal as alcohol alternatives
Flavours, packaging and benefits hold scope for emulating alcohol
Concept ideas for energy drinks with sleek design suited to the night out occasion
INNOVATION AND MARKETING TRENDS
Launch activity and innovation
Sugar-free claims gain ground in launches
Graph 29: share of new launches in sports and energy drinks with low/no/reduced sugar claims, 2016-25
Powder formats gain share of sports and energy drink NPD
Graph 30: share of launches in sports and energy drinks, by format, 2016-25
Applied Nutrition taps familiar Vimto flavour for electrolyte tablet launch
Tie-ups with athletes and influencers continue to feature in NPD
Fruit flavours continue to lead new launches
Graph 31: top flavour components in sports and energy drink launches, 2016-25
New fruits and treat flavours feature in launches
Leading energy drink brands continue to launch new flavours
Advertising and marketing activity
Red Bull and PepsiCo continue to dominate adspend
Graph 32: above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on sports and energy drinks, by advertisers, 2021-25
Outdoor adspend soars in 2024
Graph 33: above-the-line, online display and direct mail advertising expenditure on sports and energy drinks, by media type, 2021-25
Celsius launches “Essential Energy” and “What’s Your Vibe?” campaigns in 2025
Boost launches “There’s a Boost For That” campaign in 2024
Lucozade partners with Jude Bellingham and Anthony Joshua for 2025 launches
Lucozade supports Ice Kick variant
Liquid I.V. continues sampling campaign through summer 2025
APPENDIX
Market forecast data and methodology
Market value forecast
Market volume forecast
Market forecast and prediction intervals (value)
Market forecast and prediction intervals (volume)
Forecast methodology
Market segmentation
UK: value and volume sales of sports and energy drinks, by segment, 2023-25
Market share
UK: retail sales of leading brands in energy drinks, by value, 2023/24-24/25
UK: retail sales of leading brands in energy drinks, by volume, 2023/24-24/25
UK: retail sales of leading brand owners in energy drinks, by value, 2023/24-24/25
UK: retail sales of leading brand owners in energy drinks, by volume, 2023/24-24/25
UK: retail sales of leading brands in sports drinks, by value, 2023/24-24/25
UK: retail sales of leading brands in sports drinks, by volume, 2023/24-24/25
UK: retail sales of leading brand owners in sports drinks, by value, 2023/24-24/25
Report scope and definitions
Market definition – sports drinks
Market definition – energy drinks
Abbreviations and terms
Consumer research methodology
Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
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