US Carbonated Soft Drinks Market – Trends and Insights
- The 2025 US carbonated soft drink (CSD) market shows steady growth, driven by its status as an affordable and comforting staple. Longstanding consumer loyalty helps CSDs maintain their place in a crowded market despite economic uncertainties.
- Flavor remains the top priority for consumers, but rising health consciousness is reshaping preferences. This has fueled strong growth in diet CSDs, as Gen Z, Millennials, and parents seek better-for-you (BFY) options that balance indulgence with health-oriented attributes.
- Opportunities for growth include releasing exciting, limited-time flavors and combinations, clearly communicating ingredient benefits, and helping consumers incorporate CSDs into their routines.
- Emphasizing sustainable packaging, premium formulations, and nostalgic marketing campaigns can strengthen connections with both new and loyal audiences, supporting the growth of both diet and regular CSDs.
Key Topics Analyzed in the Report:
- Factors that impact the carbonated soft drinks market
- Market size and forecast of carbonated soft drinks
- Consumption frequency of carbonated soft drinks
- Top occasions for consumption
- Common associations for different types of carbonated soft drinks
- Features worth paying a premium for in carbonated soft drinks
- General attitudes and behaviors
- Innovation and marketing strategies surrounding carbonated soft drinks
| Report Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Published Date | July 2025 |
| Market Data Range | 2019-2030 |
| Measurement Metrics | Revenue in US$ |
| Consumer Data | 2,000 internet users aged 18+, May 2025 |
| Number of Pages | 74 |
| Market Segmentation | Regular carbonated soft drinks (including full-calorie and reduced/mid-calorie soft drinks), Diet or zero-calorie soft drinks |
| Leading Brands in US Carbonated Soft Drinks | Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, A&W, 7Up, Sunkist, Crush, Squirt, Schweppes, Pepsi, Mountain Dew |
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- What you need to know
- Market size and forecast of carbonated soft drinks
- Market predictions
- What consumers want and why
- Opportunities
- Lean into new ideas and combinations to generate buzz
- Sustainable packaging can be a differentiator
- Graph 1: attitudes toward beverage packaging – sustainability and packaging importance in packaging, any agree, 2024
- Help build a routine with CSDs
- Graph 2: CSD occasions, by select generations, 2025
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MARKET DYNAMICS
- Market context
- Market drivers
- Prices have been on the rise
- Graph 3: nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials average, 2000-25
- Low consumer confidence
- Graph 4: consumer sentiment index, 2022-25
- How much will tariffs affect CSDs?
- Despite fears, consumers are not worried about CSDs specifically
- Moderation in the name of health
- Graph 5: changes in diet, 2024
- Functional sodas are a hot commodity
- Cane sugar coming to Coca-Cola
- Market size and forecast
- Retail sales and forecast of carbonated soft drinks
- Market segmentation
- The big three remain atop sales, but others grow
- Graph 6: multi-outlet sales of carbonated soft drinks, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2024 and 2025
- The others are gaining momentum
- Potential tariffs expected to slow growth, but not by much
- Retail sales of carbonated soft drinks, by segment
- Graph 7: total retail sales and forecast of carbonated soft drinks, by segment, 2019-2030
- Retail sales of carbonated soft drinks, by segment
- Market share/brand share
- Regular soft drinks have three regulars
- Graph 8: multi-outlet sales of regular carbonated soft drinks, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2024 and 2025
- Growth across the majority of the board
- Others are beginning to bubble up in the growing diet category
- Graph 9: multi-outlet sales of diet carbonated soft drinks, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2024 and 2025
- The diet space experiences a myriad of increases across different brands
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CONSUMER INSIGHTS
- Consumer fast facts
- Consumer fast facts (cont)
- Usage of Carbonated Soft Drinks
- Cola is king
- Declines in usage likely driven by health
- Graph 10: CSD consumption in the past three months, 2024-25
- Younger generations can’t get enough
- Poppi and Olipop provide a fun(ctional) alternative
- Indulgence differentiates, flavor wins
- Graph 11: CSD consumption in the past three months, by generation, 2025
- Diet cola missing the mark for Black consumers
- Graph 12: CSD consumption in the past three months, by race/ethnicity, 2025
- Parents are into pop
- Graph 13: CSD consumption in the past three months, by parental status, 2025
- Frequency
- Daily usage is on the rise
- Graph 14: CSD consumption frequency, any CSD, 2024-25
- Healthier sodas lead the charge
- Graph 15: CSD consumption, % of CSD drinkers who are high frequency users, by type, 2023-25
- Occasions
- The afternoon is the sweet spot
- Multi-occasion usage drops, but lunch still reigns supreme
- Graph 16: CSD occasions, 2024-25
- A shift toward less occasions
- Graph 17: repertoire number of different CSD occasions, 2024-25
- Find opportunities among cultural differences
- Graph 18: select CSD occasions, by race/ethnicity, 2025
- Capitalize on Millennials’ sober curiosity
- Graph 19: CSD occasions, by parental status, 2025
- Graph 20: CSD occasions, by generation, 2025
- Capitalize on Millennials’ sober curiosity
- Associations
- Flavor is the top association across all CSDs
- Graph 21: CSD associations, 2025
- Diet cola and functional soda struggle to differentiate
- Graph 22: CSD associations, diet cola and functional soda, 2025
- Affordability abound for younger generations
- Graph 23: % of consumers that associate each CSD with being “affordable,” by generation, 2025
- Flavored sparkling water: a refreshing alternative
- Graph 24: water occasions by specific types of water, 2024
- Premium benefits
- Easily understood benefits rise to the top
- Graph 25: CSD benefits worth paying a premium for, 2025
- Uncommon CSD benefits raise questions
- Reduced sugar is age-agnostic; all other benefits more often speak to the young
- Graph 26: CSD benefits worth paying a premium for, by generation, 2025
- Educate consumers on possible benefits
- Black consumers are looking for health benefits
- Graph 27: CSD benefits worth paying a premium for, Black consumers, 2025
- Pro-benefit parents
- Graph 28: CSD benefits worth paying a premium for, by parental status, 2025
- Attitudes
- Planned purchasing, brand preference and sugar-free options are key
- Graph 29: select attitudes about CSDs, 2025
- Help older generations plan; guide younger generations to take risks
- Graph 30: select attitude statements, by generation, 2025
- Brand brings people back…
- …but brands need to win over younger generations
- Graph 31: select attitude statements, by generation, 2025
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INNOVATION AND MARKETING STRATEGIES
- Launch activity and innovation
- Dr Pepper inspires creamy competition
- Spindrift launches soda line with nostalgic flavors
- Stacked alcohol alternatives
- Prebiotic competition heats up…
- …with no signs of slowing
- More new releases from big players
- Liquid Death leans into soda-inspired sparkling water
- Plenty of new flavors emerge; nostalgia revitalizes old classics
- Graph 32: CSD flavourscape analysis, 2025
- Marketing and advertising
- Pepsi’s food focus
- Nooma encourages daily consumption
- Sprite continues NBA relationship by connecting with nostalgic basketball fans
- Poppi acknowledges shortcomings, then evolves
- Mountain Dew winds back the clock
- May the fizz be with you
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APPENDIX
- Market definition
- Consumer research questions
- Consumer research methodology
- Generations
- Abbreviations and terms
- Forecast methodology
- Forecast fan chart methodology
- Retail sales and forecast of total carbonated soft drinks, at inflation-adjusted prices
- Retail sales and forecast of regular carbonated soft drinks, at inflation-adjusted prices
- Retail sales and forecast of diet carbonated soft drinks, at inflation-adjusted prices
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