Whenever we talk about the American lifestyle, we think of burgers, pizza and French fries. But have you ever
wondered what Americans like to drink the most with this fast food? Beverages in America are not just a means of
quenching thirst, but they are a big part of their culture and daily life.
Recently, data on the top 20 most consumed beverages in America has come to light, which presents many shocking
and interesting statistics. Let us understand these statistics from the perspective of a common man and see which
brands dominate the American market.
| # | Brand | Market Share | Category | Company |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coca-Cola Classic | 19.2% | Sodas | Coca-Cola Company |
| 2 | Dr Pepper | ~8.3% – 8.7% | Sodas | Keurig Dr Pepper |
| 3 | Sprite | ~8.0% – 8.1% | Sodas | Coca-Cola Company |
| 4 | Pepsi-Cola | 8.0% | Sodas | PepsiCo |
| 5 | Diet Coke | 7.8% | Sodas | Coca-Cola Company |
| 6 | Mountain Dew | 6.1% | Sodas | PepsiCo |
| 7 | Coke Zero Sugar | 4.2% | Sodas | Coca-Cola Company |
| 8 | Diet Pepsi | ~3.3% | Sodas | PepsiCo |
| 9 | Fanta | 2.9% | Sodas | Coca-Cola Company |
| 10 | Canada Dry Ginger Ale | 2.3% | Sodas | Keurig Dr Pepper |
| 11 | Gatorade | ~61% – 65% | Sports Drinks | PepsiCo |
| 12 | Red Bull | ~39% – 43% | Energy Drinks | Red Bull |
| 13 | Monster Energy | ~33% | Energy Drinks | Monster Energy |
| 14 | Aquafina | ~8% – 10% | Bottled Water | PepsiCo |
| 15 | Dasani | ~7% – 9% | Bottled Water | Coca-Cola Company |
| 16 | Tropicana | ~40% | Orange Juice | Tropicana Brands Group |
| 17 | Lipton (Ice Tea) | ~25% | Bottled Tea | PepsiCo |
| 18 | 7UP | ~2.0% | Sodas | Keurig Dr Pepper |
| 19 | A&W Root Beer | ~1.5% | Sodas | Keurig Dr Pepper |
| 20 | Minute Maid | ~6% – 8% | Fruit Juices | Coca-Cola Company |
Source: Vgraphinsta
Cola War: Coca-Cola is the ‘King’ as always
If there is one drink that is most recognized in the whole world, it is Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola Classic is at number
1 in this list too. Its share in the total soda market in America is 19.2%. This means that 1 out of every 5 sodas
sold in America is Coca-Cola. Over the years, the equation that cold-drink means Coca-Cola has been ingrained in
people’s minds, which is still intact.
But the biggest surprise in this list is the second number. For years, we have been hearing about the ‘Coke vs.
Pepsi’ competition, but here the second number is not Pepsi, but Dr. Pepper! Dr. Pepper has come in second with a
market share of 8.3% to 8.7%. This drink is known for its mix of 23 different flavors and has gradually overtaken
Pepsi.
While Pepsi-Cola has been pushed to fourth place with a share of 8.0%. This shows that Americans are now starting
to prefer the unique taste of Dr. Pepper over the traditional Pepsi.
Crazy of Diet and Zero Sugar Drinks
Today, people have become more conscious about their health and weight. People want the taste of soda, but do not
want the sugar and calories in it. This trend is also clearly visible in this data.
Diet Coke is at number 5 on the list, which has a 7.8% share in the soda market. Apart from this, another product
of the Coca-Cola Company, Coke Zero Sugar, is at number 7 with a 4.2% share. Talking about Pepsi, Diet Pepsi is at
number 8 with 3.3%. This shows that the share of diet and sugar-free drinks in the total soda consumption is very
large.
Lemon-lime and fruit flavored sodas
Not everyone likes black cola. Many people like clear or fruit-flavored sodas. Sprite emerges as the hero in this
category. It ranks third with a market share of 8.0% to 8.1%, tying Dr Pepper and Pepsi.
Mountain Dew, which is extremely popular among youth and gamers, ranks sixth with a share of 6.1%. The drink is
known for its neon color and high-caffeine content.
In addition, Fanta, a fruit-flavored beverage, ranks ninth with a share of 2.9%.
People often drink ginger sodas for intestinal problems or relief, with Canada Dry Ginger Ale ranking 10th with a
share of 2.3%. Apart from this, 7UP (2.0%) is at number 18 and America’s classic A&W Root Beer (1.5%) is at number
19.
Sports and Energy Drinks: Who has the upper hand?
When it comes to sports and energy, there is a different battle going on. PepsiCo’s **Gatorade** has a complete
monopoly in the sports drinks category. Gatorade alone has a share of 61% to 65% of the total sports drinks market
and is at number 11 on the list.
On the other hand, there is a fierce competition in the energy drinks market. At number 12 is Red Bull which has
the largest share of 39% to 43% in the energy drinks market. To give it a fair competition, Monster Energy is at
number 13 with a share of about 33%. Red Bull is known for its small cans and premium marketing, while Monster is
popular among the youth with its large cans and aggressive branding.
Water and Juice: Healthy Options
The bottled water market is also very large in America. People prefer to buy filtered water from companies instead
of drinking tap water. PepsiCo’s Aquafina is at number 14 (8%-10% bottled water share) and Coca-Cola’s Dasani is at
number 15 (7%-9% share) in this list.
If we talk about breakfast, an American breakfast is incomplete without orange juice. Tropicana dominates here,
holding a massive 40% share of the orange juice market, at number 16.
People also drink a lot of iced tea, with PepsiCo’s Lipton Ice Tea at number 17 with a 25% share of the bottled
tea market. In the fruit juice category, Coca-Cola’s Minute Maid maintains its position at number 20 with a 6%-8%
share.
Market Reality: The Magic of Just 3 Companies
A closer look at this list of 20 beverages reveals a very big business reality. You see 20 different drinks, but
in reality the entire market is mainly driven by three giant companies:
- The Coca-Cola Company: (Coca-Cola, Sprite, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Fanta, Dasani, Minute Maid)
- PEPSICO: (Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi, Gatorade, Aquafina, Lipton)
- Keurig Dr Pepper: (Dr. Pepper, Canada Dry, 7UP, A&W Root Beer)
Apart from these 3 companies, only ‘Red Bull’, ‘Monster’ and ‘Tropica Brands Group’ are independent brands that
have managed to make it to the top 20.
Conclusion
This data clearly shows that Americans have diverse tastes, but their loyalty to certain brands is unwavering.
Coca-Cola still reigns supreme, but brands like Dr Pepper have proven that even the age-old Pepsi can be overtaken
by something new in taste. At the same time, the growing demand for diet drinks and sports drinks also shows that
the future market is gradually shifting towards health-conscious alternatives.