Soft
Soft Drinks

Soft Drinks in Ireland

Ireland

Euromonitor International's Soft Drinks in Ireland market report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, packaging innovations, economic/lifestyle influences, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts illustrate how the market is set to change.

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Tables: 144  |  Publication date: May 2009
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Product coverage

Asian speciality drinks; Bottled water; Carbonates; Concentrates; Fruit/vegetable juice; Functional drinks; RTD coffee; RTD tea

Executive summary

Soft drinks brace economic storm

While consumers have not forgotten their health and indulgence necessities, there has been a definite shift in priorities as Ireland was one of the countries hit by the global economic crash. In the soft drinks market, soft drinks volume sales increased in 2008 to £881 million from £855 million the previous year. Yet rising unit prices, dwindling environment, and waste management and energy costs are a few factors, in addition to the credit crunch, that threatens the soft drinks market and spending power of consumers. On the same token, the growth in soft drinks remains relatively steady. There is parallel growth across all categories, particularly in flavoured water, smoothies, and energy drinks, whose growth is related to more established categories. Such figures infer that consumers are still placing health and convenience needs above the crunch.

Bottled water feels pressure from government and environment

The Irish government is aware of its need to be more assertive in improving water quality, more so after the European Commission issued its final warning in 2007. Poor water quality in Ireland has enabled bottled water manufacturers to drag their feet in terms of sustainability. The government is predominantly responsible for such shortcomings. Hitherto, over the review period Ireland’s EPA released an annual report that assessed the overall quality of Ireland’s environment, its pressures, and the way the country is responding as a society to current and emerging environmental issues, one of them being the bottled water industry. As a result, the Food Safety Authority (FSAI), the Beverage Council of Ireland, and the National Standards Authority of Ireland plan more rigorous action to address environmental issues. Though the bottled water industry continues to thrive in Ireland, partly due to increased interest in health and convenience, the review period saw more pressure in soft drinks and it will be a matter of time before the industry will be more implicated in the matter.

Functional drinks makes major headway to defeat obesity and exercise more

As one of the main beneficiaries of the health trend, functional drinks maintained its positive development in 2008. Rising health awareness and the battle against obesity not only attracted new consumers, but it encouraged existing drinkers to increase their functional beverage consumption. Functional drinks grew by 13% in retail value terms in 2008 and, more than any sector, utilised lifestyle trends to push sales. Lucozade continued to monopolise the market with its leading brand, Lucozade Sport, launching its Head2Head Challenge over the review period, linking the product to some of Ireland’s biggest sports stars. Lucozade Alert also launched new slogans and in-store promotions. Due to its eye-catching packaging and well-established name in light of current health trends and fight against fat, Lucozade continues and will continue to maintain its current market position.

Convenience stores sell convenient soft drinks

The number of convenience stores in Ireland continues to grow considerably. The largest players in a rapidly expanding market are Spar, Centra, and Londis. Ireland’s convenience store network is by far the most developed in Europe in terms of the range of products and services available to consumers. This, in effect, has assisted in soft drinks sales where retail and volume sales reached £1.8 trillion and £881million, respectively. With the more youthful and on-the-go demographic more inclined to shop at convenience stores, and with certain beverage categories heavily weighted in distribution terms towards the convenience store segment, the very shape of the Irish retail market is in a great deal of flux as convenience is key.

The “Fighting Irish” buy Irish

One of the biggest selling points in Ireland of almost any product or service is the fact that it is either “of Irish origin” or “Irish owned”. This national pride extends beyond FMCG and can be seen in telephone & internet services, restaurants, and even toothpaste. This patriotic slant in purchasing decisions has been evident for many years and does not look to recede any time soon. Irish people not only see their products as better in terms of quality but oftentimes even worth the price. Irish interest in local dairy and meat products will remain a strong force in the packaged food and soft drinks markets over the forecast period and beyond. This can presently be seen in bottled water, where international brands such as Volvic and Evian are respectively trampled by Ballygowan and Deep River Rock, the latter two associated with the Irish consumer. Britvic Ltd’s Ballygowan has managed to maintain its reputation of being Ireland’s favourite bottled water brand for 26 years.

Table of contents

SOFT DRINKS IN IRELAND : MARKET INSIGHT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Soft drinks brace economic storm

Bottled water feels pressure from government and environment

Functional drinks makes major headway to defeat obesity and exercise more

Convenience stores sell convenient soft drinks

The “Fighting Irish” buy Irish

KEY TRENDS AND DEVELOPMENTS

Tackling obesity and increasing exercise levels create leg room for functional drinks

Bottled water is under slow but sure pressure to address sustainability

Convenient selling speeds convenient consumption

Adult soft drinks consumers do not compromise health and indulgence

Irish buy Irish

Soft drinks braces itself for economic storm

MARKET DATA

Table 1 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Channel: Volume 2003-2008

Table 2 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Channel: % Volume Growth 2003-2008

Table 3 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: Value 2003-2008

Table 4 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 5 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Sector: Volume 2008

Table 6 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Sector: % Volume 2008

Table 7 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Sector: Value 2008

Table 8 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Sector: % Value 2008

Table 9 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Sector: Volume 2003-2008

Table 10 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Sector: % Volume Growth 2003-2008

Table 11 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Sector: Value 2003-2008

Table 12 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Sector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 13 Company Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks (as sold) by Volume 2004-2008

Table 14 Brand Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks (as sold) by Volume 2005-2008

Table 15 Company Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks (RTD) by Volume 2004-2008

Table 16 Brand Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks (RTD) by Volume 2005-2008

Table 17 Company Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks by Value 2004-2008

Table 18 Brand Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks by Value 2005-2008

Table 19 Penetration of Private Label (as sold) by Sector by Volume 2003-2008

Table 20 Penetration of Private Label by Sector by Value 2003-2008

Table 21 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Sector and Distribution Format: % Analysis 2008

Table 22 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Channel: Volume 2008-2013

Table 23 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Channel: % Volume Growth 2008-2013

Table 24 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: Value 2008-2013

Table 25 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: % Value Growth 2008-2013

Table 26 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Sector: Volume 2008-2013

Table 27 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Sector: % Volume Growth 2008-2013

Table 28 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Sector: Value 2008-2013

Table 29 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Sector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

APPENDIX

Fountain Sales in Ireland

DATA

Table 30 Off-trade Sales of Concentrates (RTD) by Subsector: Volume 2003-2008

Table 31 Off-trade Sales of Concentrates (RTD) by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2003-2008

Table 32 Company Shares of Liquid Concentrates (as sold) by Off-trade Volume 2004-2008

Table 33 Brand Shares of Liquid Concentrates (as sold) by Off-trade Volume 2005-2008

Table 34 Company Shares of Powder Concentrates (as sold) by Off-trade Volume 2004-2008

Table 35 Brand Shares of Powder Concentrates (as sold) by Off-trade Volume 2005-2008

Table 36 Company Shares of Concentrates (RTD) by Off-trade Volume 2004-2008

Table 37 Brand Shares of Concentrates (RTD) by Off-trade Volume 2005-2008

Table 38 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Concentrates (RTD) by Subsector: Volume 2008-2013

Table 39 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Concentrates (RTD) by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2008-2013

DEFINITIONS

Summary 1 Research Sources

LOCAL COMPANY PROFILES - IRELAND

COCA-COLA BOTTLERS (IRELAND) LTD - SOFT DRINKS - IRELAND

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 2 Coca-Cola Bottlers (Ireland) Ltd: Key Facts

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 3 Coca-Cola Bottlers (Ireland) Ltd: Competitive Position 2008

GLAXOSMITHKLINE (IRELAND) LTD - SOFT DRINKS - IRELAND

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 4 GlaxoSmithKline (Ireland) Ltd: Key Facts

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 5 GlaxoSmithKline (Ireland) Ltd: Competitive Position 2008

INNOCENT DRINKS CO LTD - SOFT DRINKS - IRELAND

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 6 Innocent Drinks Co Ltd: Key Facts

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 7 Innocent Drinks Co Ltd: Competitive Position 2008

KERRY GROUP PLC - SOFT DRINKS - IRELAND

STRATEGIC DIRECTION

KEY FACTS

Summary 8 Kerry Group Plc: Key Facts

COMPANY BACKGROUND

PRODUCTION

COMPETITIVE POSITIONING

Summary 9 Kerry Group Plc: Competitive Position 2008

CARBONATES IN IRELAND

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 40 Low Calorie Carbonates by Subsector

Table 41 Off-trade Sales of Carbonates by Subsector: Volume 2003-2008

Table 42 Off-trade Sales of Carbonates by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 43 Off-trade Sales of Carbonates by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2003-2008

Table 44 Off-trade Sales of Carbonates by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 45 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of Carbonates: Volume 2003-2008

Table 46 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of Carbonates: Value 2003-2008

Table 47 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of Carbonates: % Volume Growth 2003-2008

Table 48 On-trade vs Off-trade Sales of Carbonates: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 49 Company Shares of Carbonates by Off-trade Volume 2004-2008

Table 50 Brand Shares of Carbonates by Off-trade Volume 2005-2008

Table 51 Company Shares of Carbonates by Off-trade Value 2004-2008

Table 52 Brand Shares of Carbonates by Off-trade Value 2005-2008

Table 53 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Carbonates by Subsector: Volume 2008-2013

Table 54 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Carbonates by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 55 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Carbonates by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2008-2013

Table 56 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Carbonates by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

FRUIT/VEGETABLE JUICE IN IRELAND

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 57 Off-trade Sales of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Subsector: Volume 2003-2008

Table 58 Off-trade Sales of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 59 Off-trade Sales of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2003-2008

Table 60 Off-trade Sales of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 61 Leading Flavours for 100% Juice: % Volume Breakdown 2003-2008

Table 62 Leading Flavours for Nectars (25-99% Juice): % Volume Breakdown 2003-2008

Table 63 Leading Flavours for Juice Drinks (up to 24% Juice): % Volume Breakdown 2003-2008

Table 64 % Share of Smoothies in 100% Juice and Nectars (25-99% Juice): Off-trade Value 2008

Table 65 Chilled Vs Ambient Not From Concentrate 100% Juice: % Analysis 2003-2008

Table 66 Chilled Vs Ambient Reconstituted 100% Juice: % Analysis 2003-2008

Table 67 Company Shares of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Off-trade Volume 2004-2008

Table 68 Brand Shares of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Off-trade Volume 2005-2008

Table 69 Company Shares of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Off-trade Value 2004-2008

Table 70 Brand Shares of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Off-trade Value 2005-2008

Table 71 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Subsector: Volume 2008-2013

Table 72 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 73 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2008-2013

Table 74 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Fruit/Vegetable Juice by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

BOTTLED WATER IN IRELAND

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Institutional Bottled Water Sales

Table 75 Sales of Bottled Water to Institutional Channel 2004-2008

Table 76 Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water: Volume 2003-2008

Table 77 Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water: Value 2003-2008

Table 78 Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water: % Volume Growth 2003-2008

Table 79 Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 80 Company Shares of Bottled Water by Off-trade Volume 2004-2008

Table 81 Brand Shares of Bottled Water by Off-trade Volume 2005-2008

Table 82 Company Shares of Bottled Water by Off-trade Value 2004-2008

Table 83 Brand Shares of Bottled Water by Off-trade Value 2005-2008

Table 84 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water: Volume 2008-2013

Table 85 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water: Value 2008-2013

Table 86 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water: % Volume Growth 2008-2013

Table 87 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Bottled Water: % Value Growth 2008-2013

FUNCTIONAL DRINKS IN IRELAND

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 88 Off-trade Sales of Functional Drinks by Subsector: Volume 2003-2008

Table 89 Off-trade Sales of Functional Drinks by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 90 Off-trade Sales of Functional Drinks by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2003-2008

Table 91 Off-trade Sales of Functional Drinks by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 92 Company Shares of Functional Drinks by Off-trade Volume 2004-2008

Table 93 Brand Shares of Functional Drinks by Off-trade Volume 2005-2008

Table 94 Company Shares of Functional Drinks by Off-trade Value 2004-2008

Table 95 Brand Shares of Functional Drinks by Off-trade Value 2005-2008

Table 96 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Functional Drinks by Subsector: Volume 2008-2013

Table 97 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Functional Drinks by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 98 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Functional Drinks by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2008-2013

Table 99 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Functional Drinks by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

CONCENTRATES IN IRELAND

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Concentrates Conversions

Table 100 Concentrates Conversion Factors for Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Format

Table 101 Off-trade Sales of Concentrates (as sold) by Subsector: Volume 2003-2008

Table 102 Off-trade Sales of Concentrates (as sold) by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2003-2008

Table 103 Off-trade Sales of Concentrates by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 104 Off-trade Sales of Concentrates by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 105 Company Shares of Concentrates by Off-trade Value 2004-2008

Table 106 Brand Shares of Concentrates by Off-trade Value 2005-2008

Table 107 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Concentrates (as sold) by Subsector: Volume 2008-2013

Table 108 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Concentrates (as sold) by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2008-2013

Table 109 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Concentrates by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 110 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Concentrates by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

RTD TEA IN IRELAND

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 111 Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Subsector: Volume 2003-2008

Table 112 Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Subsector: Value 2003-2008

Table 113 Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2003-2008

Table 114 Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Subsector: % Value Growth 2003-2008

Table 115 Leading Flavours for RTD Tea: % Volume Breakdown 2005-2008

Table 116 Company Shares of RTD Tea by Off-trade Volume 2004-2008

Table 117 Brand Shares of RTD Tea by Off-trade Volume 2005-2008

Table 118 Company Shares of RTD Tea by Off-trade Value 2004-2008

Table 119 Brand Shares of RTD Tea by Off-trade Value 2005-2008

Table 120 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Subsector: Volume 2008-2013

Table 121 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Subsector: Value 2008-2013

Table 122 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Subsector: % Volume Growth 2008-2013

Table 123 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Subsector: % Value Growth 2008-2013

RTD COFFEE IN IRELAND

HEADLINES

TRENDS

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

PROSPECTS

SECTOR DATA

Table 124 Off-trade Sales of RTD Coffee: Volume 2005-2008

Table 125 Off-trade Sales of RTD Coffee: Value 2005-2008

Table 126 Off-trade Sales of RTD Coffee: % Volume Growth 2005-2008

Table 127 Off-trade Sales of RTD Coffee: % Value Growth 2005-2008

Table 128 Company Shares of RTD Coffee by Off-trade Volume 2004-2008

Table 129 Brand Shares of RTD Coffee by Off-trade Volume 2005-2008

Table 130 Company Shares of RTD Coffee by Off-trade Value 2004-2008

Table 131 Brand Shares of RTD Coffee by Off-trade Value 2005-2008

Table 132 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Coffee: Volume 2008-2013

Table 133 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Coffee: Value 2008-2013

Table 134 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Coffee: % Volume Growth 2008-2013

Table 135 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Coffee: % Value Growth 2008-2013

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