Soft Drinks

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has triggered the most severe global recession since World War II. In Q4 2020, the end of the pandemic started as countries began administering effective vaccines among the population; however, vaccine distribution…

Opposition from the ultra-Orthodox community led to the tax on all sweetened beverages being removed at the end of March 2023. The ultra-Orthodox community includes many heavy users of sugary and artificially sweetened carbonates, along with…

Saudi Arabia’s hot climate ensures there remains a healthy demand for juice in the Kingdom. However, the performances of the different juice categories have been varied in 2023 with demand increasingly being shaped by the growing focus on healthy…

Juice in the Middle East and Africa Juice is evolving rapidly, with distribution metrics becoming a key differentiator within the competitive landscape. This report aims to evaluate the key local soft drinks markets in the fastest growing region in…

Following global inflation and the challenge for low- and mid-income consumers to manage their expenses, all major private label lines of juice entered the United Arab Emirates, including Carrefour Fresh, Lulu Fresh, Spinneys Food, Spinneys Kitchen…

This report considers what socialising will look like in a post-COVID-19 era, focusing on several key questions. A return to the “Roaring Twenties” in the beverages space or a continuing decimation of the on-trade? How has socialising changed (eg…

In 2023, the Israeli supermarket chain, Shufersal, launched its own line of RTD coffee. The private label coffee contains fresh milk, like Tnuva’s launch of Ice Coffee in a cup, and the retailer advertises that it uses 100% Arabica beans. Shufersal…

Sales of RTD coffee rose sharply from a low base over the review period with locals becoming increasingly aware of these products and sales have continued to see dynamic growth in 2023 in off- and on-trade volume terms. Starbucks Iced Coffee has…

Price per litre, RTD coffee is the most expensive category within soft drinks in the United Arab Emirates, followed by energy drinks. Its high price is driven by the premium nature of the product, a relatively small bottle size and the domination of…

The tax on all sweetened beverages was removed at the end of March 2023. With the government claiming that it was looking to lower the cost of living for locals, the Ministry of Health required retailers to lower prices within three days of the tax…

RTD tea is a relatively niche category in Saudi Arabia with it being the smallest soft drinks category in retail volume terms in 2023. Nonetheless, the category has continued to post strong growth both through the off- and on-trade channels. The…

RTD tea in the United Arab Emirates is among three categories within soft drinks demonstrating double-digit growth rates in 2023. Its success is partly being driven by its novelty factor in the local market, in line with the continuing success of RTD…

Soft drinks saw rising demand in 2023 despite challenges such as the weak exchange value of the dinar and a lack of structure in the industry. Population growth and the youth of Iraq’s population are major reasons for rising demand in carbonates,…

The ultra-Orthodox community expressed annoyance with the tax placed on sweetened soft drinks on 1 January 2022. With a tax on plasticware also in place, this community believed that these measures were weighted against lower socioeconomic groups,…

In 2023, soft drinks in Jordan has been performing well due to a substantial rise in tourist numbers, particularly overnight visitors. This surge has positively influenced foodservices sales, as consumers are increasingly dining out and utilising…

Kuwait’s hot climate, fast pace of life and unpotable drinking water present strong opportunities for soft drinks players. However, the health and wellness trend, and particularly rising concern over the country’s rates of obesity and diabetes, have…

2023 saw pressure on demand for soft drinks ease as the re-dollarisation of the Lebanese pound, rising remittances and buoyant inbound arrivals, spurred by returning expatriates, pushed volume growth. On-trade growth was especially strong as the…

In 2023, soft drinks in Oman have shown resilience post COVID-19. Soft drinks, including bottled water and juices, have rebounded positively, aligning with the resurgence of social events. Health and wellness trends continue to shape preferences,…

In 2023, demand for soft drinks in Qatar was fuelled by the constant stream of high profile events, which drove on- and off-trade sales. However, there was a dip in demand, following strong off-trade increases and the rebound in on-trade sales in…

Sales of soft drinks have continued to see healthy growth in retail volume and value terms in 2023, with sales benefiting from a booming economy. Furthermore, the country’s hot climate means there is a constant demand for soft drinks. Saudi Arabia…