The soft drinks market - France (2025)

1.2. a fast-growing global market

In Europe, soft drink consumption varies widely from country to country:

In ****, average consumption in the European Union will be ** liters per capita. Germany leads the way with ***.* L, ahead of Belgium (***). France is modest at just **.* L, behind countries such as Spain (***). Italy brings up the rear with **.* L per capita.

Annual consumption of soft drinks per capita Europe, ****, in liters Source: ****

The global soft drinks market is enjoying sustained growth momentum, fuelled by changing consumer preferences, the rise of wellness and product innovation.

In ****, the global market is estimated at $*** billion, with a projection to reach $*** billion in ****, representing growth of +**% in nine years. This growth is driven by : growing demand for functional beverages (***) ; rapid urbanization in emerging countries; the rise of modern distribution channels and e-commerce. TheAsia-Pacific andLatin American regions are making a strong contribution to this dynamic, thanks to rising purchasing power.

Size of the global soft drinks market World, ****-****, in $ billions Source: ****

1.3. Two paths for the French market

Between **** and ****, the BRSA market in France grew steadily, driven in particular by the dynamism of non-carbonated segments. Total sales rose from *.** billion euros in **** to *.** billion euros in ****, an increase of +*.** billion euros in seven years.

This growth is more pronounced for non-carbonated BRSAs, which account for the majority of the market, rising from *.** billion euros in **** to *.** billion in ****. This growth, although irregular, was particularly sustained in **** (***).

Soft drinks market sales France, ****-****, in € billions Source: ****

Carbonated soft drinks, on the other hand, experienced a later recovery: sales stagnated between **** and **** at between €*.* and €*.** billion, then jumped to €*.** billion in **** (***). This reflects a recent revival of interest in sparkling beverages, against a backdrop of the rise of alternatives such as flavored sparkling waters or low-sugar sodas.

All in all, the national BRSA market is characterized by growth driven by non-carbonated products, while showing a revival of the carbonated segment since ****. This trend is part of an overall drive to diversify the offer, responding to expectations for naturalness, well-being and alternatives to alcohol, particularly among young consumers.

a

2.1 Increasingly regular consumption

Consumption of non-alcoholic beverages is gradually taking root in French habits, with a regularity that reflects the growing integration of these products into their daily lives.

**% of French people say they drink BRSAs at least once a year, which remains the most common frequency. A further **% consume them at least once a month, and **% at least once a week.

Study Source: ****

This regularity of consumption is, however, part of a slight downward trend, as shown by the change between **** and ****: all consumption frequencies have fallen by -* percentage point. This relative decline could reflect a stabilization of the market, after several years of growth, or a cyclical effect linked to budget arbitrages in a context of inflation.

Weekly consumption: **% (***) Monthly consumption: **% (***) Annual consumption: **% (***)

So, although the overall dynamic remains favorable, with a large proportion of the population regularly using BRSAs, the frequency of purchases seems to be slowing down slightly, requiring particular attention to building loyalty and diversifying the offer.

consumption trends vs. **** France, **** vs ****, in points Source: ****

2.2 BRSA consumer profiles

The IFOP study for Freixenet-Gratien, carried out online from November * to *, **** among a sample of *,*** people aged ** and over, highlights differences in consumption according to socio-demographic profiles.

Men consume more BRSA than women, with **% of men consuming them at least once a month versus **% of women. This difference also applies to weekly consumption (***). Young adults are the biggest consumers: **% of **-** year-olds drink non-alcoholic beverages at least once a month, just ahead of **-** year-olds (***). Consumption declines significantly with age: **% among **-** year-olds, **% among **-** year-olds, and just **% among those aged ** and over.

Frequency of consumption by gender France, ****, in Source: ****

These figures reflect a stronger appetite for BRSAs among the younger generations and men, possibly linked to a search for alternative drinks that are festive and less sweet, or perceived as healthier.

Monthly consumption of non-alcoholic beverages by age France, ****, in % (***) Source: ****

2.3 Consumer contexts and preferences

An analysis of BRSA consumption practices in France shows that they are now a well-established part of social and festive routines, with preferred consumption times and beverage categories reflecting a real structuring of usage.

**% of French people say they consume BRSA as an aperitif, which is the most frequent moment of consumption. This suggests that these beverages are perceived as a credible alternative to alcoholic beverages during social occasions, and that they benefit from a positive positioning, associated with pleasure and relaxation. **% of respondents consume them in the evening, a figure close to that of celebratory meals (***), confirming their central role in festive contexts or those marked by a certain social staging. At the same time, **% consume them at dinner and **% at lunch, indicating an increase in their consumption in more everyday settings. BRSAs are no longer confined to special occasions, but are gradually becoming part of people's eating habits.

Top * occasions for BRSA consumption France, ****, in Source: ****

In terms of preferences, the data show a clear hierarchy:

Alcohol-free cocktails and mocktails are the most popular, with **% of French people consuming them, confirming the appeal of sophisticated alternatives to alcohol. Alcohol-free beer follows close behind, with **% of consumers, reflecting both ...

2.4 Seasonal demand

Analysis of seasonality via Google Trends data (***) on searches related to non-alcoholic cocktails highlights a marked cyclical structure, underlining the anchoring of these drinks in precise temporalities of the social and festive calendar.

Systematic peaks in demand appear every December, with indices reaching ** (***). in contrast, demand in the summer months is relatively stable but much lower, with indexes generally between ** and **. This is due to competition from other cold drinks (***) and the absence of specific sober collective events. There are also moderate upturns in interest in April and May, possibly linked to the first outdoor evenings and events such as brunches and garden parties, but never reaching the winter peaks.

Seasonality of demand France, ****-****, in indexes Source: ****

2.5 France's favorite brands

In ****, certain brands stand out in the hearts of the French. According to an Opinionway survey, Orangina tops the listwith **.*% of respondents saying they like it, closely followed by Schweppes (***). Coca-Cola was a close second at **.*%, while * Up garnered **.*% support. The Monster brand, on the other hand, had a lower score of **.*%, which may be explained by its more divisive positioning and its strong focus on the energy drink segment.

BRSA brands preferred by the French France, February ****, in % Source: ****

However, preferences vary significantly by gender. Among men, Orangina (***), reflecting strong marketing and sensory differentiation, aimed at a young male audience. conversely, Lipton Ice Tea is slightly over-represented in female preferences, with a difference of almost * points compared to men.

France's favorite BRSA brands, by gender France, February ****, in % Source: ****

Analysis by age group reveals a clear preference among young people for iconic, sweet brands.The **-** age group favors Coca-Cola (***). This confirms that younger generations are both greater consumers and more attached to well-identified brands, often associated with festive or social uses.

French people's favorite BRSA brands, by age group France, February ****, in % Source: ****

Finally, there are also marked differences according to socio-professional category. CSP+ declare a clear preference for ...

3.1. production organization

The production of refreshing non-alcoholic beverages (***) comes under NAF subclass **.**B, which covers :

The manufacture of non-alcoholic, sweetened and/or flavored beverages (***) The production of fruit syrups and non-alcoholic "aperitifs" The production of flavored milks

However, this subclass excludes the production of fruit juices (***). It therefore precisely targets industrial players in the BRSA market, to the exclusion of other non-alcoholic beverages and logistics providers.

According to URSSAF **** data, *** companies falling under NAF code **.**B were identified in France, employing a total of *,*** employees. The regional breakdown shows a strong geographical concentration:

Île-de-France accounts for **% of companies and almost **% of employees, reflecting its major industrial weight. This is followed byAuvergne-Rhône-Alpes (***), accounts for **.*% of the workforce, underlining the presence of large-scale production units. conversely, certain regions such as Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Brittany and Corsica remain very marginal in BRSA production.

Breakdown of BRSA companies by region France, ****, as % of total Source: ****

The market share graphs confirm this unevenly distributed structure:

In terms of number of companies, the top six regions account for **.*% of the sector's players, versus **.*% for all the others. In terms of number of employees, the top six regions account for **.*% of the workforce, compared with just **.*% for the others.

This ...

3.2. Distribution is mainly through supermarkets

The distribution network to the end consumer is shown below:

GMS: Large and Medium-Sized Retailers

Supermarkets and hypermarkets are the main sales channel for soft drinks. In ****, hypermarkets will account for **.*% of BRSA and water sales, closely followed by supermarkets with **.*%, according to LSA Conso. these two channels alone account for almost two-thirds of the market.

Other channels remain secondary:

GSA e-commerce is growing, but remains marginal(***), Own-brand stores (***) account for **.*%, Local networks (***) account for **.*%, confirming their growing role in occasional or last-minute purchases.

Share of different BRSA distribution channels France, ****, % (***) Source: ****

The dominance of supermarkets can also be seen in promotional indicators: in ****, **.*% of volumes sold benefited from promotions, while *.*% of sales were generated via leaflets. These figures reflect a sales strategy still very much focused on in-store visibility and immediate discount levers.

Key indicators for the BRSA supermarket market France, ****, as % of total Source: ****

SDMP: Supermarkets with own brand dominance

Proxi: convenience stores

GSA: Grocery superstores

3.4 An overview of the players in the soft drinks market

The French soft drinks market is highly concentrated around a small number of players, with a clear domination by the sector's historic multinationals. The **** data show an oligopolistic configuration, in both volume and value, with clearly differentiated positions according to type of player, price positioning and brand type.

In terms of volume, Coca-Cola dominates with a **.*% market share, followed by Orangina Suntory (***), while private labels fall to *.*%, a sign of lower price positioning.

These discrepancies illustrate a well-known logic: national brands capture a larger share of value thanks to their ability to charge higher prices, supported by their brand image, massive advertising investment and historical roots in consumer habits. On the other hand, private labels compensate for this price disadvantage with volume positioning in entry-level segments, notably through first-price references or family formats.

Market share of soft drinks players by volume France, ****, in Source: ****

The other market players together account for less than **% of market share, in both volume and value. Among them :

Red Bull and Arizona are positioned in dynamic but concentrated niches (***), Nestlé Waters and Eckes Granini occupy a residual position, Teisseire/Britvic and Geyer fall into the category of syrup and concentrate-based beverage producers.

These brands are sometimes ...

3.5 Exploding energy drinks

The energy drink segment is enjoying spectacular growth in the BRSA market. By ****, it will have grown by +**.*% in volume and +*.*% in value (***). This is by far the strongest growth among all market segments, illustrating anexplosion in consumption.

Energy drinks, historically associated with occasional consumption (***) helps to win the loyalty of this target group.

Red Bull, Monster, Burn (***) is particularly strong, reinforcing their power of attraction.

bRSA sales by segment France, ****, change in value and volume (***) Source: ****

It's worth noting that growth in volume is more than twice as high as growth in value, reflecting pressure on prices or heavy reliance on promotions. This may also indicate the rise of individual formats or the growth of sales of less expensive brands, notably private labels or secondary brands.

This dynamic is also part of a context of product portfolio diversification: consumers no longer hesitate to try new flavors, sugar-free versions or vitamin-enriched recipes. Constant innovation fuels shelf rotation.

3.6 Bottled water, a growing competitor

Although excluded from the scope of this study, bottled water is a fast-growing adjacent segment that is exerting increasing competitive pressure on the soft drinks market (***), compared with **.*% for soft drinks and **.*% for fruit juices.

This intermediary position gives them a powerful challenger role, all the more so as they are benefiting from constant sales growth. sales growth, up +*.*% in **** compared to ****, i.e. more than fruit juices (***). Their growth is all the more noteworthy in that it is part of a structural dynamic, driven by consumer demand for alternatives perceived as more natural, with no added sugars or sweeteners.

Market share breakdown by segment - BRSA France, ****, in Source: ****

Although waters are not strictly classified in the BRSA by NAF codes, their weight on shelves and their substitutable use in consumption moments (***) is capturing a growing share of purchase intentions.

So, even if the scope of this analysis is limited to non-water BRSAs, it's important to bear in mind that the rise of bottled water is redefining market frontiers and forcing brands to adapt to the new market conditions. this is forcing soft drink brands to adapt, by focusing on sugar reduction, smaller formats and the integration of functional ...

4.1. A wide variety of BRSAs

Refreshing beverages in France encompass several product families. The Boissons Rafraîchissantes Sans Alcool (***) typologies encompass these different product families:

Colas, Still and sparkling fruit drinks, Lemonades, limes, tonics, Tea-based drinks (***), Flavored waters, Sugar-free drinks.

Non-alcoholic refreshment beverages comprise two main families: soft drinks and syrups and concentrates.

Two groups make up BRSA:

Soft drinks: concocted from a mixture of carbonated water and various concentrates. These include colas, bitters, tonics, flavored sodas, energy drinks and fruit soft drinks. Still fruit drinks: the composition is simple: water, sugar and a minimum of **% fruit juice. May contain colorants and flavor correctors.

Sodas require three main ingredients for their preparation:

Water: **% to **% water makes up soda, and this water undergoes several types of treatment to soften or deferrify it. Sugar: *% to **% sugar, mainly sucrose (***). Concentrate: mainly sourced abroad.

Fruit juices and nectars are separate products with their own characteristics.

4.2 A new supply trend: solid flavours

In response to the democratization of water bottles and consumers' growing desire to reduce their plastic consumption, a new product category is gaining ground in the BRSA world: solid flavourings. These products come in the form of tablets, cubes or microdrinks to be dissolved in water. Their promise: to transform still water into a flavored drink, with no or reduced sugar intake, while being practical, light and long-lasting. This positioning is perfectly in line with current concerns about health, ecology and nomadism.

Waterdrop, the segment leader, was founded by Austrian Martin Murray in ****. The brand made a name for itself with its microdrinks, lozenges the size of an aspirin tablet, with no added sugars (***), to be dissolved in a bottle of water. After its online debut, the brand rapidly expanded its presence in French supermarkets, with listings in :

national at Auchan, in test at Carrefour, Monoprix, E. Leclerc and Système U, and in development in pharmacies, where the products can benefit from the prescriptive role of health professionals (***).

The figures confirm the potential of this trend:

*** million euros in sales in Europe in ****, including ** million in France, up +**.*% on ****. A network of ** physical stores, strategically positioned in railway stations ...

4.3 Sugar-free soft drinks

"Sugar-free" has replaced "diet" for many calorie-free drinks. Canada Dry and Schweppes, *Up, A&W and Sunkist sodas, produced by Keurig Dr Pepper, now label their diet drinks "sugar-free". (***)

In recent years, drinks labelled "Zero" or "sugar-free" have seen strong growth in the soft drinks aisle. Since the launch of the famous Coca-Cola Zero in ****, Oasis, Lipton Ice Tea, Orangina, Schweppes and Lorina lemonade have all begun to display this sugar-free symbol on their packaging.

As much as we'd like things to be different, diet sodas are not healthy foods. To call them "healthy" is a misnomer. Here are a few things to consider when making your choice.

Sodas with aspartame: Although there's no definitive link between aspartame and ill health, it's always wise to limit the amount you consume. Look for diet sodas that use alternatives such as stevia or real fruit juice to sweeten their product. Tart sodas: A tasty soda with bite. While this may be great for taste, it's not good for your teeth. These soft drinks contain citric, malic and phosphoric acid, adding acidity to the drinks. These additives remove calcium from your teeth and are linked to tooth decay. Caffeinated sodas: Many people turn to ...

4.4 Event partnerships: a strategic growth lever for BRSAs

In ****, water and refreshing non-alcoholic beverages (***), but have also succeeded in gaining a foothold in segments previously captured by leading national brands, such as tea drinks.

by ****, pressure on household purchasing power could encourage consumers to arbitrate their purchases more, turning to lower-range products or those perceived as non-essential. However, this trend is counterbalanced by another variable of commercial activation: event partnerships, notably with major sporting events.

As Worldwide Partner of the Paris **** Olympic and Paralympic Games, Coca-Cola is deploying an unprecedented engagement strategy. Objective: to make the Games a moment of sharing, inclusion and visibility for its emblematic brands such as Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Sans Sucres and Fuze Tea.

These include

National campaign to recruit *,*** torchbearers out of *,*** participants, via a call for applications open to all, promoted on *** million products on shelves. Summer "Coca-Cola Village" tour in ** cities (***) featuring events, application terminals and social areas. Unique partnership with GeoGuessr, a geolocation game popular with young people, to showcase the Relay of the Flame's stopover towns via a dedicated interactive map, with tickets to the Games up for grabs. * concerts organized in the relay's stopover towns, bringing together ** local artists for inclusive events with high viral potential. Innovation in distribution with ...

5.1 The "soda tax" reshuffles the deck

Introduced on January*, ****, the soda tax aims to limit the consumption of sugary drinks in France. It applies to fruit juices with added sugar, sweetened waters and soft drinks, whatever their distribution channel. [***] The tax is levied on the final consumer.

Source: ****

This tax is a threat to beverage distributors, but seems to have been accepted by consumers.

Additives and caffeine:

In France, legislation on additives in soft drinks is governed by the European regulation on food additives. This regulation lists authorized food additives and their conditions of use. Beverage manufacturers are required to respect the maximum authorized quantities for each additive, and to mention all additives used on the product label [***].

As far as caffeine in soft drinks is concerned, there is no specific limit in France. However, the amount of caffeine in soft drinks must be indicated on the label in accordance with European regulations. It is also important to note that energy drinks often contain high levels of caffeine and may be subject to specific rules. In terms of energy drink regulations, France introduced specific regulations in **** that imposed limits on the amount of caffeine in energy drinks, as well as on the labeling and advertising of these ...

5.2 Soda tax doubled - February 2025

On February **, ****, the French National Assembly adopted the "revenue" section of the Social Security budget for ****, including a major measure for the soft drinks (***) sector: the doubling of the soda tax. This tax, introduced in **** to combat over-consumption of sugar, will now be increased for beverages with a high added sugar content. It could represent up to ** additional euro cents per *.*L bottle.

The economic impact is estimated at *** million euros by stakeholders in the sector: sugar beet growers, sugar manufacturers, beverage producers, wholesalers and caterers. The latter are denouncing a measure which, in their view, could destabilize the entire production and distribution chain, particularly in view of the sector's strong local presence: over **% of BRSA consumed in France is produced domestically from French sugar.

preliminary health assessment - TSE-R study (***)

A scientific study published in **** by the Toulouse School of Economics - Research laboratory (***) anticipated the effects of a tax increase on sugar-sweetened beverages. According to their estimates, a tax of €*.** per liter could reduce individual annual sugar consumption by at least * kg, and thus prevent around *** deaths a year. This study is likely to have fed into the thinking that led to the adoption of the **** measure. [***]

6.1. Segmentation

6.2 The analyst's eye

Context:

In ****, the soft drinks market will remain strongly structured around a few major players and traditional channels. Coca-Cola dominates with a **.*% market share by value, followed by Orangina Suntory (***) are making progress, they remain secondary, underlining the central role of classic formats in structuring the market.

Key trends:

*ʳᵉ trend: Men consume more BRSA than womenIn ****, **% of men drink non-alcoholic beverages at least once a month, compared with **% of women. This difference is also seen in weekly consumption: **% of men versus **% of women, confirming a marked gender gap in usage.

*ᵉ trend: Younger generations are the most frequent users of BRSAThe **-** (***), revealing a rising generation for this segment.

*ᵉ trend: alcohol-free cocktails appeal more than classic substitutesIn ****, **% of French people consume cocktails or mocktails, compared with **% for alcohol-free beer and **% for alcohol-free spirits. This preference reveals an appetite for original, festive alternatives, rather than alcohol-free copies of alcoholic beverages.

*ᵉ trend: BRSA entrepreneurial fabric remains highly concentrated geographicallyIn ****, **.*% of BRSA businesses are located outside major metropolitan areas. However,Île-de-France (***) concentrate a significant share of players, reflecting strong industrial polarization.

*ᵉ trend: National brands largely dominate the BRSA marketIn ****, national brands will account for **.*% of the market, compared with **.*% for ...

• Coca-Cola Groupe
• LSDH
• Britvic
• Eckes Granini
• Monin Sirop Groupe
• SPUR Jus
• Unisource
• Verger de Thau
• Vitamont
• SOJUFEL Provence Production
• Sautter Pom Or
• Routin Sirops
• Monte Bacco Group (La Maison Dominici)
• Beam Suntory
• Refresco
• Yumi
• Caprisun
• Joker (Eckes Granini France)
• Pulco (Suntory Group)
• Danao (Danone)
• Tropicana
• Actimel (Danone)
• Maytea (Suntory)
• Fuze tea (Coca-Cola)
• Tropico (Coca-Cola)
• Jomo
• Fanta (Coca-Cola)
• Perrier (Nestlé)
• Badoit (Danone)
• Arizona Beverages
• Biogroupe
• Antartic
• FASHIONRICO FR DRINKS