COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Coca-Cola continues to dominate
Coca-Cola remains the dominant player in carbonates in South Africa in 2025, supported by long-term brand loyalty and an established national distribution network. Moreover, its long-standing marketing campaigns - particularly through traditional, as well as newer media channels - enable the player to maintain share across a wide range of income brackets and demographics.
PepsiCo benefits from acquisition
GBO PepsiCo is enjoying strong growth in 2025, following Varun Beverages’ acquisition of The Beverage Co (BevCo). This strategic move has expanded PepsiCo’s portfolio to include popular local brands such as Jive, Coo-ee, and Refreshhh, allowing it to compete more effectively across price bands.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Carbonates industry in South Africa with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
If you're in the Carbonates industry in South Africa, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Carbonates in South Africa report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Carbonates in South Africa?
- To what extent are health considerations impacting consumption of Carbonates in South Africa?
- How are changing social attitudes and legislation (eg sugar tax) reshaping demand and consumption?
- How are changing demographics (for example, an ageing or predominantly young population) determining consumption of Carbonates in South Africa?
- Which are the leading brands in Carbonates in South Africa?
- What potential exists for multinational or domestic soft drinks companies to expand in South Africa?
- How are products distributed in Carbonates in South Africa?
- How is the rise of e-commerce changing the retail and competitive landscape?
- How have home seclusion and social distancing measures following COVID-19 impacted sales of Carbonates?
- How are sustainability issues, such as environmentally-friendly packaging, legislation on recyclability, or the amount of plastic in bottles, impacting the soft drinks industry?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Carbonates in South Africa - Category analysis
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Carbonates sees rising volumes as pricing, distribution and reduced sugar variants underpin performance
Production and pricing strategies ensure continued growth for carbonates in South Africa
Non-cola carbonates sees fastest rise
Pricing to remain key to success
AI to have greater role in category development
Health trends will continue to shape progress
Coca-Cola continues to dominate
PepsiCo benefits from acquisition
Supermarkets leads distribution and sees further growth in 2025
E-commerce as fastest-rising channel
Soft Drinks in South Africa - Industry Overview
Soft drinks sees moderate volume growth as affordability and investment shape performance
Soft drinks sees moderate volume growth as affordability and investment shape performance
Advancements in production supports growth, while consumers focus on affordability
Premiumisation and sustainability remain key trends in soft drinks
E-commerce boosts engagement, and brands respond to anticipated sugar tax
Rising sales, sugar tax and new labelling requirements
Health and wellness trends will have continued impact on development
Distribution to become increasingly digital
Coca-Cola holds on to number one spot
International players dominate while local brands gain ground
Supermarkets leads as e-commerce rises fastest
Off-trade accounts for highest proportion of volume sales
Fountain sales in South Africa
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Carbonates
- Regular Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Carbonates
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- Regular Cola Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Cola Carbonates
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- Regular Non-Cola Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Non-Cola Carbonates
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- Regular Lemonade/Lime
- Reduced Sugar Lemonade/Lime
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- Regular Tonic Water/Mixers/Other Bitters
- Reduced Sugar Tonic Water/Mixers/Other Bitters
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- Regular Orange Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Orange Carbonates
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- Regular Other Non-Cola Carbonates
- Reduced Sugar Other Non-Cola Carbonates
Carbonates
Sweetened, non-alcoholic drinks containing carbon dioxide are included here. All carbonated products containing fruit juice (“sparkling juices”) are included here, unless they are tea-based (these are included in carbonated RTD tea) or carbonated Energy drinks, which are included in Energy Drinks. Carbonated bottled water is also excluded. Carbonates are an aggregation of cola carbonates and non-cola carbonates, whether regular or low calorie. Euromonitor International includes both naturally and artificially-sweetened carbonates.
See all of our definitionsWhy buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Carbonates research and analysis database.
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