Competitive Landscape
Brutal Fruit and Bernini Drive Sustained Lead through Targeted Innovation
The competitive landscape within RTDs in South Africa is highly concentrated, with the top two companies holding a combined total volume share of 61% in 2025. South African Breweries maintained the leading position with a 39% share in 2025, while Distell Group followed with a 22% share.
Delivery:
Files are delivered directly into your account soon after payment is received and any tax is certification is verified (where applicable).
This report comes in PDF with additional info in Excel included.
Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the RTDs 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 RTDs 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 RTDs 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 RTDs in South Africa?
- Where is consumer demand for RTDs focussed?
- Which is being consumed more; beer, wine or spirits?
- Where is demand growing? Stagnating?
- How is the operating environment for alcoholic drinks changing?
- Which are the leading brands in South Africa?
- How are products distributed in South Africa?
- What are the key trends in new product development?
- Do consumers want value for money or added value?
- How will macroeconomic context and shifting cultural values shape future growth?
- How will COVID-19 and recession impact the alcoholic drinks industry?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Rtds in South Africa - Category analysis
Key Data Insights
Rtds Summary
Bernini Mimosa Drives Innovation as Younger Shoppers Seek Variety
Spirit-Based Rtds Capture Top Spot as Demand Diversifies
Premium Rtds Become the Drink of Choice for Celebrations
Younger Consumers Drive Demand as Brands Balance Value and Premiumisation
Spirit-Based Drinks Sustain Leadership as Wine-Based Options Accelerate
Experiential Marketing and Convenience Reshape Competitive Strategies
Brutal Fruit and Bernini Drive Sustained Lead through Targeted Innovation
Alcoholic Drinks Stores Secure Loyalty with Convenience and Variety
Delivery Apps Attracting Younger Shoppers
Bernini Mimosa Attracts Younger Drinkers with Fruit-Forward Innovation
Alcoholic Drinks in South Africa - Industry Overview
2025 Developments
Key Data Insights
Inflation Drives Drinkers to Both Premium and Economy Brands
Carling Black Label and Devil’S Peak Reshape Drinking Choices
Smirnoff Ice Revitalises Flavour Innovation to Attract Younger Drinkers
Heineken Beverages Reshapes Competition with New Commitments
Premium Beer and Rtds Attract Consumers Trading up as Confidence Returns
Social Drinking Culture Should Sustain Demand Despite Regulatory and Tax Headwinds
Sab Anchors Dominance as Heineken Beverages Expands Reach
Consolidating Power: Can Smaller Brands Compete?
Food/Drink/Tobacco Specialists Sustain Dominance by Maximising Shelf Allocation
E-Commerce Delivers Convenience
Legislation
Legal purchasing age and legal drinking age
Drink driving
Advertising
Smoking Ban
Opening Hours
On-Trade Establishments
Taxation and Duty Levies
Cross-Border/Private Imports
Contraband/Parallel Trade
Duty Free
Cross-Border/Private Imports
Devil’S Peak and Carling Black Label Shape Premium and Value Choices
Smirnoff Ice and Flying Fish Drive Flavour Innovation and Youth Engagement
Country Reports Disclaimer
The following categories and subcategories are included:
RTDs
- Malt-based RTDs
- Spirit-based RTDs
- Wine-based RTDs
- Other RTDs
- Non Alcoholic RTDs
RTDs
RTD stands for ‘ready-to-drink’. Other terms which may be used for these products are FABs, alcopops and premixes. The RTDs sector is the aggregation of malt-, wine-, spirit- and other types of premixed drinks. These drinks usually have an alcohol content of around 5% but this can reach as high as 10% ABV. Premixes containing a high percentage of alcohol of around 15%+ combined with juice or any other soft drink are included here. RTDs are usually marketed as products to be drunk neat, with ice, or as a cocktail ingredient. Fruit-flavoured, vodka-based spirits with an alcohol content of between 16-21% are classified here. Examples: Alizé, Ursus Roter, Berentzen Fruchtige, Kleiner Feigling.
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 RTDs research and analysis database.
NEW REPORT GUARANTEE
If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extraction Free!