Health and wellness, price and nostalgia are key factors in consumers’ purchasing decisions
In 2025, off-trade RTD volume sales of soft drinks in Germany registered a marginal increase, signalling an industry that remains resilient despite economic headwinds. Marginal growth reflected a balance between health-driven choices and indulgent consumption patterns. Bottled water was the strongest performer in terms of off-trade RTD volume sales, fuelled by a rising consumer focus on hydration and wellness. This trend underscored the ongoing shift toward functional and health-oriented beverages, as consumers increasingly prioritised products that support active lifestyles. At the same time, emotional and experiential factors played a notable role in shaping demand. Players that tapped into nostalgia and fun, through retro flavours, playful packaging and limited-edition releases, captured incremental share. These offerings provided a sense of comfort and enjoyment, appealing to consumers seeking small indulgences amid inflationary pressures. However, price-sensitivity remained a key consideration, with affordable formats and private label helping to sustain demand in mainstream categories.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Soft Drinks industry in Germany 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.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Bottled Water
- Carbonates
- Concentrates
- Juice
- RTD Coffee
- RTD Tea
- Energy Drinks
- Sports Drinks
- Asian Speciality Drinks
If you're in the Soft Drinks industry in Germany, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Soft Drinks in Germany 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 Soft Drinks in Germany?
- To what extent are health considerations impacting consumption of Soft Drinks in Germany?
- 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 Soft Drinks in Germany?
- Which are the leading brands in Soft Drinks in Germany?
- What potential exists for multinational or domestic soft drinks companies to expand in Germany?
- How are products distributed in Soft Drinks in Germany?
- 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 Soft Drinks?
- 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?
Soft Drinks in Germany
Health and wellness, price and nostalgia are key factors in consumers’ purchasing decisions
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Cost-savings without compromising on quality
Health and wellness increasingly shapes offer and demand
Changing foodservice consumption supports a demand for soft drinks
Sober trend to favour soft drinks consumption
Diversfication to cover consumers’ needs
Retail to maintain dominance despite recovery of foodservice
Aldi is adding premium value to diversify its offer
Paulaner Brauerei shows dynamism through a retro and nostalgia appeal
Discounters respond to the affordability dynamic while developing higher-quality assortments
Strategic locations and wide and varied offers support strong position of supermarkets
Fountain sales in Germany
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
Bottled Water in Germany
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Natural mineral bottled water dominates demand
Bottled water remains number one for hydration but the competition intensifies
Functional bottled water benefits from the demand for hydration with specific nutritional value
Hydration to continue to stimulate the use of natural mineral bottled water
Bottled water as part of a healthy and sustainable diet
Hotter summers to increase in consumption
Private label enjoys consumer trust
Regional brands gain momentum
Price and convenience favour discounters
Supermarkets leverage price promotions, convenient locations and appealing assortments
Carbonates in Germany
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Overall stagnation despite innovation and bright spots
Health-centric consumption boosts reduced sugar carbonates
Mixes add dynamism to the category
Innovation and nostalgia or retro options to pique the interest of adult consumers
Functional carbonates feature prebiotics
Combining fun and indulgence with wellbeing
Coca-Cola’s local emphasis helps to consolidate its leadership of carbonates
Paulaner Brauerei rides the popularity of spezi in Germany
Grocery retailers remain the main shopping destinations
Retailers upgrade assortments to gain a competitive edge
Concentrates in Germany
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Consumers seek added value with functional concentrates
Mixology and sustainability add dynamism
Liquid concentrates is the most dynamic type
Home mixing and sustainability to continue to drive growth
More innovation to come
Hydration in innovative formats
Polarisation in terms of economy and premium demand
SodaStream rides the home-mixing trend
Large modern grocery retailers compete on price
Larger and more diverse assortments support supermarkets’ leadership
Concentrates Conversions
Juice in Germany
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Juice remains highly popular among German consumers
Price increases impact consumer behaviours
Juice drinks (up to 24% juice) benefits from a price advantage over 100% juice and the nostalgia trend
Juice to come under pressure amidst price increases
Juice to see innovation to move out of stagnation
Juice to travel in a healthy with small indulgence direction
Private label consolidates retail volume dominance amidst price rises
Capri-Sun piques the interest of the retro crowd
Consumers show a preference for the lower prices of discounters
Large assortments and price promotions spur supermarkets
RTD Coffee in Germany
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Convenience trend drives category growth
High prices limit the appeal of RTD coffee
Premiumisation shapes innovation
Iced coffee trend presents opportunities and challenges
Innovation as a growth engine for RTD coffee
Sustainability and transparency to be key factors for both consumers and producers
Private label gains momentum amidst economic pressures
Starbucks continues to capitalise on unique positioning in RTD coffee
Wide choice and proximity favour supermarkets
On-the-go consumption trend boosts sales through convenience retailers
RTD Tea in Germany
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Shifting consumer preferences in RTD tea
Mixed performances within RTD tea
Sustainability and new flavours gain traction
Innovation and changing consumer habits set the stage for growth
Digital and technological advances to enhance production, distribution and consumer engagement
Targeted media and marketing strategies to drive attention and growth
Established leaders and innovative entrants shape the competitive landscape
DirTea relaunch adds dynamism to RTD tea
Growing emphasis on private label from discounters while supermarkets make gains
RTD tea coverage continues to expand
Energy Drinks in Germany
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Energy drinks remains adynamic soft drinks category
Energy drinks continue to enjoy rising popularity
Reduced sugar energy drinks fit with a key general trend in food and beverages
Consumers seek value for money
Consumer search for healthier soft drinks could hit energy drinks
Potential age limit looming alongside health concerns
Red Bull leads but the competition continues to intensify
Effect represents a significant local brand
Availability, price and convenience bring traffic to discounters
Supermarkets try to lure consumers with new and niche brands
Sports Drinks in Germany
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Fitness trend underpins the demand for sports drinks
Encouraging a more active population offers growth opportunities
Energy drinks represent strong competition to sports drinks
Fitness trend and hydration needs to spur category growth
Sports technology advancements to enhance user experiences
Rise of new formats
Powerade remains the leading brand but private label and regional alternatives are big hitters
Strong external challenges to sports drinks offerings
Supermarkets drive volume sales
Young audience and wide offer boost e-commerce
Asian Speciality Drinks in Germany
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Asian speciality drinks see volume sales decline amid shifting consumer priorities and competition
Economic factors and limited availability and awareness hinder retail demand
Asian speciality drinks remain niche in foodservice
Limited availability and awareness to continue to constrain growth potential
Digital and technological advancements to drive innovation and efficiencies
Social media and influencer marketing to gain influence in Asian speciality drinks
Thai Agri Foods leverages a strong brand name and accessibility to consolidate leadership
Mogu Mogu sees innovation and fosters consumer engagement
Regional demographics continue to shape the distribution landscape while large modern grocery retailers emerge in the category
E-commerce remains significant but cedes ground to small local grocers
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Soft Drinks
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- Carbonated Natural Mineral Bottled Water
- Carbonated Spring Bottled Water
- Carbonated Purified Bottled Water
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- Still Flavoured Bottled Water
- Sparkling Flavoured Bottled Water
- Functional Bottled Water
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- Still Natural Mineral Bottled Water
- Still Spring Bottled Water
- Still Purified Bottled Water
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- 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
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- Liquid Concentrates
- Powder Concentrates
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- Not from Concentrate 100% Juice
- Reconstituted 100% Juice
- Coconut and Other Plant Waters
- Juice Drinks (up to 24% Juice)
- Nectars
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- RTD Coffee
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- Carbonated RTD Tea and Kombucha
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- Regular Still RTD Tea
- Reduced Sugar Still RTD Tea
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- Regular Energy Drinks
- Reduced Sugar Energy Drinks
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- Regular Sports Drinks
- Reduced Sugar Sports Drinks
- Asian Speciality Drinks
Soft Drinks
This is the aggregation of the following categories; Carbonates, Fruit/vegetable juice, Bottled water, Functional drinks, Concentrates, RTD tea, RTD coffee and Asian speciality drinks.
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This report originates from Passport, our Soft Drinks research and analysis database.
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