Soft drinks struggle under taxation pressure and subdued consumer sentiment
Off-trade volume sales of soft drinks declined in 2025 as the category faced a particularly challenging year shaped by unfavourable weather, rising price sensitivity and the introduction of the new sugar tax. This legislative change applied uniformly to all sweetened soft drinks, including reduced sugar variants and those using alternative sweeteners, eliminating many of the incentives consumers might otherwise have had to shift towards healthier formulations. As a result, purchasing decisions were governed primarily by affordability rather than nutrition, with many consumers limiting discretionary spending, reducing purchase frequency or switching to smaller pack sizes. Against this backdrop, retailers amplified the role of private label, while manufacturers concentrated on safeguarding share through promotional depth, portfolio restructuring and more targeted messaging around value.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Soft Drinks industry in Slovakia 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 Slovakia, 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 Slovakia 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 Slovakia?
- To what extent are health considerations impacting consumption of Soft Drinks in Slovakia?
- 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 Slovakia?
- Which are the leading brands in Soft Drinks in Slovakia?
- What potential exists for multinational or domestic soft drinks companies to expand in Slovakia?
- How are products distributed in Soft Drinks in Slovakia?
- 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 Slovakia
Soft drinks struggle under taxation pressure and subdued consumer sentiment
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Health-driven reformulation gains visibility but is constrained by uniform taxation
Rising competition from non-alcoholic beer limits soft drinks recovery
Energy drinks remain resilient despite economic pressure and rising competition
Soft drinks to face constrained volume recovery amid intensifying cross-category competition
Premiumisation to accelerate as consumers seek healthier and cleaner formulations
Heightened legislative pressure to reshape category dynamics and pricing strategies
Coca-Cola HBC Slovakia maintains leadership but diversifies focus amid category stagnation
Mineralne Vody advances rapidly as bottled water outperforms taxed categories
Supermarkets strengthen their role as consumers prioritise convenience and promotions
Discounters emerge as the strongest offline growth driver while e-commerce accelerates
Foodservice vs retail split
Fountain sales in Slovakia
COUNTRY REPORTS DISCLAIMER
Bottled Water in Slovakia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Sugar tax shock, weaker summer and cautious households reshape bottled water consumption
Bottled water declines less sharply as affordability and neutrality support everyday hydration
Carbonated mineral water benefits from local tradition, mineral cues and competitive pricing
Climate pressures, health awareness and source diversification to support gradual volume recovery
Functional waters and sugar-free innovations gain momentum under tighter fiscal rules
Fiscal tightening and water policy debates reinforce the strategic role of packaged water
Budis builds leadership on aggressive pricing, strong branding and sports partnerships
Minerálne Vody leverages dual-brand portfolio and promotions to capture price-conscious shoppers
Supermarkets strengthen their role as the main hub for bulk and family bottled water purchases
Discounters gain share as large packs and sharp pricing attract cost-conscious households
Carbonates in Slovakia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Carbonates experience severe pressure as taxation, price inflation and weak seasonal demand converge
Retail volume sales of carbonates decreased in 2025
Reduced sugar cola carbonates performed best, though still declining overall
Retail volume sales of carbonates are expected to rise over the forecast period overall
Digital innovation and reformulation to influence product development and positioning
Legislative tightening to intensify category pressure and shape corporate strategy
Coca-Cola HBC Slovakia remains category leader amid intensifying price competition
Private label emerges as the most dynamic competitor in 2025
Supermarkets remain the leading distribution channel for carbonates
Discounters become the most dynamic channel as consumers trade down
Concentrates in Slovakia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Sugar tax shock, shifting definitions and functional rivals undermine concentrates
Concentrates suffer steep decline as taxation and substitution bite
Liquid concentrates perform “least badly”, supported by innovation and promotions
Gradual recovery expected, driven by premium niches and better macro conditions
Digital communities and informal online channels support homemade and niche solutions
Second wave of sugar taxation prolongs headwinds and reinforces downtrading
Kofola defends leadership while experimenting with tax-avoiding concepts
Sports nutrition specialists limit declines through functionality and channel focus
Supermarkets and convenience stores anchor distribution, but their roles diverge by format
Discounters gain ground with sharp pricing and expanding networks
Concentrates Conversions
Juice in Slovakia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Sugar tax, rising costs and trading down reshape the role of juice in Slovak households
Price-sensitive households cut back as sugar tax and competition weigh on everyday juice consumption
Not from concentrate 100% juice benefits from narrower price gap and stronger health credentials
Premiumisation and health-led positioning to underpin a gradual recovery in juice
Innovation in no-added-sugar recipes and sustainable packaging to support value growth
Fiscal tightening reinforces the shift towards 100% juice while constraining overall demand
Maspex defends leadership through Relax branding and portfolio stretch into mocktails
Coop Jednota’s value-for-money juices gain traction under health-forward private label positioning
Supermarkets remain the primary destination for juice, balancing breadth, promotions and convenience
Discounters gain share as budget-conscious households shift towards private label juices
RTD Coffee in Slovakia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
RTD coffee struggles as sugar tax, soaring input costs and fierce competition bite in 2025
RTD coffee demand falls as sugar tax and high coffee prices push up unit costs
RTD coffee remains the most dynamic format within its tiny segment, but still lags energy drinks
RTD coffee set to return to growth as mobility, convenience and premiumisation trends strengthen
Foodservice recovery, innovation and digital channels will shape category dynamics
Tougher VAT regime and scrutiny of energy drinks create both headwinds and opportunities
Hell Energy SK sro retains leadership by leveraging cross-category strength
Rajo (Meggle Slovakia) drives growth with milk-based café-style innovation
Supermarkets remain the main gateway to chilled coffee
Discounters gain momentum as private label and sharp pricing win over cautious shoppers
RTD Tea in Slovakia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Sugar tax shock and changing health priorities reshape RTD tea in 2025
RTD tea loses momentum amid sugar tax shock, weaker weather and squeezed wallets
Carbonated RTD tea and kombucha stand out, but cannot escape decline
Gradual recovery ahead, powered by premium, functional and low-sugar RTD teas
Sustainability and packaging innovation shape the next phase of RTD tea
Fiscal pressure continues, but sentiment improves later in the period
Coca-Cola HBC defends leadership in a hostile year
Maspex gains ground, while newcomers test premium niches
Supermarkets anchor distribution with breadth, visibility and promotions
Discounters gain share with sharp prices and expanding private label ranges
Energy Drinks in Slovakia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Functional positioning and strong brand images help energy drinks outperform a struggling soft drinks market
Energy drinks show strong resilience as functional benefits outweigh price sensitivity
Reduced sugar variants gain momentum despite equal tax treatment
Steady growth ahead, with maturing demand and increasing competition moderating momentum
Digital activation, gaming partnerships and data-driven promotions sharpen energy drink engagement
Fiscal and regulatory scrutiny intensifies, raising costs and potential access barriers
Hell Energy consolidates leadership through reach, pricing and strong taste credentials
Monster and private label gain, but premium brands feel sugar tax impact differently
Hypermarkets remain key for planned multi-can purchases and deep promotions
Discounters outpace other channels as value focus and network expansion draw shoppers
Sports Drinks in Slovakia
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Sugar tax, trading down and functional powders undermine RTD sports drinks demand
Sugar-taxed ready-to-drink formats lose share to powders, tablets and functional waters
Core isotonic drinks remain the reference but struggle against functional bottled water
Slow early recovery as fiscal pressure persists, followed by stronger growth as premiumisation returns
Digital coaching, influencers and data-driven activation strengthen category relevance
Second-wave sugar taxation accelerates migration to powders, supplements and functional waters
Oshee defends leadership through wide availability and value-oriented functional positioning
Innovation and flavour extensions keep Oshee the most dynamic player in 2025
Supermarkets remain the core platform for take-home sports drinks under pressure
Supermarkets, forecourt retailers and e-commerce expand access points and impulse occasions
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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