Top 10 Most Popular Soft Drinks (Sodas)

What are the top-selling soft drinks in the USA?
The latest beverage market stats are out — and there are some interesting highlights.
The epic battle between Coke and Pepsi continues, but so far Coke still has the top spot.
Both Coke and Pepsi fans are a loyal bunch so it will be hard to sway either of them to the other side.
Update: Since first publishing this list back in 2007, the data has been harder to come by, as brands are increasingly protective over individual product sales.
What about the top-selling energy drinks? They’re listed here.
Top 10 Soft Drinks
2018³ | 2014³ | 2013³ | 2012 | 2011 | 2007 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Coca-cola Classic (coca-cola) | Coca-cola Classic (coca-cola) | Coca-cola Classic (coca-cola) | Coca-cola Classic (coca-cola) | Coca-cola Classic (coca-cola) | Coca-cola Classic (coca-cola) |
2. | Pepsi-cola (PepsiCo) | Pepsi-cola (PepsiCo) | Diet Coke (coca-cola) | Diet Coke (coca-cola) | Diet Coke (coca-cola) | Pepsi-cola (PepsiCo) |
3. | Diet Coke (coca-cola) | Diet Coke (coca-cola) | Pepsi-cola (PepsiCo) | Pepsi-cola (PepsiCo) | Pepsi-cola (PepsiCo) | Diet Coke (coca-cola) |
4. | Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) | Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) | Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) | Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) | Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) | Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) |
5. | ? | Dr Pepper (Dr. Pepper) | Dr Pepper (Dr. Pepper) | Dr Pepper (Dr. Pepper) | Dr Pepper (Dr. Pepper) | Diet Pepsi (PepsiCo) |
6. | ? | Sprite (coca-cola) | Sprite (coca-cola) | Sprite (coca-cola) | Sprite (coca-cola) | Dr Pepper (Cadbury-Schweppes) |
7. | ? | Diet Pepsi (PepsiCo) | Diet Pepsi (PepsiCo) | Diet Pepsi (PepsiCo) | Diet Pepsi (PepsiCo) | Sprite (coca-cola) |
8. | ? | Fanta (coca-cola) | Diet Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) | Diet Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) | Diet Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) | Fanta (coca-cola) |
9. | ? | Diet Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) | Fanta (coca-cola) | Fanta (coca-cola) | Diet Dr. Pepper (Dr. Pepper/Snapple) | Caffeine-Free Diet Coke (coca-cola) |
10. | ? | Coke Zero | Coke Zero | Diet Dr. Pepper (Dr. Pepper/Snapple) | Fanta (coca-cola) | Diet Mountain Dew (PepsiCo) |
Top Ten Soda Brands Changes?
- Pepsi regained the #2 spot in 2014 after losing that spot in 2008.
- The list has been pretty static since 2011. The only change was Fanta moving to spot 9 and Diet Dr. Pepper falling to 10 in 2012 and falling out of the top 10 for 2013.
- Coke Zero was expected to break into the top 10 in 2012, but finally broke the top 10 in 2013.
- For the first time in history a diet soda has achieved the number 2 spot and in 2013 diet sodas occupy 4 positions.
- Diet sodas are becoming more popular, which shows a trend in people becoming more aware of too much sugar in the diet.
- Both Coca-cola and Pepsi lost market share. Coca-cola can blame it on the CEO – after all, they only paid him $32 million dollars for his year’s work. This downward trend has continued.
- Soft drinks are down 3% in 2013³, which is the worst year yet.
- Soft drinks still hold the majority market share – 51% (down 0.6% from the previous year). (07)
- Energy Drinks had a massive 49% growth – but the total market share is just 0.8% (which makes you wonder about all the over-enthusiastic media reporting). (07)
- Red Bull has the most market share there, Monster is second, and Rockstar is third.
Top Beverage Companies in the World in 2019
- Coca-Cola Co.
- PepsiCo
- Red Bull
- Nescafe
- Sprite
- Gatorade
- Monster
- Dr. Pepper
- Fanta
- Lipton
- Mountain Dew
- 7-Up
- Tropicana
- Folgers
- Twinings
- Milo
- Lavazza
- Jacobs
- Evian
- Mirinda
It’s important to note that many of the brands listed in the table above are subsidiaries of major brands like Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.