Any scholar of sugary sodas can tell you the subtle differences between different brands trying to sell the same flavored drink. However, sodas are big business, and one juggernaut and mainstay in houses across the US has just been relegated to fourth place.
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According to a report by the Daily Mail, the top three sodas have actually been pretty volatile in recent years, with a lot of movement in the second and third spots. Unsurprisingly, Coca-Cola is the dominant force at number one, with a convincing 19.1% market share. This figure is double any of its rivals, so Coca-Cola is sitting pretty for now. The outlet explains that Pepsi previously held the number two spot, although it lost second place to Dr Pepper last year.
Unfortunately for Pepsi, the brand has now lost the final spot on the podium to another soda behemoth, Sprite. The Daily Mail cites data from Beverage Digest that lists canned soda sales, and there's heavy competition. Dr Pepper secures second place with 8.3%. Sprite is only slightly behind, at 8.03%. As for Pepsi, their drinks account for 7.97% of sales. There's only a 0.03% difference, but that's enough for a shunt out of the coveted top three.
Why Has The Soda Giant Fallen From The Top 3?
The outlet notes the dramatic fall over the last four decades as Pepsi almost dethroned Coca-Cola in the 80s. It's hard to pinpoint what kicked off the change, but Dr. Pepper's recent advertisement pushes and new flavors may have shaken up the competition. Customer preferences toward low-sugar sodas may also have an impact.
Bosses at Pepsi reportedly responded to the findings, saying they are focusing on building the brand with new flavors and Zero-sugar options. They also point out that if you include other versions of Pepsi, like Diet, the brand actually retains the number 2 spot.
If you're still looking to quell your confectionery curiosities, you may enjoy numbers shared by a chocolate lover in the UK. As part of a Christmas tradition, one family has kept track of the contents of Quality Street tubs since 2006. Penny Melson shared her findings online, but the most shocking was how the tubs of chocolates have shrunk over the years. In 2006, a box of Quality Street contained 137 chocolates. By 2024, that number shrunk to an anemic 67.
