Energy & Sports Drinks: US Market Trends and Opportunities, 3rd Edition Report

Report Overview

Powder Mixes Gain Share of the Energy & Sports Drink Market

These formulations will increase their market share and grow at the fastest rates due to their ability to be sold in lightweight, customizable, and e-commerce friendly packaging.

Key Themes Covered in this Report:

• Opportunities When Targeting High-Engagement Shoppers
• Understanding Consumer Attitudinal Lenses & Discovery Channels
• Intersection with Clean Labels, GLP-1 Medications, & Other Trends

This Packaged Facts report analyses the $39.3 billion US energy and sports drink market, which is projected to grow at an average rate of 5.7% annually through 2029.

Energy drinks purport to provide functional benefits like increased energy and boosts in cognitive function/brain activity. They contain stimulants, typically caffeine, and claim to provide mental and physical energy. Some of these beverages are carbonated or sweetened, and they tend to include other functional ingredients such as taurine, guarana, panax, L-carnitine, and ginseng for energy and focus.

Sports drinks are used for enhanced hydration and sports performance. They usually include electrolytes and are made to hydrate efficiently before, during, or after exercising. They tend to contain salt, minerals, and sometimes sugar to help replenish the body’s natural concentration of these substances.

This Packaged Facts report analyzes the dynamics of the current landscape of the energy and sports drink market. Consumer demographics, perceptions, motivations, and behavior pertaining to beverages and attitudes on food, diet, health, and product packaging are taken into account.

Energy drinks are segmented by the following product forms:

• Shelf-stable, non-aseptic (full-size, ready-to-drink)
• Shelf-stable shots (small-size, ready-to-drink)
• Shelf-stable drink mixes (including beverage powders)
• Liquid drink mixes (liquid concentrates)

Sports drinks are segmented by the following product forms:

• Shelf-stable, non-aseptic (full-size, ready-to-drink)
• Shelf-stable, aseptic (full-size, ready-to-drink)
• Shelf-stable drink mixes (including beverage powders)
• Liquid drink mixes (liquid concentrates)

Sales include both ready-to-drink (RTD) versions that are bottled or canned and beverage powders. Excluded from the scope of this report are:

• Revenue from beverages sold from vending machines
• Revenue from beverages sold by restaurants and other foodservice entities (such as cafeterias, bars, and caterers)
• Traditional coffee and tea (either in dry form or RTD form), which are not counted as energy drinks despite their caffeine content; some energy drinks include coffee or tea flavors or ingredients or caffeine sourced from coffee or tea extracts, but they are marketed as energy drinks with additional functional ingredients such as taurine, panax, or L-carnitine rather than just flavored coffee or tea (e.g., Starbucks RTD coffee beverages that feature sweetener and creamer/milk)

This report includes sales of the above items from:

• grocery stores, supermarkets, and discount grocers (e.g., Kroger, Safeway, ALDI)
• mass merchandisers (e.g., Walmart, Target, Meijer) and warehouse clubs (e.g., Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s)
• convenience stores (e.g., Pilot/Flying J, Circle K, 7-Eleven) and dollar stores (e.g., Dollar General, Family Dollar)
• other retailers, such as gift stores
• all online outlets, including online-based grocers (e.g., Amazon, Thrive Market, Boxed), third-party pack-and-deliver companies that use their own workforces to purchase groceries at various stores and deliver them to customers (e.g., Instacart), brands that sell their own food products via their websites, direct-to-consumer, and online sales from websites or apps of retailers in the previous categories

Historical numbers for the retail energy and sports drink market are provided from 2019 through 2024. Market forecasts are provided from 2025 through 2029.

The reasons for and implications of shifts in consumer perception and behavior are analyzed in the context of future market opportunities.

Additionally, the report has dozens of tables and charts showcasing numerical survey data on consumer demographics, habits, preferences, and psychographics.

Energy & Sports Drinks: US Market Trends and Opportunities, 3rd Edition Report Details

Leading Companies Driving Trends in the Energy & Sports Drinks: US Market Trends and Opportunities, 3rd Edition

Online Grocery & DTC Channels Are Changing the Game for Energy & Sports Drinks

Online grocery and direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales are reshaping how shoppers discover and purchase energy and sports drinks. Historically, these beverages thrived on impulse buys, such as a grab from the convenience store cooler during commutes, workouts, or errands. But as more grocery and specialty beverage shopping moves online, consumers are increasingly motivated by different factors: variety, personalization, deals, and convenience.

GLP-1 Users Impacting the Energy & Sports Drinks Market

GLP-1 users tend to reduce overall caloric intake but remain drawn to beverages that provide energy, focus, and hydration efficiently. As a result, GLP-1 users are more likely to purchase low-calorie, clean-label energy and sports drinks featuring functional ingredients such as electrolytes, vitamins, and metabolism-supporting compounds. These consumers – health-conscious and willing to pay more for quality – represent a pivotal growth segment for energy and sports drinks.

Energy & Sports Drinks Report Scope

This report covers retail sales of energy and sports drinks, which are a segment of the larger functional beverages market.

Energy drinks are segmented by the following product forms:

• Shelf-stable, non-aseptic (full-size, ready-to-drink)
• Shelf-stable shots (small-size, ready-to-drink)
• Shelf-stable drink mixes (including beverage powders)
• Liquid drink mixes (liquid concentrates)

Sports drinks are segmented by the following product forms:

• Shelf-stable, non-aseptic (full-size, ready-to-drink)
• Shelf-stable, aseptic (full-size, ready-to-drink)
• Shelf-stable drink mixes (including beverage powders)

• Liquid drink mixes (liquid concentrates)

Sales include both ready-to-drink (RTD) versions that are bottled or canned and beverage powders. Excluded from the scope of this report are:

• Revenue from beverages sold from vending machines
• Revenue from beverages sold by restaurants and other foodservice entities (such as cafeterias, bars, and caterers)
• Traditional coffee and tea (either in dry form or RTD form), which are not counted as energy drinks despite their caffeine content; some energy drinks include coffee or tea flavors or ingredients or caffeine sourced from coffee or tea extracts, but they are marketed as energy drinks with additional functional ingredients such as taurine, panax, or L-carnitine rather than just flavored coffee or tea (e.g., Starbucks RTD coffee beverages that feature sweetener and creamer/milk)

This report includes sales of the above items from:

• grocery stores, supermarkets, and discount grocers (e.g., Kroger, Safeway, ALDI)
• mass merchandisers (e.g., Walmart, Target, Meijer) and warehouse clubs (e.g., Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s)
• convenience stores (e.g., Pilot/Flying J, Circle K, 7-Eleven) and dollar stores (e.g., Dollar General, Family Dollar)
• other retailers, such as gift stores
• all online outlets, including online-based grocers (e.g., Amazon, Thrive Market, Boxed), third-party pack-and-deliver companies that use their own workforces to purchase groceries at various stores and deliver them to customers (e.g., Instacart), brands that sell their own food products via their websites, direct-to-consumer, and online sales from websites or apps of retailers in the previous categories