Energy drinks are showing significant increases in dollar and unit sales, despite warnings from health officials mentioned in news reports recently. On the flip side, some sports drink companies are struggling, showing decreases in dollar and unit sales.
In the 52 weeks ended Dec. 30, 2012 the energy drink category saw dollar sales jump 13.7% to $9.6 billion, and units rose 14.8% to 3.6 billion, according to data from SymphonyIRI Group, Chicago. In the same period, dollar sales for the sports drink category went up 4.9% to $5.6 billion, with unit sales also up 4% to 3.2 billion.