Home Soda Machines Growing in Popularity
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. -- Retail sales of home soda machines saw a 30-percent increase in 2013 compared to 2012, driven by consumers looking for new, healthy beverage options in flavored waters, according to The NPD Group, a global information company.
Sales of complementary products such as CO2 carbonates, bottles, mixes and syrups also more than doubled overall year over year, NPD's research revealed. The increased sales of CO2 carbonates are a good indication that consumers are continuing to invest in and use soda-making machines.
"The home soda category continues to appeal to consumers seeking convenient ways to customize beverages that range from plain seltzer to flavored options on demand, while also being friendly to their wallets and the environment," said Debra Mednick, executive director and home industry analyst for NPD.
Dollar sales of syrups and mixes for home soda machines increased 83 percent compared to 2012, as regular and diet soda options held the top two spots for sales. Additionally, in 2013, the sale of flavored water options grew the most and nearly tripled in performance compared to 2012.
While carbonated beverage consumption in the home has declined over the past two years, bottled water consumption has been growing for the past four years, NPD's National Eating Trends service shows.
"Overall consumption of traditional soda in the home has declined, giving home soda machine manufacturers and beverage companies an opportunity to offset the trend by introducing new product offerings that capitalize on current consumer beverage preferences," Mednick noted.
She concluded that home soda makers as a category is still in its infancy with relatively low household penetration. "The potential of these machines is contingent upon broadening the category's appeal with a wider variety of uses and offerings, ease of obtaining the consumables, and price," she said.
The NPD Group provides global information and advisory services.