Soda, also known as carbonated soft drinks, are non-alcoholic beverages enjoyed around the world. They are served at restaurants, fast food chains, movie theaters, sport stadiums, and many other locations. Sodas come in a wide variety of flavors, brands, diets and regular, and packaging. With so many options to choose from, what soda is the most popular among restaurant customers in the United States?
The Most Popular Soda Brands
There are a few major soda brands that dominate the market in the United States. According to Statista, the leading soda companies based on sales in 2021 were:
- Coca-Cola Company – $37.27 billion in sales
- PepsiCo – $21.11 billion in sales
- Keurig Dr Pepper – $12.68 billion in sales
- Refresco Group – $6.56 billion in sales
The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo are the two heavyweights in the soda industry. They have been battling it out for market share for over a century. While the Coca-Cola brand remains the top selling soda, PepsiCo has a portfolio of strong brands itself including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Gatorade.
Most Popular Soda Flavors
When it comes to flavor preferences, cola and lemon-lime sodas are America’s top choices according to Beverage-Digest. The most popular soda flavors are:
- Cola – 30.8% market share
- Lemon-lime – 14.7% market share
- Mountain Dew – 6.1% market share
- Ginger ale – 5.7% market share
- Fruit flavors – 5.3% market share
Cola flavored sodas such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Dr. Pepper dominate with nearly one third of the market. Sprite, 7Up, and Sierra Mist make up the leading lemon-lime sodas. Unique flavors like Mountain Dew, root beer, and orange round out the top flavors.
Regular vs. Diet Soda Preferences
Both regular and diet sodas are readily available at restaurants. According to studies from Beverage Digest, diet sodas now account for 29% of soft drink consumption in America. The preference between regular and diet or sugar-free sodas among restaurant customers is:
- Regular – 71% of market share
- Diet/Sugar-Free – 29% of market share
While diet sodas have grown steadily in popularity over the past decades, regular sodas containing sugar and high fructose corn syrup still make up over two-thirds of the market.
Fountain Drinks vs. Bottled/Canned
Sodas at restaurants are served primarily through fountain drinks. These are the sodas that come out of the dispenser machines behind the counter. However, bottled and canned sodas are also available at many restaurants. The typical restaurant soda breakdown is:
- Fountain drinks – 80%
- Bottled/Canned – 20%
The convenience, low cost, and wider variety of options make fountain sodas the preferred way to enjoy a cold soda at restaurants compared to pre-packaged bottles or cans.
The Most Popular Soda at Restaurants
Taking into account all of these soda preferences and trends, what emerges as the most commonly ordered sodas at U.S. restaurants? According to data from Statista, the top restaurant soda orders are:
| Rank | Soda | Market Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coca-Cola | 17.2% |
| 2 | Diet Coke | 11.4% |
| 3 | Sprite | 8.2% |
| 4 | Dr Pepper | 7.6% |
| 5 | Pepsi | 7.0% |
With 17.2% of restaurant soda sales, the top ordered soda is Coca-Cola Classic. Its popularity stems from its iconic brand, distinct flavor, and marketing over the past 130 years. Diet Coke takes second place with 11.4% of the market. Even though regular sodas are more popular, Diet Coke’s no calorie appeal makes it a hit with health-conscious diners. Sprite, Dr Pepper and Pepsi round out the top five restaurant soda orders.
Reasons for Coca-Cola’s Restaurant Popularity
There are several key factors that contribute to Coca-Cola being the most ordered soda at restaurants:
- Brand recognition – Coca-Cola is one of the most recognizable brands worldwide thanks to decades of effective advertising and marketing.
- Flavor profile – The unique and proprietary blend of flavors in Coca-Cola is appealing to many soda drinkers.
- Nostalgia – Ordering a Coke at a restaurant comes with a sense of Americana nostalgia for many customers.
- Pairing ability – Coca-Cola is versatile enough to pair well with most menu items at restaurants.
- Fountain availability – As the top brand, Coca-Cola is readily available on fountain at virtually every restaurant.
With the brand loyalty it commands and the versatile flavor profile, it is no wonder Coca-Cola has emerged as the soda of choice for restaurant patrons.
Regional Restaurant Soda Preferences
While Coca-Cola leads as the most popular soda nationally, there are some interesting regional differences in soda preferences across the United States:
- Midwest – Mountain Dew outsells Coca-Cola in many Midwest markets.
- Northeast – More diet soda is consumed compared to other regions.
- South – Higher consumption of fruit flavored and lemon-lime sodas.
- West Coast – Higher sales for root beer brands like A&W and Barq’s.
Understanding these regional differences can help restaurants tailor their soda offerings and marketing when expanding into new markets across the country.
Trends Impacting Restaurant Soda Sales
While soda remains a staple beverage selection at most restaurants, there are some evolving trends that may impact soda sales in the future:
- Health consciousness – Concerns about sugar intake may lead some to skip soda altogether.
- Craft sodas – Unique craft sodas using natural sweeteners and ingredients could grab market share.
- Sparkling waters – Fruit flavored bubbly waters offer a soda alternative.
- Customization – More restaurants allow customization like endless soda refills and flavor add-ins.
As consumer interests and preferences continue to change, restaurants may need to consider expanding their soda and non-soda drink menus to provide more choices.
Conclusion
Coca-Cola remains the undisputed leader as the most commonly ordered soda at U.S. restaurants. Its popularity is driven by brand recognition, nostalgia, versatility and availability. While there are some regional and emerging trends that may shift preferences, Coca-Cola’s restaurant dominance is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. Soda remains a staple beverage for restaurants, with customers craving the delicious and refreshing taste of an ice cold cola to complement their meal.