In addition to being a key player in its domestic alcoholic drinks market, leading in spirits, Suntory Holdings is the number two player in soft drinks in Japan, holding the top spot in both the RTD tea and bottled water categories. While its international coverage is relatively limited in soft drinks, it has a number of important brands in France and the UK in Europe as well as in Australia and New Zealand.

Despite their cultural significance, Asian speciality drinks are projected to experience a decline in total volume sales in Singapore in 2024. These beverages have limited popularity among younger consumers, many of whom primarily consume these beverages when they are unwell rather than for indulgence or enjoyment. Popular options include barley water and chrysanthemum tea, which are traditionally consumed to aid digestion and reduce body heat, and chrysanthemum tea, which is commonly used to

Off-trade volume sales of Asian speciality drinks are expected to show a slight rebound in 2024, primarily as a response to the significant declines experienced in previous years. For instance, the decline in 2023 was pronounced, and largely attributed to a series of price increases that began in 2022, but were more acutely felt in 2023, and are set to continue into 2024. Many beverage manufacturers, including Asahi Soft Drinks Co Ltd, raised the shipment prices of their PET bottled products sta

Sales of Asian Specialty Drinks in Indonesia are set to experience strong off-trade volume growth in 2024. The affordability of these products plays a major role in driving demand, boosted by ongoing cut-price promotions from industry players, including the reintroduction of affordable offerings like Okky Jelly Drink. These promotional efforts are particularly appealing to price-sensitive consumers.

In 2024, demand for Asian speciality drinks in Germany continues to be driven primarily by off-trade sales, although the category’s presence in the local market is limited. The ongoing economic challenges, including inflation and supply chain disruptions, continue to impact affordability and availability. Many local consumers, unfamiliar with Asian speciality drinks, remain hesitant to try them, particularly if they perceive them as overly artificial. Additionally, the on-trade channel remains u

Off-trade volume sales of Asian speciality drinks in Malaysia stagnated towards the end of the review period. Asian speciality drinks struggled to maintain consumer attention in the retail channel, especially without sufficient unique selling points or differentiation. The selection of Asian speciality drinks available through supermarkets is often limited, as these products are considered niche, reducing their offer and sales in the off-trade channel. Small local grocers accounted for by far th

Only entering the local market in 2023, the overall size of Asian speciality drinks in the United Arab Emirates remains small. Since the soft drinks industry mainly features major categories, such as carbonates, juice and energy drinks, potential consumers of Asian speciality drinks find it difficult to recognise, find or develop a taste for them.

Taiwan's hot and humid climate, especially during the summer months, has led consumers to reach for natural herbal drinks, including mesons tea, which have gained popularity due to their cooling and soothing effects.

A rising focus on reduced sugar content is gaining traction across beverages in Hong Kong, and Asian speciality drinks is no exception. Leading category player Hung Fook Tong has successfully differentiated its products by updating the packaging of its range of beverages to clearly indicate that they contain no added sugars or artificial ingredients. The range of newly packaged drinks features existing beverages which are especially popular in the summer, due to their ingredients that effectivel

Asian speciality drinks in Australia, including jelly beverages such as grass jelly, sugar cane drinks, and lactic acid beverages, continue to occupy a niche space in local soft drinks. However, consumer interest is gradually growing, driven by the expansion of the international food aisle by chained retailer Woolworths to cater to the diverse population, which now includes over 30% of residents born overseas. Mogu Mogu from Sappe Plc Co Ltd remains the most popular brand of Asian speciality dri

Asian speciality beverages, once confined mainly to small Asian grocery stores, have increasingly found their way onto the shelves of mainstream grocery retailers across New Zealand in 2024. Traditionally, the category had a steady consumer base primarily composed of New Zealand’s substantial Asian population. However, in recent years, the appeal of these drinks has expanded beyond this demographic. Major retail chains like New World and Countdown now feature a range of these products in their i

In 2024, although off-trade volume sales of Asian speciality drinks are expected to see a slight decline in South Korea, this is after several years of growth, especially during the pandemic, and sales remain at a higher level than in 2019. The global popularity of K-culture has extended to K-drinks, with Korean speciality beverages seeing a surge in international demand. This export boom has reignited interest in some traditional Korean drinks domestically, particularly rice-based beverages. Pa

In 2024, many Vietnamese consumers are still concerned about the economic downturn, and feel insecurity about job losses caused by slow economic recovery and ongoing wars globally. Thus, consumers have shown a more cautious approach to their spending, prioritising essential items over those that are non-essential. They regularly look out for discount events for Asian speciality drinks, hoping for reductions of 20% or even 50%, and are open to buying alternative brands if they offer more competit

In 2024, due to the notable health benefits of fruit vinegar, such as aiding digestion and lowering cholesterol, which align with the preference of modern consumers for healthy beverages, volume and current value sales of Asian specialty drinks in China, including fruit vinegar, are set to steadily increase both on-trade and off-trade. Fruit vinegar, which is a traditional beverage often paired with food, especially apple vinegar, has long dominated Asian speciality drinks in China. New-style te

Coca-Cola maintains its global leadership in the Soft Drinks industry, experiencing continual growth in both volumes and values through its expansive and consistently updated beverage portfolio. The company continues investing in the development of adjacent categories and has successfully expanded into Alcoholic Drinks, while also remaining dedicated to advancing sustainability solutions within its processes and products, positioning itself as a primary innovator in this area.