Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 8.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €536.7m in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Soft drink sales are a mixed bag as falling alcohol intake reshapes drinking habits
- Carbonated soft drinks – the industry’s largest revenue source – have faced a muddied picture as shifting attitudes toward alcohol reshape traditional demand. Data from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland found that the average alcohol consumption per adult dropped 4.5% in 2024, adding to longer-term shifts that have seen consumption drop per adult by 34.3% since 2001. As interest in alcohol wanes, more consumers are reaching for soft drinks, particularly across off-trade channels where alternatives are limited, lifting industry revenue.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
While imports are likely to rise, scope remains for Irish producers to expand exports
- Imported water and soft drinks are poised to capture a greater share of domestic sales as Irish consumers become more adventurous in their tastes. Data from CGA shows that 48% of consumers tried new drinks or brands in the three months to February 2024, reflecting an ongoing shift toward experimentation and novelty. This is poised to swell imports, with overseas favourites like San Pellegrino leveraging local provenance and flavours to appeal to Irish consumers. Ireland’s soft drink and bottled water sector is already on the back foot, relying on imports to meet local demand as many producers base manufacturing across the UK. As imports of Irish favourites climb, they threaten to choke domestic revenue growth.
Biggest companies in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production in Ireland
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Britvic Ireland Ltd | 214.1 | |
Culligan Water (Ireland) Ltd | 16.6 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Carbonated soft drinks, Bottled water and Fruit drinks. Carbonated soft drinks is the largest segment of the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production in Ireland.
Trends and Insights
Carbonated soft drinks gain as consumers cut back on alcohol
- Carbonated soft drinks combine dissolved carbon dioxide, sweeteners like sugar or sugar substitutes, and natural or artificial flavouring like high-fructose syrup or fruit juices.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Producers in the Soft Drink and Bottled Water Production industry manufacture non-alcoholic beverages including bottled water, carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, concentrates and other non-alcoholic beverages. The industry does not include the production and sale of either milk, coffee and tea in raw form, or fruit and vegetable juices.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland include Carbonated soft drinks, Bottled water, Fruit drinks, Energy and sports drinks and Concentrates .Companies
Companies covered in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland include Britvic Ireland Ltd and Culligan Water (Ireland) Ltd.Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland include guarana, taurine, ginseng, stevia , cold fill, hot fill, pet and deposit return scheme.Industry Code
SIC 11.07 - Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production in Ireland
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
Low- and no-sugar drinks take over. Encouraged by both growing health consciousness and the 2018 Sugar Tax, producers are putting most of their efforts into reformulating dri...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Carbonated soft drinks face a mixed bag. While sales have been hit by health-conscious consumers seeking cleaner alternatives, the decline has been partly offset by those tur...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
- International Trade
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
- Total imports, level and trend
- Total exports, level and trend
- Trade Balance
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
- International trade, including imports by country and exports by country
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
- Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
Dublin is home to a skilled workforce. The city is home to a large chunk of Ireland's skilled workforce population. Manufacturers require expertise and talent to develop and ...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Soft drink and bottled water producers typically compete on price. Consumers are income and price sensitive, meaning that changes in the retail price of soft drinks and heavy...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Britvic is keeping up with trends. In 2024, Britvic made significant progress in enhancing the health profile of its beverage portfolio, achieving a notable reduction in aver...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Britvic Ireland Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Culligan Water (Ireland) Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Britvic Ireland Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Culligan Water (Ireland) Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
In 2025, supermarket retail sales are increasing. Typically, rising supermarket sales indicate strong consumer market conditions. When demand is high, supermarkets increase o...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Profit has been dampened by rampant cost hikes. Producers have contended with rising purchase and labour costs alongside broader inflationary pressures, which peaked at 9.2% ...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland in 2025?
The market size of the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland is €536.7m in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland in 2025?
There are 26 businesses in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland?
The Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland?
The Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
Has the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland has been growing at a CAGR of 8.0 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland?
The biggest companies operating in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland are Britvic Ireland Ltd and Culligan Water (Ireland) Ltd
What does the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland include?
Carbonated soft drinks and Bottled water are part of the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland?
The company holding the most market share in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland is Britvic Ireland Ltd.
How competitive is the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Soft Drink & Bottled Water Production industry in Ireland.
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Ireland include:
- Central Statistics Office
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Irish Tax & Customs
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
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