Soft drinks accounted for 17.5% of UK convenience store sales in 2025, according to new data from specialist convenience insight agency Talysis.
Its Convenience 2025 report, based on EPoS data from thousands of independent and symbol group stores, found categories that meet on-the-go needs and offer functionality are gaining relevance, with soft drinks in particular emerging as a “clear growth engine”.
Growth in soft drinks was driven largely by energy and sports products, the report said, noting that “innovation, functionality and NPD” have reshaped the category.
In alcohol, established segments continued to decline last year, while RTDs rapidly gained share. This was supported by chilled availability and impulse-led execution, said Talysis.
RTDs showed growth in every region in 2025 and are on track to potentially overtake cider in 2026, added the agency.
Convenience channel down 1.7% in 2025
The convenience channel was down 1.7% last year, with sales falling by 2.5% over the Christmas period, the report showed.
Talysis said the disposable vape ban had a “disproportionate impact” on convenience due to its heavy reliance on tobacco-related footfall.
While tobacco and smoking alternatives remain the largest category in convenience, the disposable vape ban had “altered purchasing behaviour and category economics,” the agency added.
Ed Roberts, managing director of Talysis, said: “These are challenging times for convenience operators and the extra burdens created by the disposable vaping ban, increased business costs and ongoing inflationary pressures mean that only the best will survive in the long-run. However, it’s not all doom and gloom out there and there are opportunities for retailers to capitalise on.
”Focusing on customer missions, high-growth categories, agile implementation and clarity in pricing will be critical to driving growth in a challenging market. Convenience retailers will need to demonstrate their long-standing resilience and ingenuity once more as we go through 2026, but there are some positives to take from our findings.”
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