Pepsi outsold Diet Coke last year to become the second most popular carbonated drink brand in the US, according to new figures.
Overall, sales of fizzy drinks continued a decade-long decline, throwing cold water over the country’s long standing love-affair with soda.
In recent years, health-conscious consumers have switched to drinks with fewer calories.
Bottled water flew off the shelves in 2014, boosting Nestle’s sales by 9%.
Energy drinks and cold coffees also increased in popularity, helping Coca Cola and Pepsi to grow by 0.3% last year.
“There has been a tremendous migration to other categories in recent years,” says John Sicher, editor of trade publication Beverage Digest.
Concerns by some consumers about “obesity and health and wellness” have led to greater scrutiny of the ingredients used by big brands, he adds.
The likes of Coca-Cola and Pepsi are now trying to get “calorie levels lower with the use of natural sweeteners”.
Coke recently released Coca-Cola Life, which is made with stevia sweetener and has 27 calories per 100mL, compared with 42 for regular Coke.
