Category deep-dive · April 29, 2025

Soft drinks and functional beverages: the fastest shelf in the US

Non-alcoholic and functional beverages grow faster in the US than any other beverage segment, and without the alcohol bureaucracy.

Why this segment

Non-alcoholic beer, vitamin waters, herbal drinks and immunity drinks grow in double digits per year. And unlike alcohol, there is no three-tier system here: you can sell directly to retail chains and distributors.

Nordic purity, berries and low-sugar recipes are right at the center of the trend.

What you need

FDA food rules: producer registration, US-format Nutrition Facts labeling and ingredient permissibility, some European plant components require checking. Shelf life and supply chain: the drink is heavy and cheap to ship, so ship a full container at a time and price realistically.

In US retail, slotting, i.e. a shelf fee, is common: budget for marketing or choose a distributor who takes that on.

Could your product sell in the USA?The first consultation is free: we show the real import numbers for your category and a few sample buyers.

A look at our data

In the beverage category we clearly see growth among importers of non-alcoholic products. Several of them are small and hungry: ideal partners for a new brand that wants to get onto the shelf quickly.

Let's talk about your export plan

The first consultation is free: together we'll see who in the US already buys your product and how to reach them.