Coca-Cola Leads Global Soda Interest Amid Rising Competition and Flavor Innovation
From June 2024 to June 2025, Coca-Cola maintained its dominance in global soda interest, with a 24% increase in trend index and the highest search volume. Competitors like Pepsi and Dr Pepper showed notable growth, while Mountain Dew experienced a decline, reflecting shifting consumer preferences and heightened competition.
The Internationalist shares marketing insights through discussions, case studies, and emerging ideas. In collaboration with MyTelescope, which leverages search insights to predict brand opportunities, we now provide marketers with tools to assess intent and foster growth.
Key Findings:
- Coca-Cola led in search volume with 60.7M searches globally, driven by interest in its branding, stock, and collaborations like “Labubu Coca-Cola” (+1,099,900%).
- Pepsi saw a 25% increase in trend index, with consistent interest in comparative searches like “Coke vs Pepsi” (464,300 searches).
- Dr Pepper experienced a 21% growth in trend index, fueled by product recalls (+18,874%) and new flavors like “Dr Pepper Blackberry” (+8,519%).
- Mountain Dew faced a 19% decline in trend index, despite interest in niche flavors like “Mountain Dew Dragon Fruit” (+147,900%).
- Flavor innovation and collaborations emerged as key drivers of interest across all brands, with Coca-Cola and Dr Pepper leading in unique product launches.
Rising Search Terms:
Every second, nearly 200,000 searches occur across platforms, including Google, Amazon, YouTube, TikTok, Bing, Etsy, and eBay, as well as large language models like ChatGPT. According to MyTelescope, these aren’t just clicks or idle curiosity. They’re questions, comparisons, dreams, and decisions. They’re intent.
The “Labubu Coca-Cola” trend combines collectible Labubu toys, the Coca-Cola brand, and limited-edition collaborations. Celebrity endorsements and the popularity of blind box collecting have boosted demand for these unique items, making the trend popular on social media platforms like TikTok, where users share unboxing videos and discuss the collaboration.
Concise Market Analysis:
Over the 12-month analysis period, Coca-Cola solidified its position as the global leader in soda interest, with a 24% increase in trend index and the highest search volume. Key drivers included branding initiatives, stock-related searches, and collaborations like “Labubu Coca-Cola,” which saw explosive growth. Pepsi, while maintaining a smaller search volume, demonstrated steady growth (+25%), largely driven by comparative searches with Coca-Cola, highlighting its role as a key competitor.
Dr Pepper capitalized on product innovation and recalls, with searches for “Dr Pepper Blackberry” and “Dr Pepper Recall” surging by 8,519% and 18,874%, respectively. This indicates strong consumer engagement with new flavors and product safety concerns. In contrast, Mountain Dew struggled with a 19% decline in trend index, despite niche interest in new flavors like “Dragon Fruit” and “Baja Cabo Citrus.”
Flavor innovation and branding collaborations were central to driving consumer interest across all brands. Coca-Cola and Dr Pepper outperformed in leveraging these strategies, while Pepsi maintained relevance through its competitive positioning. Mountain Dew’s decline suggests potential challenges in sustaining consumer interest, emphasizing the need for revitalized marketing efforts. Overall, the soda market remains dynamic, with established leaders adapting to evolving consumer preferences and competitive pressures.
My Telescope is a tool for brands and marketers to leverage search data more effectively, one of the richest and most immediate sources of market intelligence available today. It reveals what people care about in the moment and what they’re preparing to act on next.
