BALANCE CALORIES INITIATIVE – PROGRESS REPORT RELEASED

In coordination with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, our Beverage Association Partner, ABA released the most recent progress report of the national Balance Calories Initiative (BCI.)  The report shows that halfway into the initiative, calories per person have decreased by 10% meaning the beverage industry is on track to achieve our commitment of reducing calories per person nationally by 20% by 2025.  Through innovation, marketing and distribution of lower- and zero-sugar beverage options and smaller portions, this report proves that our Better Way approach is working. 

A few takeaways from the report include:

• Today nearly 60% of beverages sold national contain low or zero sugar;
• Importantly, overall sales volume continued to increase, with a total volume increase of 8.1% since 2014;
• 2020 marked the fourth consecutive year of notable calorie declines;
• Last year also had the largest single-year calorie reduction — 5% — since the beginning of BCI, with beverage calories per person decreasing from 202.8 calories per person per day in 2014 to 182.6 in 2020; and
• Per person volume sales of water increased by 36.6% since launch.