Heatwave doubles cold drink, ice-cream sales as AC and fridge demand stays cool
Mother Dairy, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Britannia are ramping distribution as ice-cream volumes doubled in 10 days and dairy drinks jumped 30%. April-June drives ~50% of annual soft drink sales. But 8-10% price hikes and fuel inflation are capping AC (+15% YoY) and fridge (+10% YoY) growth below expectations.
Heatwave is boosting cold beverage and ice-cream sales, with Mother Dairy, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Britannia ramping distribution. Dairy drinks now rival carbonated colas. AC and refrigerator demand stays weak as 8-10% price hikes and fuel inflation dampen discretionary spending.
Why this matters
Mother Dairy is doubling down on cold beverages weeks after raising milk prices Rs 2/litre in Delhi-NCR, leveraging summer demand to offset margin pressure as durables makers face stalling AC and fridge sales.
Retail-brand activity steady at 562 signals over the last 90 days.