Beverage and Snack Sales Jump 46% in Five Years as Chains Race to Innovate

Sales in the restaurant beverage and snack category grew 46% over five years, rising from $11.78 billion in 2021 to $17.25 billion last year, according to Technomic Ignite data. That growth is now formalized: seven restaurant chains have taken home the first-ever Bevvy Awards, a new program recognizing excellence in beverage development, announced November 4, 2026.

The awards sit inside a category that keeps expanding. Total beverage menu items across U.S. restaurants increased 14.4% between Q2 2021 and Q2 2026, Technomic reports. That growth came during a period when the broader Technomic Top 500 chain restaurant rankings recorded another tough year — sales slowed again in 2025 as consumers pulled back on dining out. Beverages were one of the exceptions, alongside coffee, snacks and chicken, which continued to thrive.

What does this change for operators?

The economics explain the rush. Consumers are looking for fun, exciting and value-oriented menu items — sometimes to complement a meal, sometimes as an afternoon pick-me-up. For operators, beverages deliver a cost-effective marketing win compared with heavier kitchen-dependent menu development. The innovation frontier is broad: dirty soda, energy drinks, matcha and boba all appear on the list of formats chains are chasing.

That variety reflects menu engineering logic rather than taste alone. Drinks carry attractive margins, require limited back-of-house labor compared with full meals, and can be priced as low-ticket indulgences when diners are otherwise cutting back. In a year when overall chain sales slowed, that combination made beverages one of the few dependable growth levers.

A new event and a new award

Informa Connect Foodservice recognized the shift in 2025 by launching Future of Beverage, an event that brings experts, innovators and operators together to examine the opportunity in the category. This year's edition introduced the Bevvy Awards — the first award program specifically recognizing excellence in beverage development across the restaurant and retail industries.

Seven restaurant chains won in the inaugural round. Retail winners were recognized separately and are covered by sibling publication CSP Daily News.

Why the category outperformed

The backdrop matters for reading the numbers. The Technomic Top 500 data shows 2025 was another difficult year for chain restaurants overall, with consumers trimming dining occasions. Categories that offered lower check sizes or functional appeal — coffee, beverages, snacks and chicken — held up better than the broader market.

Beverages fit that pattern precisely. They work as add-ons that lift check averages without a full meal commitment, and formats like energy drinks and matcha tap into demand for functional, all-day consumption occasions rather than traditional dayparts.

What does this change for chain operators? It confirms that beverage innovation is now a primary growth channel rather than a side menu — one with measurable sales behind it, a dedicated industry event, and, as of 2026, its own awards program. Expect beverage menus to keep expanding as chains chase the 46% five-year growth curve.