Carlsberg Carlsberg buoyed by alcohol‑free beer and soft drinks, offsetting a dip in beer volume. The Danish brewer reported first‑half revenues of Dkr47bn, up 2.6% YoY. Soft drink sales rose 7.8% while beer volumes fell 1%, showing the shift in consumer preference.

Alcohol‑free beer volumes grew 11% globally, with a 15% jump in western Europe, underscoring the brand’s pivot to lower‑alcohol options.

Carlsberg’s acquisition of Britvic doubled soft‑drink sales to about 30% of group revenue in 2025. Cost‑savings from the deal were ahead of schedule, with roughly half of the £110mn of synergies targeted achieved this year.

Shares fell 3.3% in early trading as the broader drinks sector grapples with falling alcohol consumption. Industry peers, such as Diageo and Heineken, also announced workforce cuts and leadership changes to navigate the trend.