Nongfu Spring Overtakes Coca-Cola in Brand Strength
Brand Finance's 2026 Top 50 Non-Alcoholic Drinks list ranks Nongfu Spring third by brand value and first by brand strength.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Tea
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Brand Finance has released its Top 50 Non-Alcoholic Drinks 2026 list, placing Coca-Cola first with a brand value of US$46.1 billion. Nongfu Spring, with a brand value of US$15.3 billion, grew 38% from 2025 and holds the highest brand strength score among non-alcoholic drink brands.
Why it matters
The ranking shows Chinese beverage brands gaining ground against long-established global rivals. Pepsi's brand value fell by US$5.74 billion as consumers grow more value-conscious and competition intensifies across key markets.
Nongfu Spring's brand value rose US$4.24 billion, or 38%, from 2025, while Coca-Cola's fell US$243 million and Pepsi's fell US$5.74 billion. Brand Finance scores brand strength on a 100-point Brand Strength Index, and Nongfu Spring leads the list at 89.8.
The players
Brand Finance
A London-based brand valuation consultancy that publishes annual brand rankings across industries worldwide.
Nongfu Spring
A major Chinese beverage company known for bottled water, ready-to-drink tea and no-sugar drinks.
Coca-Cola
The American soft drink company whose brand has long ranked among the most valuable in the world.
PepsiCo
The American food and beverage conglomerate that owns Pepsi and competes with Coca-Cola in global markets.
The details
Brand Finance ranked the Top 50 Non-Alcoholic Drinks 2026 by brand value and brand strength. Nongfu Spring's growth is linked to demand for its bottled water, ready-to-drink tea and no-sugar beverage lines, and it is the only Top 10 brand holding an AAA+ rating.
Timeline
2025: Baseline year for the brand value and rating comparisons
2026: Top 50 Non-Alcoholic Drinks 2026 list published
Market Landscape
The Brand Finance index tracks brand value across the non-alcoholic drinks sector each year, and the 2026 edition shows a Chinese bottled water and tea brand overtaking Coca-Cola on brand strength. Eastroc, another Chinese brand, also grew its brand value 62% and expanded distribution into Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Shoppers may notice Nongfu Spring's bottled water and ready-to-drink tea gaining shelf presence as the brand expands. Consumers focused on price may find value across competing beverage brands as Pepsi and Coca-Cola face more pressure.
The takeaway
Brand value rankings can shift quickly when consumer preferences move toward lower-sugar and value-driven options. Watching how established brands respond will show which companies adapt fastest.
Further reading
Explore more on Tea coverage for the broader beverage market context.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Foodnavigator.
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