Red Bull has become Britain's third biggest soft drink by value behind Coke and Pepsi, according to the Zenith International 2001 UK Energy and Sports Drinks report.
The report is the first of its kind to combine on- and off-trade figures and, as a result, Red Bull's increased sales, especially within bars and nightclubs, has seen a rise above other soft drink brands such as Tango, Robinsons and Sunny Delight.
Within the retail sector alone, Coke had sales of pounds 664.2m in 2000, Pepsi pounds 177.7m and Red Bull pounds 59.9m.
In 1999 the brand held a 75% share of the functional energy drink market, growing in 2000 to an 86% share.
The energy and sports drinks category is now worth over pounds 700m a year, with Red Bull's total sales in 2000 nearing pounds 430m. Lucozade's combined sales for its Energy and Sport brands hit pounds 210m.
The report also shows, using ACNielsen figures for retail and on-premise outlets, that functional energy drinks have almost doubled in sales value in 2000, after trebling in 1999. Sports drinks are also up by 50% since 1998.
More than 20 new brands were launched last year, with pounds 20m being spent on advertising - 18% of the total for all soft drinks.
Zenith chairman Richard Hall said: 'This is not just a passing fad. These drinks are the thin end of a new wedge that is reshaping consumer behaviour.'
'People want products that not only look and taste good, but also do good,' he added.
The drink's most recent campaign, by Frankfurt-based agency Kaftner & Partner, uses the strapline 'Red Bull gives you wings'.
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