For service station owners, drinks are one of the top-selling categories. They’re easy to grab, high in demand, and can turn a quick stop into a more profitable sale. Whether someone’s refuelling or grabbing food on the go, having the right range of beverages in your fridge keeps customers coming back.
In 2025, soft drinks remain popular, but we’re also seeing clear shifts toward sugar-free options, functional beverages, and local brands. In this article, we explore what Australians are actually buying, and what Kelly’s Distributors can supply to help you stay fully stocked!
What are the Most Popular Drinks in Australia?
Australians still love their soft drinks, but recently there’s been a clear shift toward healthier options. According to the Australian Beverages Council, low and no-sugar beverages now make up more than half of all drink sales in Australia, a trend that’s been sustained since 2022.
Drinks like Pepsi Max, which delivers full flavour with zero sugar, continue to outperform many full-sugar alternatives.
At Kelly’s Distributors, the most in-demand products include:
- Pepsi and Pepsi Max
- Oak flavoured milk
- Nippy’s milk
- Gatorade and Powerade
- Cool Ridge and Pump bottled water
- Red Bull, Monster, Mother, and V Energy
- Lipton Iced Tea
- Bundaberg Brewed Drinks, including their popular ginger beer
These brands consistently rank among the best-selling drinks for petrol stations across Queensland.
What Drink Brands are Australian?
Supporting local brands isn’t just good business – it’s something customers actively appreciate. In fact, Roy Morgan found in a 2023 study that 86% of Australians say buying Australian-made products is important to them, and 67% stated they ‘often’ or ‘always’ buy Australian-made products.
Here are a few Australian soft drink brands and beverages proudly offered through Kelly’s:
- Bundaberg Brewed Drinks (QLD): Known for their ginger beer and craft-brewed sodas.
- Nippy’s (SA): Produces fruit juices and flavoured milk.
- Oak: A long-time Aussie favourite in flavoured milk.
Having these options in your store is a smart move for retailers looking to appeal to local preferences.
Key Drink Trends Shaping Your 2025 Stock Decisions
1. The shift to health-conscious choices
More Australians are becoming aware of how often they consume sugar-sweetened beverages. While soft drinks still sell strongly, Australians are becoming more aware of their sugar intake. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 44% of men and 28% of women reported drinking sugar-sweetened beverages at least once a week, based on the ABS, National Health Survey, 2018.
This trend shows there’s still a strong demand for soft drinks, but also growing awareness around sugar intake. Offering health drinks, electrolyte water, and lower-sugar juice alternatives helps cater to this growing preference.
2. The rise of bottled coffee
Ready-to-drink coffee is now a breakfast staple for many. Brands like Up & Go and Oak are top performers in service stations, especially during morning hours. These options are ideal for commuters who want caffeine without the café stop.
3. Energy and hydration
Energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, and Mother remain strong sellers. They’re popular with early risers, tradies, and long-distance drivers. Combine this with demand for hydration and performance drinks like Gatorade, and your servo fridge quickly becomes a destination for those needing fuel for their day (in more ways than one).
What to Stock: Best-selling Drinks From Kelly’s Distributors
To cater to the thirst of a wide audience, service stations need a solid mix of beverages. Here’s what performs best and what’s available from Kelly’s:
| Category | Top Sellers (All Stocked by Kelly’s) |
| Soft Drinks | Pepsi, Pepsi Max, Cascade, Kirks |
| Flavoured Milk & Iced Coffee | Oak, Nippy’s and Up & Go |
| Juices | Golden Circle, Spring Valley and Karma Organic Juice |
| Water & Electrolytes | Pump, Cool Ridge, Gatorade, Powerade |
| Sparkling/Craft Drinks | Bundaberg Ginger Beer, Bundaberg Lemon Lime & Bitters, Lipton Iced Tea |
| Energy Drinks | Red Bull, Monster, Mother, V Energy |
Stocking a good mix helps ensure you cover every kind of customer. Regardless of whether they’re grabbing a cold drink after work, stocking up for a road trip, or picking up snacks for a party – they’ll be all sorted at your petrol station.
Simple Ways to Boost Drink Sales
1. Put best-sellers at eye level
Drinks like Pepsi Max and Red Bull should be placed front and centre in your fridge.
2. Use combo offers
Pair drinks with snacks or food options for a bundle deal. Something like “Drink + Chips for $6” increases spend without needing to upsell manually.
3. Stock for different times of day
Iced coffee and flavoured milk work well for breakfast traffic, while energy drinks and sodas perform better in the afternoon.
4. Choose a reliable petrol station supplier
Kelly’s Distributors is a petrol station drinks supplier that makes it easy to keep your store stocked with high-performing products. Our online portal is quick to order from, and we carry all the major drink brands Australians love.
Why it matters
According to industry insights from IBISWorld’s 2025 Convenience Stores in Australia report, ready-to-drink beverages continue to be one of the most profitable product categories for service stations and small-format retailers. What this can tell us is that stocking the right mix of drinks isn’t just a matter of taste, it directly affects your bottom line.
Final thoughts
Whether it’s a chilled Pepsi, a post-workout Gatorade, or a cold Oak Iced Coffee, Australians expect their local service station to offer great drink options. By keeping your fridge stocked with the best-sellers listed above (available through Kelly’s Distributors) you’ll keep your customers happy, boost sales, and make your store the go-to for beverages on the move.
Visit kellysdistributors.com.au today and explore the full product range to streamline your next drinks order.
