Non-Alcoholic Beverage LTOs Win on Viability, Value

Non-alcoholic beverages are dominating May’s LTO performance on both viability and value ratings, according to Datassential’s Launches & Ratings platform.

Eleven of 23 Superstar LTOs were non-alcoholic beverages, with the category’s strongest performers making the case that value perception isn’t just a price story. According to Datassential’s The Value Equation report, consumers define value beyond price, encompassing taste, quality ingredients, experience, and convenience.

That dynamic plays out in the data. Eight of 11 non-alc beverage Superstars earned five-star consumer value ratings. Tim Hortons‘ Iced S’mores Latte ($4.99) earned Superstar status well above the sub-$3 tier, demonstrating how a distinctive build and recognizable flavor platform can command strong value perception without heavy discounts. According to Datassential’s Summer 2025 Trend Wire, operators are applying nostalgic flavor profiles like s’mores across beverages, desserts, and savory dishes to create recognizable experiences that resonate to consumers.

Swig’s Dew Gooder led all non-alcoholic beverages with a composite score of 97, blending Mountain Dew with pineapple, fresh lime, raspberry, and coconut cream. Sonic Drive-In dominated the sub-$3 Superstar tier, claiming five of six spots and earning five-star consumer value ratings across the board. Four are refreshers built on dual fruit puree combinations: the Berry Citrus Frozen (94), Watermelon Peach (92), Watermelon Peach Frozen (88), and Strawberry Passion Fruit Frozen (85). The America250-themed Red, White and Blue Slush Float (89) rounds out the set, layering raspberry slush with vanilla soft serve and real strawberries.

Non-alcoholic beverages represented an outsized share of May’s LTO activity, accounting for 142 of 446 total releases — nearly one in three items captured by the platform. That volume, combined with 11 Superstars and 19 items earning five-star consumer value ratings, highlights the category’s dual strength in performance and value perception.