Coca-Cola is the most popular brand in Ireland for the 22nd year in a row, according to the Checkout Top 100 Brands for 2026, produced by Checkout Magazine.
Checkout notes that the top ten for 2026 is dominated by brands that continue to prove enduringly popular with Irish shoppers.
Lucozade takes second place, followed by Tayto in third, Dairy Milk in fourth and Monster in fifth. Red Bull, Brennans and Avonmore rank sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, with Extra and 7UP completing the top ten.
Tayto, Brennans and Avonmore fly the flag for Irish-produced products in the top ten.
Checkout said it was encouraging to see so many Irish brands putting in a strong performance further down the rankings.
Ballygowan, at number 12 on the list, moved into the functional water space this year, launching the first Irish-produced caffeinated water in Ireland, while Deep RiverRock, at number 21, also entered the functional space, with its premium functional line, ViTAL, which combines vitamin-enhanced water with fruit juice, botanicals and minerals.
At number 24, Brady Family is another highly successful brand and a mainstay of shopping baskets across Ireland, while at number 31, Kerrygold has strengthened its position in butter, while expanding into new categories and occasions.
Checkout also notes that Irish Pride is another Irish brand that is moving with the times. At number 37 on the list, the brand relaunched this year with “fibre-filled, emulsifier-free, preservative-free” breads, following research revealing that consumers had reduced their consumption of everyday bread.
Meanwhile, at number 50 this year, Irish health and wellness beverage brand, VITHIT is also the leading brand in the Health/Functional Drinks category.
“Consumers remain willing to pay a premium when products deliver meaningful benefits, such as health, convenience, functionality, quality, or trusted brand credentials,” Maev Martin, editor of Checkout, said.
“And that is what we are seeing with many of the Irish brands that appear on our list this year, especially when it comes to innovation in health and well-being and convenience,” she added.
Checkout also noted that the top 10 categories for 2026 are confectionery, carbonated soft drinks, milk, bakery, sport/energy drinks, crisps/snacks/tubes, biscuits, pre-packed sliced meat, cheese and mineral waters.
“Irish shoppers are clearly prioritising a mix of sweet and savoury treats and household staples when it comes to Ireland’s leading categories in grocery retail,” it added.
“The 2026 Top 100 Brands ranking reinforces the resilience of Ireland’s most established grocery brands. Many of the brands at the top of the ranking have earned a place in shoppers’ baskets over decades, underlining the importance of trust, familiarity and consistent delivery,” Ruth Lloyd-Evans, Senior Business Insights Manager, NIQ Ireland said.
“At the same time, the wider ranking shows that brands continue to find opportunities for growth through innovation, premium propositions and products that meet evolving shopper needs,” she added.