Milk, tea, coffee, aseptic juices, and bottled juices, major components of the ready-to-drink (RTD) dairy beverage market, are seeing great growth. In fact, the global RTD beverages market is projected to grow from $766.69 billion in 2024 to more than $1 trillion by 2032. 

The ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee and tea beverage categories experienced some hiccups in the past year. Results ranged from mixed to negative in all subcategories, according to data provided by Circana, a Chicago-based market research firm.

Refrigerated ready-to-drink (RTD) coffee and tea were red hot, with percolating sales of nearly $949 million and $1.44 billion, respectively, in multi-outlets for the 52 weeks ending July 10, IRI data states. Percentage-wise, coffee saw a 27% sales increase, while tea added year-over-year sales of 11%.

Whether they are in search of energy or refreshment, consumers no longer need to wait for the coffee to brew or the tea bag to steep. 

Nondairy beverages mainly cruised down the sales highway this year.

If sales data are any indication, more consumers are saying goodbye to coffee filters, tea bags and the long wait to brew. According to data from Chicago-based market research firm IRI, dollar sales within the shelf-stable ready-to-drink (RTD) tea and coffee category shot up 9.5% during the 52 weeks ending Aug. 8, 2021, to $7,647.5 million. Unit sales increased 3.0% to 3,044.1 million.