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 company announced the expansion of capabilities at its Extract and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) facility in Conway, Ark., and also entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Select Milk Producers to establish a joint venture to build and operate an extended shelf life and aseptic, multi-serve bottle facility in Texas.

The single-serve introduction was inspired by the success of the company's iced coffee, which has been sold in half-gallon cartons since 2013.

La Colombe is a growing player in the $5 billion U.S. RTD coffee category.

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.

Across the globe, individuals consume an estimated 2.25 billion cups of coffee per day. Coffee contributes a range of biologically active compounds, including many with antioxidant activity. 

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%.

Nondairy beverages mainly cruised down the sales highway this year.

Danone North America, based in Broomfield, Colo., and White Plains, N.Y., says its International Delight brand is delivering the ultimate coffee and confectionary collaboration with its new ready-to-drink Reese’s iced coffee.

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.