Over the last decade, I have had the privilege of watching the US retail coffee market unfold and it has been quite a journey. Today, I invite you to sit back, relax and open a can of your favourite coffee as we reflect on where the market has been, where it is now and where it’s going next. 

RTD coffee was first introduced in the US in the 1950s but didn’t fully resonate with consumers until forty years later. In the mid-1990s, an icon was born: the Starbucks bottled Frappuccino. This sweet, creamy, indulgent coffee beverage set the tone for what would be the RTD coffee space for over two decades. 

The early 2000s saw a surge in the popularity of RTD coffee, with consumers increasingly interested in convenient on-the-go coffee options to fit busy lifestyles. Companies such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, and Nestlé began to invest heavily, launching products and acquiring existing brands. This helped the market nearly double from USD $450 million in 2001 to $850 million by 2005 (market size of canned and bottled RTD coffee from 2001 to 2015. Statista.com. 2017, February). 

By 2013, the market was valued at $1.5 billion (per Nielsen) and was still exhibiting decent growth rates. But change was in the air. Consumers were becoming more health conscious and seeking alternative canned or bottled coffees that offered less sugar, less dairy and more coffee-forward flavour. Enter cold brew. What many predicted to be a passing fad quickly exploded into a multi-million-dollar segment of the category that transformed the RTD coffee landscape. 

Cold brew has proven itself to be more than just a fad and has gained market share currently at over 20% of the total RTD coffee market. In just ten years it has gained nearly a quarter of an entire category. In fact, in recent years we have seen multiple variations: flavoured, nitro, dairy alternatives and most recently the explosive growth in multi-serve (32 ounces or above) cold brew coffee. 

What does the future hold? As consumers become increasingly educated about coffee and interest in new products grows, we expect to see impressive year-on-year growth and – importantly – increased opportunities for brands. Here are three trends I think you should keep an eye on: 

1. Multi-serve momentum carries on. Multi-serve coffee has been on the market for a decade, but its popularity exploded during the pandemic. As consumers have begun to realise they can get great coffee at an affordable price to enjoy at home, expect this segment to see even more growth in the coming years. 
2. Natural energy will continue to steal share. With younger consumers becoming increasingly proactive over their health and wellness, they are turning to more ‘natural’ products for cleaner ways to consume food and beverage. This creates an opportunity for more coffee-based ‘energy’ drinks to steal share from the traditional products in this market. 
3. Private label potential. Private label coffee is sometimes equated to lesser quality. Yet consumers have started to see the potential across categories in private label and coffee is no exception. As shoppers become increasingly cost-conscious and aware of the premiumisation of private label coffee, they will start to seek out these products to fill a gap as a cost-effective solution. 

• Stacy DeMars is marketing manager for Finlays Americas, a division of Finlays, a leading independent B2B manufacturer and supplier of tea, coffee and botanicals.

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Founder and CEO Sahra Nguyen said, “In a category often called “crowded,” we’re thrilled to be recognised for our product innovations offering more flavour and function to consumers through our focus on robusta coffee as a core ingredient and differentiator.”

In 2023, Nguyen Coffee Supply became the first Vietnamese coffee ready-to-drink brand to receive national distribution from Whole Foods Market. Nguyen Coffee Supply also ships direct-to-customers in all 50 states and internationally to Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Singapore, and the UK and is available online on Amazon. Products are also available in restaurants and cafés in New York City, Washington D.C., Seattle, Kansas City and sold in FreshDirect, Gorillas, and Weee!

Nguyen Coffee Supply is leading the way and ushering in the next wave of coffee culture rooted in uplifting the robusta coffee species and historically marginalised coffee communities around the world. Importing directly from the source and roasting in Brooklyn, New York, Nguyen Coffee Supply’s mission is to transform the coffee industry through diversity, sustainability and cultural integrity. Founded in 2018 by 1st generation entrepreneur-activist Sahra Nguyen, the company’s mission is to elevate robusta coffee (the dominant coffee bean grown in Vietnam), while building a diverse and inclusive coffee culture for all.

Nguyen Coffee Supply’s latest product innovation, the Vietnamese coffee Ready to Drink (RTD), is now available in over 1,000 retail doors nationally.

Nguyen Coffee Supply can be enjoyed in a wide array of styles including the traditional cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese coffee with sweetened condensed milk and ice) as well as the pour over, Chemex, French press, drip, and espresso.

Learn more at Nguyen Coffee Supply.

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Hamburg based, Tchibo purchased the company back in 2016, and Capitol Foods in 2018 with each operating under its own name. Recognising the strong values and reputation for quality and sustainable practices, parent company Tchibo has taken the decision to consolidate its UK & Ireland businesses under the Scottish brand’s name. 

The single business will provide customers with a wider range of products from across the entire business portfolio whilst offering improved efficiency and service to its entire customer base. 

The recently announced investment in the Glasgow roastery has expanded its production capabilities, with new coffee products coming into the Glasgow HQ over the coming 12 months.  

The winner of Glasgow’s Most Outstanding Business at the Glasgow Business Awards in 2023, the company sees this move as one of the most exciting changes to the coffee market in a decade.  

Paul Chadderton, managing director, Matthew Algie said, “This is a significant moment for our business and particularly for our Glasgow HQ which is the beating heart of our business.  

“Coupling this move with the recent investment programme we announced back in April 2023 it places the firm in a very strong position to build upon our growth strategy and at a pivitoal moment in the coffee sector. 

“The majority of the senior leadership team, including myself, have all relocated to Glasgow as we continue to expand the capabilities of the site, including launching our new fully recyclable packaging, various new product lines and our training and development hub which is an industry leading centre for training the next generation of baristas across the UK and Ireland.”  

Coffee continues to be one of the fastest moving sectors, with the post pandemic boom in coffee drinkers showing no signs of slowing down. With the single company now operating under one collective vision, the team are excited to offer an even more customer centric operation.  

Paul continued, “We are seeing new markets emerge as businesses look to grow their sources of revenue. Sectors such as garden centres no longer simply use their cafes as a footfall driver but is a critical part of their income.  

“Matthew Algie is perfectly positioned to help these businesses and our staff are experts in helping firms get more out of their coffee offering. Whether it be helping firms move to more sustainable operations by using our carbon neutral products, or simply supporting local cafes in adapting to the ever-changing trends within the market- this new announcement will accelerate our ability to support out tens of thousands of customers.” 

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Also making its return to Peet’s Winter Menu is the Ethiopian Super Natural. For the last 20 years, this blend has become a staple on the brand’s coffee-first seasonal menu and is known for distinctive notes of wild blueberries and white flower that are balanced with a candied citron sweetness. The Ethiopian Super Natural is offered only as bagged coffee for purchase in-store or online. The blend is also displayed as whole bean, but can be ground to the customer’s preference upon purchase. The Ethiopian Super Natural is available for $22.95/lb.

Peet’s Coffee Winter Beverage menu includes:

•  Espresso: A single shot of Espresso Forté delivers rich layers of flavor and perfect crema. Opening notes of hazelnut are followed by notes of caramel and citrus zest.
• Traditional Cappuccino: A single shot of Espresso Forté gets a refreshing dose of microfoam for the perfect espresso to milk proportion—all served in a 6 oz. cup.
• Caffè Macchiato: Simply satisfying, our Caffè Macchiato features a ristretto (short shot) marked with a dash of perfectly steamed milk and foam.
• Golden Caffè Latte: Our Golden Caffè Latte pairs Espresso Forté with perfectly steamed milk and a syrup with notes of turmeric, honey, and ginger.
• Caffè Cortado: Invented in Spain, “Cortado” means “cut” in Spanish. Here at Peet’s, we cut a shot of bold espresso with an equal amount of velvety steamed milk.

The Winter Menu offerings will be available beginning 3 January 3 at local Peet’s Coffee stores.

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The winter menu features an array of beloved flavours, headlined by the return of the Pink Velvet Macchiato and the Pancake Wake-Up Wrap. Adding a new twist to the season, the menu also features the debut of White Hazelnut Bark Coffee.

From Dunkin’, With Love
Responding to a flood of DMs, fan mail, petitions and heartfelt pleas, Dunkin’ is thrilled to bring back the Pink Velvet Macchiato. A sensation since it first debuted in January 2020, this visually striking, layered drink captured hearts with its bold espresso, red velvet cake flavour and notes of cream cheese frosting. Available hot or iced, the Pink Velvet Macchiato will be available through late February.

The excitement extends beyond just velvet, as the brand will also introduce the new White Hazelnut Bark Coffee, a drink inspired by fans’ adoration for Toasted White Chocolate Swirl – one of Dunkin’s most popular seasonal flavours year after year. The drink marries the flavours of warm, toasted hazelnut with the sweetness of creamy white chocolate flavour to create a warming winter drink, regardless of whether it’s served hot or iced.

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Sumidagawa Brewing.
Image: Yumi Nakatsugwa

Asahi YOU. US, Ltd has found an innovative way to further the circular economy. The wholly owned subsidiary of Asahi Group Japan, Ltd, was established in January 2022 with a focus on sustainable products and activities, not only within the Asahi Group but also in collaboration with municipalities, universities as well as other business entities. Coffee and tea companies are now benefitting from two of its craft beers, Kuramae Black and Sayama Green, which are using coffee and green tea remnants or by-products that are infused into the beer.

Kuramae Black is a coffee-blended stout beer, named Kuramae after the location of Asahi’s initial product partner, Ennoki coffee roastery. The company hopes Kuramae Black will become popular among the local community and be recognised as a special product of the region. As a coffee roaster, Ennoki conducts test roasts before finalising the roasting profile of each coffee bean. They were concerned that there was nothing to do with the remaining test-roasted beans after cupping, other than discard them. Subsequently, Asahi YOU. US developed the idea of making a craft beer using the test-roasted coffee bean.

Kuramae Black launched in July 2021. It is brewed in Sumidagawa Brewing, which had been experimenting with a coffee-flavoured beer for a long time, and it was aware that stout beer could be the best to blend with brewed coffee, as it has some similarities in colour and flavour. “Since we source the test-roasted coffee from Ennoki and another two roasters now, we cannot expect a high level of consistency unlike when we order the specific blend for the product. We closely communicate with those roasters about when and how many beans we need for the next batch so that they can prepare the stock,” said Ichiro Moda, unit leader of Asahi YOU. US. “However, it is inevitable that the taste and flavour of the bean as well as those of Kuramae Black are slightly different each time. We positively see this variability as one of the characteristics of Kuramae Black.”

Sumidagawa Brewing, a microbrewery located on the premises of the Asahi Group’s head office, produces craft beers such as Kuramae Black and Sayama Green. It was originally established in 1995, and now is under the management of Asahi YOU. US. When making Kuramae Black, it brews stout beer and coffee separately, then blends them at about 70 and 30 percent, respectively. The stout beer contains 7-8 percent alcohol, which is reduced to 4.5 percent in Kuramae Black.

Left: Kuramae Black. Right: Sayama Green
Images: Asahi YOU. US, Ltd

Going Green

Sayama Green is beer blended with a green tea infusion, which launched in April 2022. Sayama in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, is one of the most famous tea-producing districts in Japan. When making Sayama Green, they use a by-product of sencha called keba-cha (hairy tea). Keba-cha is the surface of the stem of the tea leaves that comes off during the rolling and drying process and is separated from the sencha in the final cleaning by a sorting machine.

When producing Sayama Green, keba-cha is brewed in room temperature water for three hours in order to extract a clear liquor with sweetness and umami, without much bitterness or astringency. After the infused keba-cha is strained, the liquor is boiled for a few seconds to sanitise it. Finally, the cooled infusion is blended with an Indian Pale Ale (IPA) of 30 to 70 percent, with an alcohol content of 4.5 percent.

Keba-cha is sourced from three young tea producers in Sayama: Okutomien, Yokotaen and Ishidaen. Masahiro Okutomi of Okutomien explained, “When neatly shaped whole leaf sencha is sorted, some by-products are collected separately such as stems, powdery leaf, keba-cha and so on. Those by-products are still drinkable and usable teas. They are refined by firing or roasting, then sold as stem tea, roasted tea, or powdery tea in tea shops. Keba-cha can be added to tea bags after cutting into smaller particles.” He said that it is also helpful to clean up the tea- processing machines before resuming manufacturing, since the hairy keba-cha can absorb tiny dust or odour in the machines. “We are pleased to offer keba-cha as a raw material for Sayama Green, that is a unique and effective way to utilise keba-cha and increase its value.”

Asahi YOU. US supplies its craft beers in barrels for catering services, mainly beer restaurants or pubs in the neighbouring areas. The canned products are also sold in liquor shops or ecommerce sites. The company produced 3,300 litres of Kuramae Black in 2022 and estimates it will produce 4,200 litres in 2023. Asahi YOU brewed 4,050 litres of Sayama Green in 2022 and expects 4,100 in 2023.

• Yumi Nakatsugawa has been working as a freelance writer specialising in food and restaurant management. While freelancing, she developed a love of black tea as well as tea- producing countries and tea people. Her passion for black tea has brought her to Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea to see tea production firsthand. Based in Japan, Yumi may be reached at: ym_n@nifty.com.

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The Paris Baguette Blend, crafted by Lavazza, is a whole bean coffee offering that is sourced from Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee farms. Produced to support environmental sustainability, the premium Arabica Coffee blend is made with RFA certified sustainably grown, 100% Arabica beans.

“We are excited to deepen our partnership with Lavazza, a brand synonymous with excellence in the coffee industry,” said Eric Galkin, vice president and head of supply chain at Paris Baguette. “This collaboration represents a natural progression of our shared commitment to quality ingredients and innovation.”

The Blend offers a robust, full-bodied flavour that is balanced with sweet, chocolate undertones. It is available for purchase at participating US Paris Baguette locations.

“At Lavazza, we are proud to join forces with Paris Baguette to introduce the Paris Baguette Blend, crafted by Lavazza,” shared Jonathan Lehr, marketing director for Lavazza North America, Inc. “This collaboration not only introduces a remarkable coffee blend to the market but also serves as a testament to our shared values and the belief that businesses can make a positive difference in the world.”

For more information on Lavazza, visit lavazzausa.com or @lavazzausa. For more information on Paris Baguette, visit parisbaguette.com or @parisbaguette_usa.

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Costa Coffee has revealed its uplifted Cornhill store in Dorchester, UK. The refreshed Costa Coffee experience at the Cornhill store introduces new features that are yet to be seen in its high street stores. 

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The store is located in the heart of Broadway, in Midtown. New York landmarks such as Times Square, the Empire State Building and Madison Square Garden are within a ten-minute walk.

HEYTEA’s innovative new-generation Chinese tea is made from fresh fruits, fresh tea leaves, and premium milk. In contrast, much of the “bubble tea” currently being sold on the market is made from instant tea powder with artificial additives. HEYTEA says it will be the first Chinese new style tea brand selling products made with genuine, high-quality ingredients in the US.

“Cheese tea”

The initial innovation of HEYTEA was the introduction of Cheese Tea. Not cheese in the traditional sense, but a cold tea with a thick, frothy, cream cheese-flavoured foam on top. The foam is made with cream cheese, milk, cane sugar, and a little sea salt, and adds enjoyable taste and texture sensations to the product.

The store will offer three categories of its foundational products: Refreshing Real Fruit Teas, Real Dairy Milk Teas, And Refreshing Finest Teas. The pricing ranges from USD $3.99 to $7.49 (excluding additional toppings) with an average pre-tax price of $6.33.

The originator accelerates global expansion

Founded in 2012 in Jiangbianli, Guangdong Province, China, HEYTEA was the first brand to introduce fresh tea leaves and premium milk instead of instant tea powder and artificial additives to create cheese tea.

At its inaugural stores, in Shanghai and Beijing, HEYTEA drew hours-long lines of patrons, establishing itself as a rising star in the market, and China’s premier new-generation consumer brand.

It played a pivotal role in introducing new style tea brands to China’s high-end shopping centers, often adjacent to luxury brand stores, HEYTEA also engages in co-branding ventures with companies including FENDI, Adidas, W Hotel among others, and influential figures in the fashion industry such as Hiroshi Fujiwara.

The first Chinese new style tea brand to go global, HEYTEA launched its first overseas store in Singapore in 2018, with over 3,000 cups of tea were sold every day during the opening period.

Significance of the New York City market entry

HEYTEA’s US debut is a testament to its unwavering commitment to ushering in a new era of tea enjoyment. While the company has previously entered global markets ie, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, the US offers a multitude of new opportunities.

“As the initial entry point for HEYTEA into the US market, New York City holds extraordinary significance for the growth of our brand,” said Yujia Gu, VP of strategy at HEYTEA. “By providing high-quality products and services, we aspire to deliver a joyful brand experience to consumers in NYC and beyond, contributing to the ongoing development of the US tea industry.”

With its Midtown Broadway debut at 1407 Broadway, between West 38th and 39th streets, HEYTEA demonstrates the significance of, and its confidence in, the US market. In the future, HEYTEA will continue to bring quality products and exciting new brand experiences to American consumers.

For more information about HEYTEA, visit: heytea.com.

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A limited edition that will launch in time for festive celebrations and Dry January, the collaboration is back for the third year. MOMO X Orbit Beers Hops Kombucha is made with Hallertau Blanc and Nelson Sauvin hops that provide tropical fruit and gooseberry flavours, rounded out with a tart kombucha. Hops have a complex flavour base, mapping citrus tones and herbal, earthy notes, which make them a match for fully fermented tart kombucha like MOMO’s. A non-alcoholic option that beer drinkers can get truly excited about, says the company.

Co-founder of MOMO Kombucha, Josh Puddle, commented, “We could think of no better partner than Orbit Beers, we’ve admired their traditional method of making European beer with a modern twist down the road in South East London for many years. This traditional approach with a flavour focused modern spin felt like a natural fit for the way we brew. This is our third limited edition special, and we are so grateful to have partnered with Orbit. Their beers can regularly be found in our brewery fridge (for when a kombucha can’t quite cut it) and Orbit supply some of our favourite pubs and restaurants in London. Thanks also to our head brewer, Matt Canham, for the creation of this delicious kombucha – it could be our best yet.”

Robert Middleton, founder of Orbit Beers added, “We’ve admired MOMO’s traditional method of brewing kombucha down the road in South London for many years and love working with and sharing recipes and ideas with their team. Our first collaborative batch was brewed in January 2021. It was so well received, winning a Great Taste Award, that we decided to brew it for the third time, in time for Dry January 2024. One of the main reasons we fell in love with kombucha (apart from the delicious taste) is the benefits for our gut microbiome.”

For every bottle sold, MOMO will contribute 10p to Save the Children’s Gaza appeal, supporting children affected by the crisis in the region.

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Costa Coffee has unveiled its uplifted New George Street store in Plymouth, UK, which re-opened on 29 November 2023. Giving customers a new way to Costa by the Sundial, the uplifted store introduces a range of new features that are yet to be seen in its town centre stores.  

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The new Fairgrounds River North menu features a variety of coffee, espresso, smoothie, kombucha, Rishi tea and on-tap options to carry on the Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea tradition of gathering and togetherness. Fairgrounds has updated its roster of coffee partners at this location, including local favorites Passion House, Four Letter Word, and Whirlwind. In addition to these local favorites, they’ve also brought in a handful of innovative national roasteries including Verve (Santa Cruz, CA), Panther (Miami, FL), Counter Culture (Durham, NC), and Frothy Monkey (Nashville, TN). Guests can also enjoy seasonal offerings with the Gingersnap Matcha Latte and Snickerdoodle Latte as well as an expanded lineup of upscale retail offerings.

“When we launched Fairgrounds in 2017, our main mission was to capture the sense of wonder, excitement and discovery that inspires people at the fairgrounds,” says Michael Schultz, founder and chairman of Infuse Hospitality. “This new menu not only reinforces our commitment to our original mission and staying ahead of the curve, but is also a testament to how we are constantly evolving and tending to customers’ ever-changing palates and needs”

Fairgrounds aims to roll out this new menu at other locations starting in 2024. For more information on the new menu and its offerings, visit fairgrounds.cafe.

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Founded in the UK by entrepreneur Rahi Daneshmand, Virtue is the UK’s first all-natural, zero sugar and zero calories energy drink, according to the company. Harnessing the power of yerba mate tea to create a more sustained and all-natural energy alternative to coffee and energy drinks. Virtue is made in the UK and is available in three varieties: Tropical, Peach & Raspberry, and Strawberry & Lime (GBP £1.75 RRP per 250ml can).

Yerba mate

Each of the Virtue contains 80mg of organic caffeine (similar to a cup of coffee), no sugar, no calories and nothing artificial, and they are now all super powered by yerba mate. Dubbed ‘the drink of the Gods’ yerba mate is an adaptogen naturally high in caffeine made from the dried leaves of the South American holly tree. Yerba mate is said to have the energy of coffee, the health properties of tea and the feel-good endorphins of chocolate, it provides more antioxidants than green tea, as well as 24 vitamins and minerals, including riboflavin, thiamine, phosphorus, iron, calcium and vitamins C and B6 and 15 amino acids.

Investment & growth

Since inception, Virtue has achieved high profile backing, and the brand secured investment from English footballer, Chris Smalling, in 2021, supplemented by a recent raise of £1.2million in Autumn 2023, which will help to accelerate business growth, with further hires in sales and marketing, alongside driving key marketing activity to increase brand awareness.

Chris Smalling, professional footballer, and Virtue investor commented, “I joined Virtue as they are disrupting the energy drinks category, with clean energy drinks that support a truly healthy lifestyle, which as an athlete, is critical. From flavour to function, Virtue is game changing.”

Virtue has seen +462% growth in international revenue in the last 12 months (Q3 FY23 vs Q3 FY22). Virtue is now sold in 35 countries, with over 15,000 distribution points globally, stockists include major international chains Casino, Carrefour and Aeon. The UK energy drinks market is worth £1.85billion (source: Nielsen, WE 23 Sept 2023) and the desire for ‘better for you’ energy drinks is growing. Virtue is the fastest-selling clean energy drink product in grocery in the UK (Strawberry & Lime 17.0 ROS, Source: Nielsen – GB Grocery Multiples – Latest 13 Weeks – WE 23 Sept 2023) and is set to grow further as desire ramps up. Virtue distribution has grown 225% in the UK over the last year with new stockists including Waitrose, Asda, Tesco and Motor Fuel Group (the largest petrol station operator in the UK).

Matthew Blake, Waitrose soft drinks buyer, says of the listing, “We’re really excited to have the Virtue Yerba Mate drinks onboard as part of our offering. The range is perfect for active adults looking for drinks with functional benefits and comes packed with natural caffeine, contains nothing artificial as well as being zero sugar or calories.”

Rahi Daneshmand, Virtue founder added, “We are very excited for this next stage of growth, as we build the market leading clean energy drinks brand. Virtue is the first all-natural, zero sugar and zero calories energy drink in the UK and we plan to make our drinks accessible to even more people.”

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Throat Coat Tea is a herbal tea blend that supports throat health and relieves irritation and discomfort. Crafted by a team of herbalists, chemists, and ethnobotanists, this tea harnesses the benefits of the slippery elm tree, which has played an important role in Native American herbal medicine for hundreds of years. Inspired by its traditional use, Traditional Medicinals has sourced slippery elm domestically for almost 50 years from Appalachia, where families collect the bark sustainably by hand to protect the trees for future generations. Featuring organic licquorice root alongside the organic slippery elm bark, this tea is silky, sweet, and caffeine-free, says the company.

“Warm liquids can be soothing, and this blend from Traditional Medicinals is designed to support throat health. It smells sweet and like licquorice. It’s also slightly woody. It’s organic, and the brand is B-corp certified,” said Good Housekeeping’s team of experts.

The team at Good Housekeeping spent months reviewing 300 kitchen, coffee, and tea products to determine the best of the best. The in-house team of Kitchen Appliance Lab analysts, Test Kitchen pros, and registered dieticians teamed up with judges Kaleena Teoh, the co-founder, and director of education at Coffee Project New York, and tea sommelier Gabrielle Jammal—plus more than 1,000 consumer testers—to find the most innovative, high-performing products on the market right now.

“We are thrilled that Throat Coat has received this well-deserved recognition. The dedicated experts at Good Housekeeping have wholeheartedly endorsed it as a warm, invigorating, and efficacious tea,” said Kristel Corson, Chief Marketing Officer of Traditional Medicinals. “Throat Coat has seamlessly woven itself into the daily rituals of countless individuals, be it as a soothing start to their mornings, a comforting companion to their bedtime routines, or an essential travel companion. Singers, announcers, podcasters, teachers, and a diverse range of professionals all rely on the soothing benefits of Throat Coat.”

Throat Coat tea is made with organic and non-GMO ingredients, free from synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified organisms for a healthier and more sustainable choice. It is individually wrapped and requires just boiling water to steep a restorative and delicious cup of tea. The herbs are thoroughly tested from field to cup to ensure ingredient identity, purity, and composition at our local renewable energy-powered facility in Sebastopol, California.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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Measuring in at 8,000sqft, the new Starbucks location is the biggest store Starbucks has opened in the UK in recent years, spread across two floors to accommodate the busy shopping and tourist route. The first floor, where the main seating area will be, offers spectacular views of the Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street gardens.  

The 18^th century listed building used to be home to an HSBC Bank and had been vacant since 2021. The redesign and refurbishment carried out by Starbucks not only breathes new life into the building but also pays homage to the rich history and characteristic architecture of Scotland’s capital.  

Alex Rayner, vice president and general manager at Starbucks UK, said: “We are thrilled to welcome the local community and those visiting Edinburgh to our new Princes Street store. One of our largest openings in recent years, the design is all centred around highlighting the iconic local landscape, it’s an exciting way to close off the celebrations of our 25^th anniversary in the UK. 

“The store’s concept is a homage to Edinburgh – a perfect blend between old and new. The curved arch feature over the bar symbolizes the Edinburgh Vaults, but the main statement is undoubtedly the spectacular view of Edinburgh Castle.” 

The new store on 118 Princes Street represents an enhancement of the former Starbucks outlet at 120 Princes Street, which closed last month in anticipation of this relocation. All partners (employees) have been transferred from the previous store, and ten new jobs have been created in the local area. 

Repurposed from a vacant unit, the Edinburgh store is certified as a Greener Store, meeting 25 required standards, as verified by an outside auditor, across eight environmental impact areas such as energy efficiency, water stewardship and waste diversion. This brings the environmental impact of running the store as low as possible, as part of Starbucks ongoing commitment to sustainability and becoming resource positive. This also includes offering a 25p discount to all customers who bring a reusable cup when purchasing a drink.  

This latest store opening is another step in Starbucks plans for growth in the UK, with many more stores planned for communities across the UK, particularly in key city and drive thru locations and with a focus on innovative store formats such as smaller, digitally forward stores.

Customers visiting the new store will be able to choose from a range of beverages and food available from Starbucks Holiday menu. This includes the returning Toffee Nut Latte, Gingerbread Latte, Eggnog Latte, Caramel Waffle Latte and the brand-new Hazelnut Crunch Hot Chocolate. Starbucks® UK proudly serves a broad range of dairy alternative options for free.

Starbucks is committed to 100% ethically sourced coffee in partnership with Conservation International. The cornerstone of its ethical sourcing approach to buying coffee is Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices.  

The new store will be open from 07:00 to 21:00 Monday to Sunday. 

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The Great Taste Awards are held annually, with the results being announced in August where, this year Novus won one of the ten prestigious Triple Gold Medals (the highest award) in the ‘Alternative lattes and cold brew infusions’ category.

Rooibos Espresso tea has been designed to be drunk as an authentic tea latte and produces a prominent tea note which cuts through the textured latte milk.  The tea itself is recovered from the sieving process at a South African plantation to produce Novus Tea’s super grade long-cut Rooibos.

Allan Pirret, sales director for Novus Tea, explains the roots of the award-winning beverage: “While Rooibos is a herbal tea, from the Western Cape Region, it is a red leaf tea with real depth and body, which is why it can be prepared in a standard espresso machine.

Although we have been buying from the grower for some years, our decision to start distributing the Rooibos Espresso came about as the result of discussion during the pandemic, when they explained to us about the very fine particles which they had started recovering from the sieving process, which would otherwise go to waste.  These are so fine they can be processed in a standard espresso machine, though we have had to design and produce a special filter basket which we offer to customers. This slows the extraction process down – and produces a crema which has the latte milk added afterwards.”

The judges were commented on the new tea; “Visually beautiful with a surprising amount of body and we really liked the earthy floral subtle bergamot undertones – a delightful drink.”

Another added: “Sweet and herby on the nose – this carries through well to the palate.  The sweet reddish colour is stunning – we loved the new way of drinking Rooibos, heavenly with milk,” and a third judge observed: “The product works well as a latte, with the addition of milk adding to the complexity and depth of fruit and floral flavours.”

Essentially, Rooibos tastes of honey, orange and vanilla, with buyers liking its many sustainable features: the fact that it is naturally decaffeinated means that it does not need to be processed to remove the caffeine content.  Plus, it is produced from what is arguably waste material and is vegan-friendly, so is right on trend for those looking for a healthy alternative in their tea.

Recently sampled at London Coffee Festival by coffee fans and experts, the taste was exceptionally well received, with tasters enjoying the vibrant orange colour of the tea latte.

Available in packs of six, 1kg pouches, the wholesale price comes in at just over GBP £18 per kilogram. It will also be available online in 250g form for consumers.

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The Pentawards, founded in 2007, has been a beacon of global excellence in packaging design, with its annual competition attracting over 30,000 entries from 95 countries over the past 16 years. eteaket’s recognition on this stage underscores its commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable packaging, the company says.

eteaket’s Retail Carton Sustainable Credentials

At the heart of eteaket’s success is its sustainability-focused novel construction design, which significantly reduces the use of production materials. The design allows for the creation of only six full cartons, compared to the 52+ that would have been required using traditional methods, resulting in an estimated saving of 75 square meters of aluminium in production.

The innovative box design enables sleeves to slide and lock securely in place, facilitating small manufacturing runs and eliminating overstock. This not only ensures a positive reduction in manufacturing materials but also delivers a fully finished, consistent, and professionally presented product with sustainability at its core. The award winning cartons mean they can create bespoke tea blends & retail artwork for companies including Scottish Ballet, Aberfeldy Whisky Distillery and Social Bite.

eteaket’s commitment to environmental responsibility is further evident in the materials used for the carton. Crafted with FSC certified card stock, the carton is fully recyclable, and the inner packet holding the tea is made from a biofilm called Natureflex, which is home compostable.

To reinforce their dedication to minimising environmental impact, both the packaging manufacture – J Thompson Printers, as well as the warehouse are located in Scotland, where the tea is hand packed, localising production.

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This holiday season, Peet’s is debuting its Iced Peppermint Mocha Black Tie. A tantalising take on a holiday classic, the Peppermint Mocha Black Tie infuses Cold Brew with aromatic peppermint and pairs it with decadent layers of house-made chocolate, and sweetened condensed milk, topped with a cascade of half and half.

The 2023 holiday menu, available 2 November through 2 January 2024*, also features the highly-anticipated return of other familiar and customisable favourites including:

• Holiday Spice Latte (hot/iced): A returning favourite, the Holiday Spice Latte recalls the comfort of homestyle baking. Each cup warms with the Espresso Forte®, freshly steamed milk, and Peet’s Holiday Spice syrup, topped with a dusting of baking spice. Available hot or iced.
• Peppermint Mocha (hot/iced): A holiday classic, Peet’s Peppermint Mocha infuses Espresso Forte with rich, house-made chocolate sauce, and fragrant, sweet peppermint, topped with a cloud of whipped cream.
• Holiday Blend: This year’s blend, a dark roast, offers notes of Guatemalan chocolate, smooth Kenyan black currant, and Ethiopian candied peel with a full Sumatra finish. Roasted with the finest beans of the year, the Holiday Blend is also available in decaf and K-Cup pods. MSRP: $22.95 for 16 oz bag in coffee bars and Peets.com.
• Free Drip Coffee: To wrap up 12 Days of Peet’s, consumers can also look forward to the return of a free drip coffee or tea on Christmas Eve. For more information on Peet’s holiday line up and full offers, visit peets.com.

12 Days of Peet’s
As we countdown to the most wonderful time of the year, get ready for different ways to celebrate in-store and online starting 13-24 December with BOGO deals on select holiday beverages from noon to close, to discounts on merchandise and coffee beans (terms & conditions apply).

During the 12 Days of Peet’s, USD $1 from every purchase of Peet’s Holiday Blend, both in-store and online at peets.com, will be donated to No Kid Hungry, which is focused on ending childhood hunger in America by ensuring that all children get the healthy food they need every day to thrive. (Every $1 donation provides 10 meals.)**

“We think of the holidays as peak Peet’s,” said Jessica Buttimer, vp brand, Peet’s Coffee. “Every year, we go to great lengths to make sure coffee people are never without a great cup of coffee all season long, from roasting our best of year Holiday Blend to creating instant on-the-go classics like our new Iced Peppermint Mocha Black Tie.”

*While supplies last
**Peet’s will donate up to a maximum of $30,000 for qualifying purchases made from 13-24 December 2023.

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Jordan Moore, director, emerging beverages at market research firm, NIQ Consumer & Category Outlook, noted that, although inflation may be decelerating, prices are still trending higher. In fact, CPG inflation has been well above the general inflation average in the US. “Consumers are feeling the pinch, with buying power significantly eroded,” she said, adding that consumers are spending 33% more at the grocery in the past 3+ years.

Any growth is largely inflationary as dollar growth is slowing, and shipments are down, but costs are higher. Tea volumes have been affected by the double-digit price increases. “RTD tea is still outperforming packaged tea, both black and green, with green experiencing the largest drop,” said Moore.

Gary Hemphill, managing director of research at the Beverage Marketing Group, echoed Moore’s comments, explaining that after the pandemic, consumer confidence dropped sharply. “US beverage market growth has been soft in 2022 and 2023 after a pandemic-induced performance rebound in 2021. Revenues have generally outpaced volume growth — a trend that has accelerated since 2021 due mostly to high inflation.”

Refreshment beverages have outperformed the overall beverage market, but volume performance has been soft the last two years, with most refreshment beverage categories experiencing slower growth in 2023. Hemphill said that the total tea category has been soft in recent years as the overall category has experienced modest declines. RTD tea returned to volume losses in 2022 and 2023, after pandemic recovery-based growth in 2021, but he shared, “the category remains well-positioned from a health and wellness perspective.”

It’s not ‘new’ news to say that health and wellness are key market drivers. Hence, beverage categories with health wellness attributes are outperforming those without. “People want healthier refreshment; caloric intake from refreshment beverages has been steadily declining over the last decade,” Hemphill commented, noting that “the diet segment of RTD tea is one of the best developed in all liquid refreshment beverage categories because it also includes unsweetened product.”

As consumers migrate to healthier options, they want more variety, and RTD tea offers that. The bulk of the RTD tea category is comprised of mainstream brands – PepsiCo/Lipton, Arizona and Coca-Cola are the leaders in the RTD tea category with the three combined accounting for more than half of the RTD category – however, both premium and specialty tea have made slight share gains in recent years, as more innovation is coming at the high end of the market.

“Innovations have played a key role in RTD tea, although much of the recent innovation has been in tea-adjacent categories,” Hemphill explained. “Much of the growth of RTD tea has been hived off into separate categories such as kombucha and mate/guayusa, but there are also other attempts at innovation such as cold brew and even herbal tea-based wellness soda.”

He noted that increasingly, there is an overlapping of alcohol and no-alcohol categories. “RTD tea is no exception, providing the foundation for alternative adult beverages such as hard teas and cannabis-infused tea drinks.”

Hemphill stressed that competition in refreshment beverages is fierce with innovation coming from within categories along with new categories emerging.

Beverage-wise, consumers have more than ever to choose from, so for RTD tea to successfully compete, brands must remain innovative and continue to meet consumers’ changing demands and needs.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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Nespresso customers now have two new options for recycling their coffee capsules with Royal Mail. They can arrange a free doorstep collection from their local postie using Royal Mail’s returns service. Alternatively, they can drop them off at any of the 14,000+ Royal Mail drop-off locations, including Royal Mail Customer Service Points and Post Offices.

Research commissioned by Nespresso to mark Recycle Week demonstrates just how important it is for recycling to be simple and convenient: despite 91% of Brits claiming they often recycle, many said they find recycling confusing (42%), and difficult (32%)*.

This partnership will increase nationwide access to easy and effective recycling methods for Nespresso capsules. Just over half of Royal Mails’ routes are wholly or partly on foot which helps to keep emissions low when compared to other carriers**.

Anna Lundstrom, CEO, Nespresso UK & ROI said, “Nespresso’s official partnership with Royal Mail brings recycling to the heart of the community, no matter where you live in the UK. Royal Mail is not only an iconic British institution, it also is recognised as having the lowest emissions per parcel** as their ‘feet on the street’ posties walk up to a billion steps a day. Recycling needs to be convenient, simple, and sustainable – and our partnership with Royal Mail is central to achieving that vision.”

Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail said, “We’re really pleased to be working with Nespresso to support their coffee capsule recycling. Everyone knows when their postie delivers so it’s really convenient to arrange for them to collect at the same time. If customers aren’t going to be in, Royal Mail can also collect from a safe place. To make it even more convenient, if customers don’t have a printer our posties can print and bring the label to the doorstep.

“And if Nespresso customers don’t want to arrange a collection, they can drop their capsules off at one of our 14,000+ Royal Mail locations. This is part of our commitment to continuously make our services more convenient as we re-invent the way we deliver to and collect from our customers.”

A pioneer of coffee capsule recycling, Nespresso also co-founded not-for-profit coffee pod recycling service, Podback. Nespresso UK customers can still use this service and can still drop their used capsules at any Nespresso Boutique.

Nespresso’s capsules are made with 80% recycled aluminium which is infinitely recyclable. Recycled aluminium is turned into new products such as beverage cans and car components. Used coffee grounds are also used to create soil improver, used on cereal farms in East Yorkshire, and renewable energy to power UK homes.

* Research was carried out by One Poll between 4th and 6th October 2023 with 2,000 adult respondents.
** When measured in terms of the CO2e emissions per parcel reported by the UK parcel delivery companies who currently publicly report these.

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