Tea is Taking its Place at the Table Next to Beverage Giants
Wednesday, 28 November 2007 by Julie
Market research publisher, Packaged Facts, reported this month that tea sales are expected to nearly double over the next five years. More specifically, by 2012, the market is projected to grow from its current $7.4 billion to $15 billion. Total tea sales are comprised of instant, leaf, liquid concentrate and ready-to-drink.
Why such a marked increase for a beverage whose market share is small in comparison to other beverage categories like carbonated soft drinks, coffee and water? Well, it’s simply because tea is good for you! Health conscientious Baby Boomers are driving the market as they increasingly seek out tea and all the “wellness” it has to offer. (Check out our blog’s Health category and you won’t believe your eyes.) But wait…
Tea also has another benefit for today’s health aware consumer – its diversity. “As more flavors and packaging options enter the market, tea and ready-to-drink teas are increasingly securing a position as an alternative to carbonated soft drinks,” notes Tatjiana Meerman, the publisher of Packaged Facts. “The days of the generic black tea bag are gone, and chai, yerba mate, rooibos and other specialty teas that Boomers are consuming in mass are here to stay.”
Packaged Facts predicts specialty tea, for which Bigelow Tea is famous, will corner nearly half of the overall tea market by 2012, up from the current 36% share! In this busy world, clearly, Bigelow Tea, with all its different varieties of pre-packaged teas, is only making it more convenient to be and stay healthy.