Increased sales in the ready-to-drink tea segment, spurred on by products like green tea, known for its low caffeine and high levels of immune system-boosting antioxidants, are helping the U.S. tea market recover from sluggish sales in recent years. According to The U.S. Market for Tea and Ready-To-Drink Tea, a new report by market research publisher Packaged Facts, the retail tea market reached $5.5 billion in sales in 2003, up nearly $1 billion over 2002, surpassing the $5 billion mark for the first time.

Increased sales in the ready-to-drink tea segment, spurred on by products like green tea, known for its low caffeine and high levels of immune system-boosting antioxidants, are helping the U.S. tea market recover from sluggish sales in recent years. According to The U.S. Market for Tea and Ready-To-Drink Tea, a new report by market research publisher Packaged Facts, the retail tea market reached $5.5 billion in sales in 2003, up nearly $1 billion over 2002, surpassing the $5 billion mark for the first time.

The ready-to-drink segment towers over all other tea products in terms of market share, accounting for 75% of dollar sales. The remaining 25% of sales comprise mainly loose and bagged tea products.

"Paraphrasing Kermit the Frog, it is easy being green, at least if you’re selling tea these days," said Don Montuori, Acquisitions Editor for Packaged Facts. "Green tea products, whether designed for immediate consumption or loose/bagged for later brewing, have made their way into the mainstream of the tea market – most major manufacturers in this industry now tout a green tea variation."

The U.S. Market for Tea and Ready-To-Drink Tea profiles market leaders such as Nestle, Lipton, Tetley, Celestial Seasonings, and Starbucks, as well as other significant players, as they grapple with the challenges of fundamentally changed conditions. Analyses of sales trends, pricing, consumption rates, marketer/brand shares, growth and decline factors, mass/specialty interaction, and increasingly rapid innovation are included. This new report is priced at $3000 and is available for purchase at http://www.packagedfacts.com/pub/896517.html.

About Packaged Facts
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