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RTDs
Photo: ’Merican Mule.
Catching the wave of readyto-drink products. BY MAURA KELLER
T
he ready-to-drink (RTD) segment has seen significant growth each year with new entrants and innovations. This is due in part to a new wave of consumers seeking convenient alternatives to fit their active and busy lifestyles, as well as the impact COVID-19 has had on consumers’ focus on to-go products. As a result, the quality of RTD products is increasing and more companies, including small-batch distilleries, are creating premium products that keep consumers coming back for more. Trending in a Big Way According to Donna Hood Crecca,
barbizmag.com
BEHIND THE BAR: RTDs
principal at foodservice consultant Technomic, where she leads the adult beverage and convenience store practices, RTDs were trending prior to the pandemic as suppliers sought to satisfy consumer demand for favorite drinks in portable packaging. “This aligns with the ‘food and drink everywhere’ trend, wherein consumers want to be able to easily enjoy their favorites whether at the park, a concert, a backyard gathering, or a restaurant or bar,” says Hood Crecca. Also, the popularity of craft beer in cans, the rise of malt-based drink options, and bottled cocktails cropping up in some of the more trend-forward Spring 2021
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