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Spindrift Beverage Co. has announced a strategic expansion into the ready-to-drink (RTD) tea market with the launch of Spindrift Tea. The new non-carbonated line combines custom-brewed tea blends with real squeezed fruit, marking a significant step beyond the brand's foundational sparkling water portfolio.

This launch also aligns with Spindrift’s recent industry milestone of becoming the only beverage brand to secure verification under the Non-Ultraprocessed Food (Non-UPF) Standard across its entire product lineup.

Disrupting the Ready-to-Drink Tea Category

The commercial tea aisle is currently dominated by products formulated heavily with refined sugars and artificial or non-sugar sweeteners. According to Spindrift's internal data, products utilising real squeezed fruit account for less than one percent of the RTD tea category.

Dave Burwick, CEO of Spindrift, noted that entering the tea market was a logical progression for the company's clean-ingredient philosophy. The strategy is designed to offer a cleaner, brighter alternative to traditional sweet teas. Jon Silverman, Senior Vice President of Spindrift Ventures, added that the goal was to reverse the industry norm of prioritising sweetness over the actual tea profile, creating a balanced beverage where both the brewed tea and fruit notes are distinct.

Supply Chain and Product Formulation

Spindrift Tea represents the first commercial release from the brand's Ventures Lab, developed over a three-year research and development period. To achieve the desired flavour architecture, Spindrift partnered with one of North America's largest leaf tea importers. This collaboration yielded proprietary black and green tea blends sourced from 16 global origins, including India, China, Indonesia, and Argentina.

The initial product rollout includes four distinct SKUs, utilising fruit sourced from long-standing regional farm partners:

🍋 Lemon Black Tea: Brewed black tea combined with California lemon juice and apple.

🍊 Blood Orange Black Tea: Black tea featuring blood orange and citrus profiles.

🍵 Raspberry Black Tea: Black tea blended with Pacific Northwest raspberries.

🍑 Peach Green Tea: Green tea mixed with sun-ripened Pacific Northwest peaches.

To achieve a "slightly sweet" profile without relying on heavy processing, select flavours in the lineup incorporate a small amount of organic agave.

Industry Impact and Clean Label Momentum

The rollout of Spindrift Tea highlights a growing opportunity within the beverage sector for minimally processed options. By maintaining its Non-UPF verification for this new product line, Spindrift is reinforcing its corporate commitment to transparent, real-ingredient formulations.

For retail category managers, this launch offers a premium, clean-label alternative in a high-volume category. As consumer scrutiny regarding ultra-processed foods intensifies, Spindrift's expansion provides a compelling case study on how brands can scale real-ingredient sourcing models into new, mature beverage segments.