Coffee, tea see sales on the rise
There’s no better time to discuss trends in coffee and tea than late September — the unofficial start of pumpkin-flavored coffee season. 7-Eleven and Trader Joe’s have ushered in the seasonal favorite already, and there are surely more to come.
But beyond flavors, coffee and tea is one of the hottest categories going: For example, private label packaged coffee sales for 52 weeks ending March 27 showed a nearly $2 billion category in sales, up more than 6% from two years ago, per NielsenIQ data. Private label packaged tea sales were also up nearly 6%, year over year, as well.
On Sept. 29, the Store Brands Industry Forum on Beverages will dedicate a panel to coffee and tea, tackling innovation in the category, how sales improved during the pandemic with more consumers drinking coffee at home as they worked from home, and how the category is leading the way in sustainable packaging and sourcing.
Esteemed panelists for the 30-minute virtual session include:
Brandon Wehmeyer, director of private brands, Boxed. With its Prince & Spring line, Boxed has grown its private brand penetration over the years, since founding in 2013, and not charging a membership fee for its services. Wehmeyer oversees private brand development for Boxed and has been with the company for five years, including a beautifully packaged line of Prince & Spring coffee program.
Kevin Smartt, CEO of TXB. The newly rebranded Texas Born (TXB) stores, formerly Kwik Chek, is a cherished brand in the region, with 46 stores and quick food operations across Texas and Oklahoma. Smartt’s served as the CEO of the chain for more than 20 years and is the 2021 chairman for the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). The retailer’s bringing elevated food and beverage in private label and foodservice to its TXB stores.
Claudio Gemmiti, chief innovation officer, Club Coffee. A leading supplier of coffee products for private brands, the company has a strong focus on sustainable packaging solutions such as an industry first compostable single-serve coffee pod. Gemmiti has a reputation for thinking outside of the box, building a record of success with iconic brands at Loblaw Companies and Procter & Gamble.
Registration is open for the virtual forum which will also feature panels on nonalcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages and dairy. Here’s an inside look at the dairy panel, featuring speakers from Albertsons, Dairy Management Inc. and Fair Trade USA.
