According to Beverage Marketing Corp., ready-to-drink coffee beverages are one of the fastest growing beverage categories. In fact, from 2000 to 2001, Beverage Marketing Corp. estimates this new age beverage segment grew 23.1%.
The National Coffee Assn.'s 2001 National Coffee Drinking Trends survey found iced coffee, which usually contains milk or cream and sweetener, is mostly consumed by 18- to 24-year-olds. In fact, the survey says this group consumes iced coffee twice as much as any other age group.