Americans of all ages enjoy tea in its various forms, and families in the U.S. have emerged as a key tea demographic due to elevated usage of instant and ready-to-drink tea. Growth in the tea market is projected to reach $25 billion by the end of 2014, and will depend heavily on the ability of food manufacturers and marketers to connect with children and their parents perhaps more than any other consumers, according to “Tea and Ready-to-Drink Tea in the U.S.: Retail and Foodservice, 5th Edition,” a recent report by market research publisher Packaged Facts.

In order to fully leverage the family demographic, marketers must tap the influence of kids in terms of product and brand selection.  According to Packaged Facts' February/March 2013 Food Shopper Insights Survey, two-thirds of grocery shoppers with children agree that their kids' preferences influence which groceries they buy.  To win over the kids, ready-to-drink tea varieties are key to leveraging convenience.