Dunkin’ will officially announce Monday the debut of Dunkin’ Spiked Iced Coffees and Iced Teas, which are both scheduled to roll out in the coming weeks, CNN report.
The two malt-based beverages, scheduled for an early September release, will feature eight flavors between them, all based on the chain’s iced coffee and tea flavors.
Dunkin’ is joining a crowded field of soft drinks going hard. It’s part of the growing trend of ready-to-drink beverages hitting shelves as consumers crave new combinations of their favorite flavors.
With the increasing competition, the category is growing: Sales of RTDs amassed more than $10 billion in US sales over the past 12 months, a 7% increase from the prior year, according to a new NIQ report.
However, the Dunkin’ brand could help it stand out.
“Like other well known non-alcoholic brands, Dunkin’ wants to capitalize on a built-in audience and established brand equity as it pushes its way into alcohol,” Duane Stanford, editor of Beverage Digest, told CNN. “This trend is just getting started.”