Starbucks shakes up RTD lineup with energy drinks

Starbucks Iced Energy drinks are “hydrating” sparkling products designed to help consumers achieve mental clarity, according to the press release. The line debuted with three flavors: Tropical Peach, Watermelon Twist and Blueberry Lemonade. The beverages contain 160 milligrams of caffeine derived from plant-based ingredients, zero sugar and 5 calories per can.

“We always keep a pulse on the latest consumer trends and preferences to ensure we’re continuing to evolve our ready-to-drink Starbucks beverage portfolio to meet consumer demand,” said Jennifer Wong, vice president of Americas development at the company, in a statement.

The drinks are available at grocers and convenience stores nationwide. Beverage giant PepsiCo has sold RTD versions of Starbucks products for more than 30 years under the North American Coffee Partnership.

The energy drinks replace Baya, launched in 2022 and discontinued the following year, which was made with naturally occurring caffeine from coffee fruit.

Over the past few years, the energy drink market has regained steam with better-for-you brands like Celsius growing a fanbase for zero sugar varieties. Sales of energy drinks are predicted to cross $30 billion by 2028, according to Mintel data cited by Starbucks.

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