Seattle, WA June 26, 2006 – Seattle-based Sage Group® International, a self-described “specialty tea think tank” has just released the all-new sixth edition of the Specialty Tea Is “Hot” Report™. Sage Group founder Brian Keating notes the increase in consumer interest in health and wellness creates a broad opportunity for the expanding tea market. “America’s 76 million baby boomers view tea as universally friendly for the entire family. This health-conscious demographic is starting to embrace specialty tea culture through exotic brewed beverages, tea-based skincare products and neighborhood cafes. The billions of consumer dollars available for specialty tea purchases between now and 2010 remains significant.” Sage Group was the first market analyst to forecast retail sales of tea will top $10 billion dollars in 2010 and the current emergence of hundreds of new specialty tea stores, cafes and mail order ventures across North America. 

This specialized report has become the single most popular business guidebook for the emerging global specialty tea industry. According to George Jage, founder of the World Tea Expo™, “The Specialty Tea Is ‘Hot’ Report” has become the must-have industry report for anyone involved with the specialty tea industry.” According to Jage, information derived from the report and presented at World Tea Expo each year highlights the single most popular seminar with his show attendees. The Specialty Tea Is “Hot” Report contains tea industry statistics, technical science and key business development resources. Along with all new and fully updated sections, the report includes the first tea tasting form for standardizing tea assessments in commercial environments such as tea shops or wholesale operations. An in-depth section in the new report from American Forecaster™ Kim Long covers America’s shifting demographic makeup with trend analysis and specialty tea business relevancies.

The new Specialty Tea Is “Hot” Report presents detailed analysis of the emerging specialty tea industry including strategic value propositions, market catalysts, and other critical factors energizing this ultra-hot market. Sales for many types of specialty tea, including green and ready-to-drink tea-based beverages have maintained double-digit growth tracks for the past three years. Report coverage also includes the first in-depth breakout of the North American specialty tea supply chain; quantifying brokers, importers, wholesalers, brands, and retailers. Report contributor SPINS (www.spins.com) once again features category-level sales data for specialty teas including green, chai, organic and other tea types and packaging formats sold through natural foods supermarkets and mass-market distribution channels.

Within the new Specialty Tea Is “Hot” Report, contributor Mintel (www.mintel.com) covers new beverage and non-beverage consumer tea product introductions. In addition, the global researcher provides key findings from Mintel Menu Insights that explores tea expansion within the American foodservice industry. Mintel Menu Insights excerpts within the new tea report provides a detailed look into the tea infusion trends that are appearing on menus across the country.

Sage Group began publishing tea industry reports in 1995 during the first waves of specialty tea industry activity. The Specialty Tea Is “Hot” Report was the first tea trade report to identify, analyze and quantify chai, organic, white, functional teas, among many other segments within the specialty tea industry. A detailed 6th edition Specialty Tea Is “Hot” Report table of contents and ordering information are available at www.teareport.com.

About Sage Group® International LLC:

Seattle, Washington based Sage Group operates the world’s first dedicated specialty tea industry think tank. Since 1995 Sage Group has also published a variety of tea industry reports including the new, Specialty Tea Is “Hot” Report™ 6th Edition (previously titled – “Tea Is “Hot” Report”). Sage Group also provides product development, strategic consulting, and business support services to tea and other natural products industry companies worldwide. www.teareport.com

Contact:
Brian Keating, Publisher
(206) 282-1789
Sage Group International LLC

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