OAKLAND, Calif., U.S. — Black Medicine Iced Coffee,  innovator of the first cold pressed RTD coffee, is expanding its all-natural product line with launch of a Lavender Latte to complement its existing Iced Coffee, Mocha and Latte items.
The lavender flower is increasingly being used as a culinary herb in food and beverages and is known for its floral and spicy aroma. Black Medicine Lavender Latte, which becomes the first of its kind in the RTD coffee category, is an all-natural product that is slightly sweetened with organic cane  sugar and has 185mg of caffeine (same as existing line) to deliver a potent energy boost.
The package design features lavender’s signature purple color and is tied to an overall package redesign of its 9.5 oz. sleek cans this summer to improve on shelf visibility and communication of product line flavors. Brighter colors on Black Medicine’s iconic black can will enable consumers to better identify flavors on shelf, and product names have been moved to the top of the can. Non-GMO designation and caffeine content were added to the front label as well.
These initiatives are being introduced as the company is reporting accelerated consumer sales growth during 2018. During the first 4 months of 2018, Black Medicine same store sales volume increased an impressive 58%, over four times faster than the overall refrigerated RTD coffee category which experienced solid growth of 14% and represents one of the fastest growing beverage categories (Source: SPINS data. Western Region MULO 12 weeks ending 4/22/18).
The Brand has distribution in approximately 1,000 conventional and natural/specialty grocery stores on the West Coast, including 3 regions of Albertsons/Safeway and Whole Foods Markets NCAL region.
Additionally, Black Medicine has expanded its fast growing foodservice/on premise keg business with sales up approximately 40% during 2018, driven by increased NCAL market penetration with 3 new regional distributor partnerships.
Since its launch in 2014 in the Bay Area, Black Medicine has been redefining the RTD coffee experience by offering coffee lovers an uncompromising, full-bodied intensity as a result of its proprietary process in which fresh roasted coffee is hot brewed then cold pressed under oxygen-free pressure to allow for a fuller extraction from the coffee.
The results is a bolder, more robust and intense cold coffee than offered by traditional cold brews. Says Founder and CEO Chris Cooper, “We more optimistic than ever about the Black Medicine’s opportunity to become a leading brand in the large and fast growing RTD coffee category.
We continue to innovate and invest in brand-building opportunities to leverage our investment in infrastructure and production capabilities to accelerate growth in core West Coast markets.”
About Black Medicine
Developed as a hobby and launched in January 2014 by technology entrepreneur and coffee lover Chris Cooper, Black Medicine is the innovator of the first cold pressed RTD coffee. Black Medicine is brewed and bottled in the Company’s 18,000 sq. ft. facility in Oakland using a custom, proprietary process that first roasts a special blend of Latin American and African coffee beans and then hot brews in a high-pressure environment before cooling it down in small, concentrated batches.
Unlike standard cold brewing process, oxygen is kept out of the process which allows for a fuller extraction from the coffee, giving it a more enjoyable and robust flavor profile.
The Brand is currently available in 4 flavors and sold in the Western U.S. at leading natural, specialty and grocery stores including Whole Foods Markets, PCC, and Safeway.
To learn more about Black Medicine, please visit www.blackmedicine.com or connect on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram.
