Wonderworks

Alcoholic RTD and RTS Visual Audit

An ever-evolving area in the alcohol sector, the RTD/RTS category was estimated to be worth $18.81 billion in 2024, and it’s set to reach the staggering heights of $28.76 billion by 2034. Leading the way in brand visuality, convenience and capturing the recurring themes of nostalgia and escapism that consumers crave, there’s much to learn from this growing space.

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NOT JUST A CAN | ALCOHOLIC RTD AND RTS

APRIL 2025

 
 

An ever-evolving area in the alcohol sector, the RTD/RTS category was estimated to be worth $18.81 billion in 2024, and it’s set to reach the staggering heights of $28.76 billion by 2034. Leading the way in brand visuality, convenience and capturing the recurring themes of nostalgia and escapism that consumers crave, there’s much to learn from this growing space.

This visual audit explores the best-in-class brands and areas of potential growth in the RTD/RTS category, from visual identity to activations and packaging innovation. Drawing on consumer demands beyond the alcohol sector, RTD and RTS brands have been able to catapult themselves into consumers’ minds by truly understanding their wants and needs. Our visual audit highlights a diverse range of brands, each bringing a unique perspective to the forefront.

STANDOUT RTD/RTS BRANDS MAKING BOLD MOVES

  • Gin & Juice – A new addition to the celebrity-endorsed RTD space, Dre and Snoop have taken their infamous song and manifested it into a real product of the same name, showing innovation in brand positioning.

  • Batch & Bottle | William Grant & Sons – Marking their exciting debut into the RTS cocktail space, they’ve illustrated the possibilities around elevating the ‘at home’ experience, bringing the bar to you.

  • Fever Tree | Gin Spritz – Releasing a mixer-led serve, a rarity in the RTD space, this latest addition saw Fever Tree make a packaging shift, raising the question of bottled vs. canned.

  • Absolut x Sprite – Identifying the need for real-world connections and tapping into the demand for third spaces, they’ve shown that a ‘less is more’ approach can lead to impactful and memorable activations.

    Read the full visual audit to discover more trends in the RTD/RTS space.

As a creative agency that specialises in drinks, we know that understanding the consumer is key. From creating the space for more personalised drinks experiences, whether through convenience like RTD and RTS or the use of AI, the ability of brands to successfully evolve with consumers has become even more of a necessity. Connection always plays a huge role in branding, and the brands included in this visual audit reinforce that need. With the landscape of the drinks industry evolving, the RTD and RTS sector has already started to seize the opportunity to lead the way in this new era of drinks.

Dive into the full visual audit to see just how they’re achieving this pioneering move.

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We hope you enjoy this report as much as we enjoyed creating it.

If the topic has sparked your interest, creativity and passion as much as it did ours, please don’t hesitate to reach out!