Pity the poor soft drink. While sales of carbonated soft drinks fell, sales of refrigerated coffees and teas rose in double digits in the last year.

Coincidence? Not to those who understand that the flipside of our shift away from “bad-for-you” beverages is a shift toward wholesome alternatives — like ready-to-drink (RTD) coffees and teas. Brian Bergstresser, director, dairy business unit, Robertet Flavors, Piscataway, N.J., noted, “Dairies and their retail partners are uniquely positioned to give consumers what they want, when and where they want it.”