The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry

La Colombe is expanding its ready-to-drink portfolio beyond coffee with the launch of a new line of Matcha Lattes, bringing the brand’s café-style positioning to the rapidly growing matcha segment.

The new RTD range includes three varieties: Everyday Matcha Latte, Strawberry and Vanilla. The beverages are made with single-origin matcha sourced from Japan and lactose-free whole milk from Michigan, and are packaged in 11-ounce cans.

The launch comes as matcha continues to gain traction as an everyday beverage choice. According to La Colombe, matcha sales at its cafés have increased 188% since 2023, reflecting growing consumer interest in the beverage’s distinctive flavour and naturally occurring caffeine.

Each Matcha Latte contains 65mg of natural caffeine and is described by the company as a good source of protein. The Everyday Matcha Latte is positioned as the core offering, while Strawberry and Vanilla provide sweeter variations on the traditional matcha latte.

The move represents a broader expansion for La Colombe, which has built much of its RTD business around coffee. Founded in 1994, the brand entered the ready-to-drink coffee category more than a decade ago with its Draft Latte line, designed to replicate the experience of a handcrafted café latte in a can.

With its latest launch, the company is applying that same product-development approach to matcha.

Niel Sandfort, chief innovation officer at Chobani and La Colombe, said: “When La Colombe first put the Draft Latte in a can, the brand helped reshape the RTD coffee category by making a true coffeehouse quality experience accessible to more people. Now, we’re bringing that same craft and innovation to matcha.”

La Colombe says the new products were developed with an emphasis on ingredient quality rather than simply responding to the popularity of matcha. The combination of Japanese single-origin matcha and whole milk is intended to deliver a creamy texture while retaining matcha’s bright, umami-forward flavour profile.

The launch also gives La Colombe an entry point into a beverage category that extends beyond its established coffee consumer base, with the company targeting both regular matcha drinkers and consumers who are new to the category.

La Colombe Matcha Lattes are rolling out online and at major retailers nationwide this month.