- Innovation
- RTD
Business Portfolio
Our diverse portfolio of Suntory businesses reflects a unique heritage, unwavering commitment to quality, and an innovative spirit that enriches lives. Discover the stories behind our products, services and activities, from the carefully selected ingredients and time-honored processes to the enriching experiences they create. and how the business groups expand and grow.
Ready-To-Drink (RTD) beverages, those colorful cans and bottles catching the eye in stores and vending machines, have shifted the way people consume their drink of choice. In today’s busy world, where rapid fulfillment is not only appreciated but expected, RTDs fill that need, offering ease and accessibility to bottled coffees, flavored seltzers, canned cocktails, and more. These beverage options have become embedded in today’s drinking culture, reflecting consumers’ evolving preferences for where, how, and what they drink. RTDs have proven to be a valuable avenue for Suntory, enabling us to meet our consumers exactly where they are with a delicious drinking experience to match their mood.
The Spirit of the Seventies
The RTD market, mostly comprised of sodas, teas and waters, further expanded with significant growth of new alcoholic options in the 2010’s. But at that point, Suntory had been playing in that space for decades.Although it didn’t gain much traction at the time, the concept of Alcohol RTD was first recorded in Suntory’s history when founder Shinjiro Torii released the company’s first RTD product in 1920: Wistan, a bottled premixed highball.
Decades later, in 1974, Suntory made its initial entry into the RTD market with the release of Suntory POP Cocktail, a lineup of canned premixed cocktails available in three varieties - whisky cola, gin tonic and gin fizz. It was a bold addition to what had previously been a beer-dominated low-alcohol category. Embraced as a new kind of alcoholic beverage, it captured the spirit of the 1970s. Suntory POP Cocktail introduced the joy of flavor selection by offering consumers a sense of choice and variety.
RTD Innovation Continues
Suntory officially entered the RTD business in 1993 when we launched The Cocktail Bar series, a range of small bottled premixed cocktails. Within six years, more than 30 varieties of The Cocktail Bar series were developed, sparking a cocktail boom in Japan. This success laid the foundation for Suntory’s continued innovation and portfolio expansion in the RTD category.
And in 2020, Beam Suntory (today Suntory Global Spirits) acquired On The Rocks (OTR) Bartender Created Cocktails collection, an RTD offering giving consumers the ability to drink their go-to cocktail at home with only one pour spout required.
Understanding Our Consumers Desires
As a global company, understanding what our consumers want and expect remains central to our RTD strategy. And so, for our RTD beverages to come to fruition, we depend on the expertise and dedication of many. No matter the location or role, all Suntory employees stay abreast of the latest trends and bring their ideas to the table. Every product that is developed and introduced to market is a born from imagination, an enterprising spirit, and a shared philosophy of what it takes to create an outstanding drinking experience.
Monozukuri Through and Through
All of Suntory’s beverages, whether a bottle at home, a classic pour at a lounge, or on the go, have an element in common: Monozukuri – an unwavering dedication to craftsmanship which has been at the heart of Suntory since our founding. Craftsmanship is the means by which we deliver the highest caliber of quality drinking experiences time and time again.Monozukuri guides our world-class expertise in spirits – including distillation, infusion, and blending; fruit utilization and flavor development from our non-alcoholic beverage business; and the brewing skills honed through beer and wine. This depth and breadth of product development is unmatched globally, enabling us to create RTDs with a taste that only Suntory can deliver.
A Commitment to Quality and Evolution
Suntory’s RTD products may vary in terms of flavor and style, but they all serve the same purpose – to create a rich experience with every sip. Our RTD beverages are a visible expression of our heritage, innovation, and agility. Although the RTD category continues to grow globally, Suntory stands out by offering consumers what they expect from us: a superior drinking experience, whether can, bottle, or cocktail glass.
