Teez, a New Ingredient-Forward RTD Brand, Debuts at Wegmans

Made with real tea, real juice, and real spirits, Teez rethinks hard tea with a cleaner, 100-calorie profile—without artificial sweeteners.

Rochester, NY – May 28, 2026: The alcohol landscape is undergoing a seismic shift. Ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages are driving the only growth in the category (representing 20% of the spirit market’s growth projected through 2027, according to IWSR)—and consumers are increasingly prioritizing transparency in what they’re drinking.

Recognizing these trends, Peaklign Partners, a boutique CPG advisory and product development group, identified a whitespace in hard teas, the fastest-growing category within RTDs (especially those that are spirits-based). Despite its scale, the hard tea segment remained under-optimized given consumer preferences, so Peaklign set out to create a higher-quality hard tea—with flexibility to expand into additional RTD flavors and formats over time.

Enter Teez (drinkteez.com), a new line of hard teas designed to expand the category with the modern consumer in mind. Teez maintains the popular non-carbonated profile of its counterparts while using real fruit juice, real spirits, real tea, and, notably, no artificial sweeteners. Teez delivers a crisp, clean, full flavor that matches competitors at just 100 calories per can, uses real cane sugar, and is fully transparent with its label.

Teez will debut as an eight-can variety pack on June 5 at select Wegmans locations. A family-owned East Coast grocer, Wegmans was a natural launch partner for Peaklign, with both companies sharing roots in Central and Upstate New York. At launch, Teez will be available at Wegmans stores across Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia—as well as at independently operated liquor stores in New York. Additional expansion into Pennsylvania and North Carolina will follow shortly thereafter. The variety pack features four flavors—Half & Half with Black Tea & Vodka, Lemonade & Vodka, Raspberry with White Tea & Tequila, and Mango with White Tea & Tequila—all customized based on consumer preferences and Wegmans shopper insights. A lemonade variety pack, already developed, will launch later this summer, and additional RTD product development is underway.

“The RTD segment is here to stay and a catalyst for growth within the alcohol category,” said A.J. Losey, VP of Sales at Peaklign Partners. “We sought to bring a premium, better-tasting option to the shelf—one that reflects where the category is heading. Wegmans was a perfect fit given their commitment to quality and deep understanding of their own customers. It was immediately clear that their values aligned with our goal to drive innovation to the aisles.”

Peaklign Partners
peaklignpartners.com

Peaklign Partners help retailers and CPG brands get to market faster, smarter—with real results. Whether you’re launching from scratch or scaling an existing brand, we bring the strategy, network, and know-how to make it happen. From product development and formulation to brand development, retail distribution, and marketing strategy—including private and white label product development for retailers and strategic partners—we offer a full-service approach built to win in today’s competitive landscape. With deep industry experience, we’ve launched more than 60 brands across the food and beverage industry. Our model is flexible, our process is clear, and our focus is always results-driven.