Tea is one of best industries for start-ups
Inc., a monthly magazine targeted at people who run growing companies, identified the US tea sector as one of the best industries for starting a business. Tea is the sixth most popular beverage in the US (after soft drinks, water, beer, milk and coffee) and has been growing by about 5 percent over the past five years because of increasing consumer health consciousness. The feature also notes that although the top four tea manufacturers make up 88% of industry revenue, the remaining 12% represents a $264 million market for small, independent manufacturers. The average profit margin of US tea companies is estimated at 18%.