Over the last five years, sales of ready-to-drink teas have risen 41 percent, helping overall tea sales grow by 13 percent.

Through a joint venture with Unilever, the company also markets Lipton ready-to-drink iced teas.

"I started doing research and found that the ready-to-drink teas were in the fastest-growing segment of the beverage business," he said.

It has been a different story, however, with ready-to-drink teas.

In fact, ready-to-drink iced tea - the kind sold in bottles, cans and containers - has already become a growth industry.

The boom in ready-to-drink iced tea seems to be part of the fitness craze.

Unlike most ready-to-drink iced teas, Snapple is available decaffeinated.

And so many new ready-to-drink iced teas have come on the market since January that accurate sales and consumption figures are not available.

Tetley and A & W Brands, known for its root beer, are introducing a ready-to-drink iced tea.

Pepsi's Lipton Original line is made from brewed tea, not powdered tea or a concentrate, as ready-to-drink iced teas were in the past.