The drive-thru coffee chain follows a key competitor into the $100bn US retail coffee market
From a single drive-thru site in Rogers, Arkansas, in 2017 to more than 670 stores across 38 US states today, 7 Brew has become a key challenger brand in the $58.5bn US branded coffee shop market. Now, it has added another string to its bow with its first ready-to-drink (RTD) products.
Rolling out across more than 100 Walmart stores in its home state from 14 March 2026, 7 Brew’s debut retail line comprises three of the coffee chain’s best-selling coffee flavours – Blondie, Brunette Brownie and Banana Bread.
Posting on social media, 7 Brew said it will trial the three flavours to gauge customer demand before expanding the range.
“By introducing 7 Brew in RTD format, we can meet our customers in new places and extend the 7 Brew experience beyond our drive-thru stands,” said Chris Dawson, President of 7 Brew.
7 Brew’s RTD launch comes just a month after US drive-thru rival Dutch Bros unveiled its first at-home packaged coffee products. The range of RTD iced lattes, single-serve capsules, and packaged ground coffee is currently available at select Walmart, H.E.B, and Albertsons locations across the US.
The respective launches underline the growing maturity of the US drive-thru coffee segment and highlight how its largest operators are seeking new opportunities to build greater brand awareness with consumers.
Retail coffee is a $100bn industry in the US, and highly competitive. World Coffee Portal research shows that Starbucks and Dunkin’ are the most popular retail coffee brands for US consumers, chosen by 34% and 33% of consumers surveyed, respectively.
Folgers, Café Bustelo and Maxwell House complete the top five, highlighting the appeal of heritage brands with long-standing brand recognition.
However, there is also a strong appetite among US consumers for new entrants in the marketplace, with 57% of those surveyed keen to try new retail coffee brands.
As two of the largest names in the booming US drive-thru coffee segment, 7 Brew and Dutch Bros are well-placed to build greater consumer affinity with retail products and cement their status as household names in the US.
