The Ryl Company Raises $20M in Series C Growth Equity Funding

The company plans to use the funding to expand its retail presence, grow its Direct Store Delivery (DSD) network, strengthen its operations and sales teams, and develop new beverage products for future growth.

The funding comes as Ryl Tea has become one of the fastest-growing ready-to-drink tea brands. The tea category is entering what many industry observers call a "Modern Tea" phase, following the transformation already seen in soda, energy drinks, and hydration products.

In recent years, new beverage brands have reshaped traditional categories by focusing on trends popular with Gen Z, and Millennials, including zero-sugar options, functional benefits and stronger brand connections. Tea, one of the largest and most popular beverage categories in the U.S., is now seeing a similar shift.

According to Circana, Ryl Tea grew 157% while the overall canned and bottled tea market, worth more than $4.5 billion, declined by 1.8% during the same period. The company believes this gap reflects growing demand for a new generation of tea products, similar to the shifts previously seen in the soda and energy drink categories.

The opportunity is large because ready-to-drink tea is already found in about 81% of households. However, the category has traditionally attracted older consumers. Ryl Tea is gaining strong traction among Gen Z and Millennial shoppers, especially women, helping bring new consumers into a category that has seen limited innovation from modern brands.

“The Ryl leadership team has built a product that strongly resonates with consumers and is rapidly expanding,” said Nicholas J. Singer, Founder and Managing Partner of Purchase Capital. “Modern Tea is one of the most compelling categories in the beverage industry, and Ryl is exceptionally well positioned to lead it."

"This round is fuel, not a finish line," said Leigh Feuerstein, Co-Chairman of The Ryl Company. "The work our team has done to earn the trust of retailers, build out our DSD network, and partner with companies like The Hershey Company has positioned us well for the next phase of growth. We have a meaningful innovation pipeline coming in Q1 2027 that we're excited to share when the time is right — and we're approaching this next chapter with the same focus that got us here."

Read More:StratusGrid Raises $3M in Seed Funding Led by Dogwood Ventures

“We have enormous respect for the brands that built this category over the last several decades –they’re the reason tea has become a staple in the majority of American households. Our mission is to help bring a new generation of consumers into the tea aisle and grow the overall category through products that align with how people want to drink today,” said Blodin Ukella, Founder and CEO of The Ryl Company. “We’re incredibly grateful to our team, our retail and distribution partners, our investors, and the consumers who’ve believed in what we’re building. This round gives us the opportunity to fuel that momentum.”

About The Ryl Company

Founded in 2022 by Blodin Ukella, The Ryl Company is a Morristown, New Jersey-based beverage company best known for Ryl Tea, a zero-sugar ready-to-drink iced tea. Made with a premium tea blend, functional tea polyphenols, vitamin C, and fewer than five calories per can, Ryl Tea is helping shape the growing Modern Tea category while expanding its retail and distribution presence across the United States.

Read More:Kosmos Raises $5M in Seed Funding Led by Norwest