Edible Garden AG Incorporated (NASDAQ:EDBL) announced plans to expand its operations into ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages through a new manufacturing initiative at its Midwest facility, selecting Tetra Pak to support the project’s processing and packaging infrastructure.
The company said the move is part of its broader Zero-Waste Inspired strategy and responds to growing demand from national retailers for scalable RTD production capable of delivering clean-label, shelf-stable nutrition products.
Under the initiative, Edible Garden will work with Tetra Pak, a global provider of food processing and packaging systems, to plan, install and integrate proprietary processing technologies at the site. The companies plan to formalize the agreement on March 4, 2026, at 2:00 PM PT during Natural Products Expo West 2026 in Anaheim, California.
Midwest facility to anchor RTD expansion
Edible Garden’s Midwest location includes more than 200,000 square feet of food-grade manufacturing space supported by warehousing and logistics infrastructure within the U.S. agricultural corridor. The company is converting the site into a dedicated hub for ready-to-drink beverages and clean nutrition products.
The facility is expected to support aseptic and ultra-filtered beverage production across several categories, including protein drinks, plant-based products, dairy beverages and functional nutrition formulas. The platform will serve as a cornerstone of Edible Garden’s Farm-to-Formula® strategy, which integrates controlled-environment agriculture with research, formulation and large-scale beverage manufacturing.
Advanced aseptic processing and carton packaging systems supplied by Tetra Pak are designed to help maintain product quality while extending shelf life without refrigeration or preservatives. The technology will allow ambient distribution while maintaining clean-label standards.
Initial production under Phase 1 of the project is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2027. Once completed, the facility is intended to serve as a scalable innovation platform that enables the company to expand beyond fresh produce into higher-margin, shelf-stable beverage categories.
Entering a rapidly growing RTD market
The company noted that the global ready-to-drink market was valued at roughly $766 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach about $1.3 trillion by 2030. Edible Garden believes the new facility positions it to capture opportunities within this expanding segment while maintaining its sustainability-focused operating model.
“Major retailers are facing growing, and in many cases unmet, demand for reliable, clean-label RTD capacity, and our facility is being developed to deliver the scale and precision required to meet that need,” said Jim Kras, Chief Executive Officer of Edible Garden. “This initiative represents a significant milestone in our strategic evolution and disciplined expansion into higher-margin, shelf-stable categories. The facility will integrate advanced processing and aseptic packaging solutions from Tetra Pak, including the Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 330 Edge package and the Tetra Pak® A3/Speed filling platform, a globally recognized food technology system designed for efficiency and performance.”
Kras added that the company selected Tetra Pak because its technology supports Edible Garden’s sustainability objectives.
“We selected Tetra Pak because their solutions align directly with our Zero-Waste Inspired mission. The Tetra Prisma® Aseptic 330 Edge package is made primarily from renewable, plant-based materials and is recyclable. When paired with the high-speed Tetra Pak® A3/Speed filling system, the platform is expected to extend shelf life without preservatives or refrigeration prior to opening, while supporting a smaller manufacturing footprint, faster throughput, greater pallet and shelf density, and lower overall supply chain costs — helping reduce food waste and energy consumption across the value chain.”