Asahi launches premium Zeitaku Shibori RTD in the US
Asahi debuts its first US-made RTD, bringing Japan’s Zeitaku Shibori vodka-based drink to key American markets.
USA – Asahi Group Holdings has announced the US launch of Zeitaku Shibori, its premium Japanese ready-to-drink (RTD) brand, marking the first time an Asahi RTD will be produced in the United States.
The launch underscores the company’s push to expand its Beer Adjacent Categories portfolio while strengthening its North American production footprint at the Octopi Brewing facility in Waunakee, Wisconsin.
Ranked among Japan’s leading RTD brands with an estimated 2.3 percent market share, Zeitaku Shibori, which means “premium squeeze,” is made with a vodka base and 10 percent real fruit juice.
Each 12-ounce can contains just 100 calories and is designed to deliver a clean, naturally fruity taste aimed at consumers seeking a premium but approachable RTD experience.
For the US market, two flavours, Lemon and Peach, were developed jointly by Asahi’s product development team in Japan and Octopi’s innovation team. The collaboration ensures the drinks retain their Japanese roots while matching American consumer preferences.
“Introducing Shibori to the United States is a meaningful expansion of our brand portfolio and a perfect example of how we can win beyond beer,” said Paul Verdu, managing director of Asahi Beer U.S.A., Inc.
“The brand’s success in Japan demonstrates its broad appeal, and we see an opportunity to bring its premium, fruit-forward experience to American consumers seeking distinctive RTD choices that balance craftsmanship with approachability.”
Distribution will be handled by Wismettac across selected priority markets, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York, New Jersey, Honolulu, Seattle, Miami, Chicago and Denver, as Asahi targets both mainstream and Asian-focused retail channels.
Asahi Europe & International acquired Octopi Brewing in January 2024 as part of its North American expansion strategy. Since then, the company has invested more than US$35 million to upgrade technical capacity, improve quality and safety systems, and install flexible multi-format packaging lines.
The Octopi site spans 165,000 square feet and has more than one million barrels of annual beverage production capacity, allowing it to support large-scale manufacturing for a wide range of products.
“Producing Shibori in the United States reflects the capability and dedication of the team at Octopi, which has been built over years of producing a variety of beverages for co-packing customers as well as Asahi Super Dry within the last year,” said Juan Morales, plant director at Octopi.
Shibori becomes the first Asahi RTD made at the Wisconsin facility, positioning the brand to compete in the fast-growing US premium and flavour-driven RTD segment while maintaining its Japanese heritage.
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