Starbucks Partners To Grow Tazo Brand

QSR Magazine:

Starbucks Coffee Company, PepsiCo, Inc. and Unilever today announced a licensing agreement for the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of Starbucks super-premium Tazo Tea ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages in the U.S. and Canada. The agreement leverages each company’s world-class capabilities with the aim of igniting further growth in the RTD tea category.

Tazo’s RTD line will be integrated into the Pepsi/Lipton Tea Partnership (PLP), expanding the joint venture between PepsiCo and Unilever. Established in 1991, the PLP is the leading distributor of RTD tea products in the U.S.

“By joining forces with the Pepsi/Lipton Tea Partnership, we’re tapping into a long history of innovation and expertise in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of refreshment beverages,” said Gerry Lopez, president, Global Consumer Products, Foodservice & Seattle’s Best Coffee. “This move puts us in a prime position to take our successful Tazo bottled tea business to an even higher level.”