Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Starbucks tea shop to open...

If you would have told me this 10 years ago, when we tea shop, tea bar, progressive tea stores were before our time, I would have gasped...


Starbucks tea shop to open in U-Village
The new Tazo tea store will sell hot and iced tea drinks and tea lattes, and it will feature a blending station where customers can create their own versions of Tazo's existing teas.

By Melissa Allison
Seattle Times business reporter



Three months after debuting its first noncoffee store — a fresh-juice shop in Bellevue Square — Starbucks plans to open a store centered on tea in University Village. It is expected to open in the fall, replacing Lululemon, which is moving to a larger space in the shopping center.

Starbucks officials see the juice and tea stores as destinations where customers can experience its Evolution Fresh and Tazo brands in 3-D, but they decline to say how many other juice and tea stores they may open.

Both brands also are sold as packaged goods in Starbucks stores — including two at University Village — and in grocery stores.

"We want to raise customer expectations for tea the same way Starbucks did for coffee," said Charlie Cain, a vice president with Tazo.

Blending station

The new Tazo tea store will sell hot and iced tea drinks and tea lattes, and it will feature a blending station where customers can create their own versions of Tazo's existing teas

For example, a customer could replace the black-tea base in Tazo's chai with a white tea or rooibos base — or develop something unique.

Customer-blended teas will be sold by the ounce. Prices have not been set.

Although Tazo already books $1.4 billion in annual sales, Starbucks sees more potential, said Chris Bruzzo, Starbucks' senior vice president of channel-brand management.

"What we learned in our years building the third-place experience [with Starbucks] is that having a direct, personalized connection to consumers is powerful and creates a halo that benefits the brand when the consumer sees it on the [grocery] aisle," he said.

Bruzzo, who previously launched Starbucks' successful digital and social-media strategy, now focuses on the marketing of various Starbucks products, including what the company considers its three emerging brands: Tazo, Evolution Fresh, and Seattle's Best Coffee.

Seattle's Best is a chain of about 80 shops that also sells coffee in 50,000 outlets, including Subway and Burger King stores.

Tazo purchase

Starbucks bought Tazo, a Portland tea company, in 1999 for $8.1 million.

Steve Smith, who co-founded Tazo and Stash Tea, became known at Tazo for creating blends called Awake and Calm, which cost about twice as much a other teas.

Tazo's operations are now being moved to Starbucks' roasting and packaging plant in Kent.

The tea store is a good for University Village's mix, said Susie Plummer, general manager of the shopping center.

"I've been looking for a great tea store for about 10 years," she said. "Even on personal vacations to Vancouver [B.C.], there are some great owner-operated mom-and-pops up there, so to me this is perfect."

Melissa Allison: 206-464-3312 or mallison@seattletimes.com. On Twitter @AllisonSeattle.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Another "Authentic Tea" demand....


Döhler's Premium RTD Teas Create New Potential Through Authentic Brewed Tea!

On average, each person drinks 56 litres of tea per year. In contrast, only 6 litres of this amount can be attributed to RTD iced tea. Why? In part because many consumers regard classic iced tea as being too sweet and often lacking the characteristic tea taste. As a result of the broad global acceptance of tea, Döhler (Doehler) sees untapped market potential in the RTD tea segment. By offering high quality RTD tea concepts based on authentic tea taste, Döhler strives to enable beverage manufacturers to tap into this potential. As one of the world's leading producers, marketers and suppliers of technology-based natural ingredients, ingredient systems and integrated solutions, Döhler has developed innovative tea beverages in cooperation with its partner Plantextrakt. These drinks range from “Brewed Iced Teas” to “Premium Brewed Iced Teas” and “True Teas”. In line with these concepts, Döhler offers strong freshly brewed and non-concentrated Strong Tea Infusions.
Strong Tea Infusions – the basis for authentic tea indulgence
By forgoing technical concentration and additives, “Strong Tea Infusions” taste like freshly-brewed tea. Apart from different tea infusions such as black tea, green tea, white tea, rooibos and mate, the portfolio also features strong infusions made of herbs, spices and fruits. Due to the intense, authentic taste, no additional flavours or extracts are required. The tea infusions allow for advertisements claiming "made with directly brewed tea". Along with cost-efficient tea infusions for an easy enhancement of iced teas, Döhler also offers premium tea infusions. These are produced with the finest tea leaves, which means that the variety and country of origin can be claimed on the label.
The evolution of classic iced tea: Brewed Iced Tea
Classic iced teas with the taste of lemon and peach are as popular as ever. However, these classic iced teas often lack the characteristic taste of tea. Strong Tea Infusions are an ideal way to give classic iced teas an authentic tea note. Döhler has developed the Brewed Iced Tea concept, in which tea extracts are replaced by Strong Tea Infusions, allowing for advertisements claiming "made with directly brewed tea". Brewed Iced Teas stand out on account of their natural appearance and authentic taste profile, thereby clearly distinguishing themselves from existing classic iced teas on the market.
Premium Brewed Iced Teas: Only the best of everything!
Premium Brewed Iced Teas open up a world of absolute premium indulgence. Only tea infusions made from premium tea leaves of different tea varieties (e.g. Ceylon, Darjeeling, etc.) are used. The combination of natural fruit juices and reduced sugar characterise Premium Brewed Iced Teas with a particularly natural and refreshing taste profile blended with a typical tea note. Concepts with fruit or herbal infusions also have a very interesting taste profile. This premium concept appeals in particular to iced tea drinkers who are looking for natural refreshment with the authentic taste of tea.
True Tea* – tea in its purest form
Enjoy tea in its purest form! This is the thought behind Döhler's True Tea* concepts. Only infusions of the highest quality tea leaves are used for these beverages. Due to its special brewing process, the tea is able to develop its full flavour offering true tea indulgence! The use of selected teas means that the variety and country of origin can be claimed on the label of the final product. True Tea* not only appeals to classic iced tea drinkers, but also tea connoisseurs.
* True tea is not a registered trademark (of Döhler or Plantextrakt) and is only used as a name for the concept for better description to the companies' own customers.
6/5/2012

http://www.fruit-processing.com/article/286.html

Snapple Prooves our Taste for Real Tea is Improving in the U.S.!


Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. : Snapple Lightens Up with the Official Launch of Lightly Sweetened Teas

06/11/2012 | 08:15am
Snapple today announces the launch of new Lightly Sweetened Teas, all natural white teas sweetened with just a touch of real sugar. The teas are available in two delicious flavors: Peach Passionfruit and Cherry Pomegranate. At 80 calories per 16-ounce bottle, Snapple Lightly Sweetened Teas offer consumers a light tasting and refreshing way to quench their thirst.
Snapple launches new Lightly Sweetened Teas, all natural white teas sweetened with just a touch of r ...
Snapple launches new Lightly Sweetened Teas, all natural white teas sweetened with just a touch of real sugar, available in two delicious flavors: Peach Passionfruit and Cherry Pomegranate. (Photo: Business Wire)


http://www.4-traders.com/DR-PEPPER-SNAPPLE-GROUP-I-3017910/news/Dr-Pepper-Snapple-Group-Inc-Snapple-Lightens-Up-with-the-Official-Launch-of-Lightly-Sweetened-Tea-14364398/
"Consumers told us they wanted a light tasting, all-natural tea that wasn't too sweet, and we listened," said Regan Ebert, vice president of brand marketing for Snapple. "Lightly Sweetened Teas are a refreshing way to enjoy exceptional flavors Made from the Best Stuff on Earth®."
The national launch of Snapple Lightly Sweetened teas will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign, through a national television campaign, print and online media. Both flavors of Snapple Lightly Sweetened Teas are now available nationwide at participating retailers in individual 16-ounce bottles for $1.39 and 6-packs for $5.99. Peach Passionfruit is also available in 64-ounce bottles.
For full details and a list of participating retailers, visitwww.Snapple.com.
About Snapple
Snapple, a brand of Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS), is a leader in great-tasting premium beverages. Founded in 1972 by three childhood friends, Snapple got its start in Greenwich Village, New York and is now available throughout the United States. Snapple prides itself on developing, producing and marketing a wide variety of premium beverages, including ready-to-drink iced teas, juice drinks, 100% juices and water. DPS is a leading producer of flavored beverages, marketing Snapple and 50-plus other brands across North America and the Caribbean. For more information, visitSnapple.com or DrPepperSnapple.com. For the brand's latest news and updates, follow Snapple atFacebook.com/Snapple or Twitter.com/Snapple.