In the Netherlands, Lipton Ice Tea, a leading global ice tea brand, has made the decision to switch to SIG aseptic carton packs with SIGNATURE FULL BARRIER packaging material, where all the polymers used are linked to certified forest-based renewable materials via a mass-balance system. This decision by Lipton Ice Tea, a Unilever brand, is an important step and contributes to the bigger Unilever sustainability goal of becoming fully net zero by 2039. The switch to SIGNATURE FULL BARRIER is also a significant step forward on Lipton’s commitment to contributing to the circular economy and becoming a fully circular brand.
Lipton has been appreciating the benefits of SIG aseptic carton packs in the Netherlands for many years and its ice tea will now use carton packs with SIGNATURE FULL BARRIER from May 2022. With around 20 million packs sold yearly, this important next step matches the brand’s strong sustainable ambition and meets the demands and expectations of Dutch retailers and consumers.
Lipton, who is committed to using the most sustainable packaging solutions, has chosen SIG’s combifitMagnum 1,500 ml carton pack with SIGNATURE FULL BARRIER. Carton packs with SIGNATURE FULL BARRIER reduce carbon footprint compared to a standard pack*, as a result of the substitution of fossil polymers with mass-balanced plant-based polymers made from tall oil – a by-product of paper manufacturing. All three key raw materials come from certified responsible sources via mass-balance systems: paperboard is from FSC™-certified forests and other controlled sources; forest-based renewable polymers certified according to ISCC PLUS; and an ultra-thin layer of aluminium which protects against light and oxygen is covered by ASI (Aluminium Stewardship Initiative) certification.
*Results based on ISO-compliant life-cycle assessment CB-100732c: https://cms.sig.biz/media/4440/sig_lca_signature_addendum-combiswift-plus.pdf
Juice has been acknowledged as a rapidly declining soft drinks category, with volumes weakening by 3 % in 2019, compared to the same period in 2018, according to leading data and analytics company GlobalData’s UK Quarterly Beverage Forecast in Q4 2019.
Holly Inglis, Beverages Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Although the juice category is free from the sugar tax levy in the UK, consumption has still seen a downward turn in recent years, with consumers opting for other soft drinks categories such as iced/ready-to-drink (RTD) teas and enhanced waters, although none of these promote lean tags.
Another finding from GlobalData’s surveys include that a total *43 % of UK consumers claim they pay a high to very high amount of attention to the ingredients used in the food and drinks they consume.
An attempted turnaround in 2020 is Tropicana Lean – a new juice variant that indicates a movement towards better-for-you beverages in line with current consumer beverage trends.This poses the question whether Tropicana is taking a leap of faith with promoting a lean juice, or in fact we will welcome a new entry into the soft drinks market that combines hydration with health.
Inglis noted: “Tropicana’s innovation comes soon after the brand’s release of Tropicana Whole Fruit in May 2019, which attempted to impact the market with its high-fibre claims.”
*GlobalData’s Q3 2019 Consumer Survey
Introduces Má CBD+ natural botanicals functional iced teas exclusively in over 500 The Vitamin Shoppe stores
Sh’nnong Beverage Company is launching new Má Functional Iced Teas with CBD+ natural botanicals with a national roll-out to over 500 The Vitamin Shoppe stores in the USA. Má ready-to-drink teas might be new to The Vitamin Shoppe customers but their roots date back to 2737 BC when Emperor Shennong of China discovered tea and combined it with organic hemp and botanicals to make his original Má brews. Sh’nnong Beverage Company’s next-generation plant-based beverages start with the finest Green, Oolong or Bai Mudan Teas blended with CBD+ natural botanicals to detox, focus or relax.
Jill Beraud, CEO and Co-founder of Sh’nnong Beverages Company, is no stranger to the iced tea beverage category, having previously served as President of Starbucks & Lipton Joint Ventures at PepsiCo, where she oversaw the largest global tea portfolio and the reinvention of Pure Leaf Teas.
“When my business partner Charlie Herbstreith and I originally discussed this idea, it reminded me of my time at PepsiCo when kombucha and coconut water were just emerging. However, given the far-reaching benefits of CBD, this is a much bigger white space,” stated Beraud. “The Vitamin Shoppe is the perfect launch partner for us. They are establishing themselves as CBD Central across multiple categories and have tremendous in-store expertise in health, wellness and nutrition.”
Sh’nnong Beverage Company is raising the bar with next generation, plant-based beverages by infusing each Má Iced Tea with CBD+ natural botanicals. CBD+ not only harnesses the functional benefits of zero-THC Hemp CBD but elevates those benefits by combining it with nearly 20 different herbs and spices inspired by the original Má brews of Emperor Shennong. Shennong used his brews to treat a variety of conditions and later became known as the Father of Chinese Herbal Medicine.
All Má Functional Iced Teas with CBD+ Natural Botanicals ($4.99) are naturally sweetened, contain no sugar and are less than 10 calories. Available exclusively at The Vitamin Shoppe, Má Iced Teas are carefully curated into three distinct blends including:
- FOCUS: Oolong Peach Spark will help you feel more focused with CBD + brain-stimulating adaptogens of ginkgo biloba, gotu kola and Rhodiola Rosea. With 40mg of natural caffeine added, it is just the right spark you need to help promote cognitive brain activity.
- RELAX: Lavender Berry Chill features blueberry-infused, caffeine-free Bai Mudan Tea blended with CBD, chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, elderflower and passionflower to impart calm and help reduce stress and anxiety.
- DETOX: Emperor Spice Cleanse is a caffeine-free, detoxifying brew to help you purify the mind, body and soul with CBD + Green Tea, lemon, chamomile, schisandra berry and dandelion root to help remove toxins from the body.
Sh’nnong Beverage Company was founded to develop plant-based, functional beverages leveraging CBD + natural botanicals inspired by Emperor Shennong. The company was founded by Jill Beraud and Charlie Herbstreith, executives with over 25 years of business and marketing expertise.
About the Vitamin Shoppe, Inc.:
The Vitamin Shoppe® is an omni-channel specialty retailer and wellness lifestyle Company with the mission of providing customers with the most trusted products, guidance, and services to help them become their best selves, however they define it. Based in Secaucus, New Jersey, the Company offers a comprehensive assortment of nutritional solutions, including vitamins, minerals, specialty supplements, herbs, sports nutrition, homeopathic remedies, green living products, and natural beauty aids.
Teavana announced the expansion of its ready-to-drink (RTD) TeavanaTM/MC Sparkling Craft Iced Teas and newest refreshing flavor, Sparkling Blood Orange Mango White Tea in the US.
Teavana Sparkling Craft Iced Teas are available in three flavors: new Sparkling Blood Orange Mango White Tea, Sparkling Blackberry Lime Green Tea and Unsweetened Sparkling Peach Nectarine Green Tea. All are made with the finest teas and botanicals and no artificial flavors, adding up to unique, vibrant layers of delicious Teavana tea. The teas are offered for the suggested retail price of $2.39 per 14.5 fluid ounce bottle and available where groceries are sold. TeavanaTM/MC Sparkling Craft Iced Teas are one of the first premium sparkling ready-to-drink iced tea beverages on the market, responding to growing consumer interest in sparkling beverages and the successful regional roll-out of Teavana Sparkling Craft Iced Teas last year.
New Sparkling Blood Orange Mango White Tea
A luminous blend of fine white tea, orange peel and the delicious flavor of champagne mango shines with a bubbly kick – with just the right amount of sweetness from real cane sugar.
Sparkling Blackberry Lime Green Tea
An exuberant blend of green tea, lime peel and berry flavor with real cane sugar.
Unsweetened Sparkling Peach Nectarine Green Tea
Tantalizing notes of white peach and nectarine plus hints of lemongrass and hibiscus with no added sugar.
The bubbly drinks join the full lineup of Teavana Craft Iced Teas, now available in nine vibrant flavors ranging from sweetened to unsweetened, and brewed from some of the finest Teavana teas and botanicals, all free of artificial flavors. To date, more than 15 million bottles of Teavana Craft Iced Teas have been sold in partnership with Anheuser-Busch1.
1According to IRI US MULO+C CY 2018 and CY YTD Ending 4/21/19
Lion NZ announced that it has acquired Kiwi drinks brand, Teza Iced Teas. The purchase forms part of the company’s wider ambition to grow its non-alcoholic beverage portfolio and cater to the increasingly diverse social occasions of New Zealanders.
Sitting alongside the likes of GoodBuzz Kombucha, Hopt and Mac’s Soda, Teza will join Lion’s growing non-alcoholic division, Drinks Collective, which earlier this month also announced a new strategic partnership with flavoured sparking water start-up, Vista.
Teza Iced Teas is part of the Greenstone Drinks Company and was the first real-brewed iced tea in New Zealand. The product is made with batch brewed organic leaf tea, fruit juices and botanicals. Sold in 325 ml glass bottles, the brand offers several unique flavours including Feijoa & Lime Blossom and Lemon & Mandarin.
Stefan Gray, General Manager, Drinks Collective says: “The iced tea market is in strong growth globally so we’re incredibly excited to welcome Teza Iced Teas into the Drinks Collective. The brand’s premium offering complements our existing range nicely and will help us deliver greater choice and convenience for consumers across more social occasions. We’ll be leveraging our networks to make the brand more readily available nationwide and the Teza Grassy Tea Bush Van will also be making a return to the streets of NZ.
“I think typically people associate Lion with alcohol products and don’t realise what an amazing non-alcoholic beverage offering we have – from coffee and juices to low sugar sodas and Kombucha. We have big plans to grow the Drinks Collective as part of our commitment to meeting the evolving world of sociability and by 2025 at least 10 % of Lion’s sales will come from our non-alcoholic range,” adds Gray.
Lion’s Drinks Collective will take full control of the Teza brand and associated assets, with the founders, Joe Gehrke and Daphne Raj, now living in Australia where they are focused on growing their company, Greenstone Drinks Co. They will still be involved in the brand via an agreement which will see them distribute Teza for Lion in the Australian market through Greenstone Drinks Co.
Teza founder Joe Gehrke, says, “We created Teza when we moved home from our stint in the UK. We noticed a real gap in the market for a premium, more natural iced tea offering and are proud of the growth we’ve achieved for the brand so far, including Australia, Japan, and South Korea. We’re thrilled to pass the Teza brand on to Lion who has a proven track record of nurturing and growing strong brands in the Kiwi market. Under Lion, Teza can be taken to the next level.”
