“The acquisition of Harris Tea strengthens our competitive positioning in the fast-growing tea category and adds unique blending and sourcing capabilities that customers desire, building upon TreeHouse Foods’ category leadership, enhancing our position through additional depth and scale,” said Steve Oakland, chairman, CEO, and president. “This acquisition aligns with our long-term strategy to build capabilities in our higher-growth, higher-margin categories,” he added.

The acquisition includes Harris Tea’s manufacturing facilities in Moorestown, New Jersey and Marietta, Georgia, and TreeHouse Foods will welcome approximately 300 Harris Tea team members. The acquisition of Harris Tea will provide vertical integration across TreeHouse’s existing tea business and will be accretive to its overall growth and margins.

“The tea category presents significant opportunity for future growth,” said Kevin Shah, co-CEO of Harris Freeman. “It was clear that TreeHouse Foods would provide a great fit for our next chapter of growth, given its depth of capabilities, scale, industry expertise, and customer relationships, and I am confident we will maintain our upward trajectory as a result of this transaction.”

TreeHouse has agreed to a purchase price that equals roughly 8.5x trailing-twelve-month adjusted EBITDA, or 6.5x net of synergies and the net present value of future tax benefits. This transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025 and will be funded primarily with cash on hand, and fully satisfies TreeHouse’s obligation under its bond indenture to either reinvest certain proceeds from the previously completed meal preparation sale or retire debt. Upon closing, TreeHouse expects its leverage ratio (covenant leverage ratio is defined as total company net debt outstanding divided by EBITDA including various adjustments as defined in the credit agreement) to be within its target range of 3.0x to 3.5x. Finally, TreeHouse Foods is reiterating its 2024 full year guidance, including the expectation of sequential improvement in volume growth and profit margin in the fourth quarter.

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The Global Tea Championship is designed to identify and reward the highest quality teas from around the globe. The competition features a wide range of categories, including:

Award Categories: Tea

Grand prize award for “Overall best tea”

Superior leaf award for “Best leaf appearance” in each tea type

• White
• Green
• Oolong
• Black
• Puerh

Superior liquor award for “Best cup character” in each tea type

• White
• Green
• Oolong
• Black
• Puerh

Premium award for “Best Tea” in each tea type

• White
• Green
•  Steamed
• Pan fired
• Oolong
• Long Oxidised
• Short Oxidised
• Black
•  Orthodox
• CTC
• Puerh
•  Sheng
• Shou

  Honourable mention award for the most Innovative tea

• Origin Awards
• Certificates for the best tea from each producing origin

Award Categories: Matcha

Grand prize award for “Overall best matcha”

Superior leaf award for “Best leaf appearance”

Superior liquor award  for “Best cup character”

Premium award for “Best matcha” in each tea type

• Ceremonial
• Culinary
• Honourable mention award for the most Innovative tea
• Origin awards
• Certificates for the best tea from each producing origin

Winning a Global Tea Championship award offers industry recognition and helps brands establish themselves as leaders in the competitive global tea market.

“As we open submissions for the 2025 World Tea Expo Global Tea Championship, we are reminded of the importance of recognising and celebrating the incredible diversity and quality within the global tea community,” said Tim McLucas, vice president of the hospitality group at Questex. “This competition not only honours excellence in tea production but also brings together a community of passionate professionals dedicated to advancing the tea industry. We look forward to discovering and celebrating the outstanding teas that will set the standard for quality and innovation in the coming year.”

Award winners will be announced at World Tea Expo which takes place March 24-26, 2025 in Las Vegas, NV.

For more information on submission guidelines, categories, and how to enter, click here.

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The Global Ventures group was established in 2019 primarily to oversee the company’s ownership of Costa, innocent and Dogadan, as well as the company’s investment in Monster Beverage Corp.

“As we look to our next chapter of growth, we have evaluated how to best set ourselves up for future success with these growth areas, and we believe now is the right time to have them work more directly with our operating units,” said Coca-Cola president and CFO John Murphy.

The following changes take effect 1 Jan 2025:
• Costa will remain a stand-alone business and will report to the Europe OU. Costa is based in London, and the majority of the company’s retail and Express outlets are located in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe. Costa’s ready-to-drink businesses outside of Europe will report through local operating units.
• Dogadan, a Türkiye-based tea business that was founded in 1975 and in recent years has closely collaborated with the Costa business, will report into Costa’s retail business in Europe. Dogadan has been part of Coca-Cola since 2007.
• Innocent, a 25-year-old, London-based maker of juices and smoothies, will report to the Europe operating unit. Coca-Cola has had an ownership stake in innocent since 2009. Innocent drinks are sold across Europe.
• Oversight of Coca-Cola’s investment in Monster will move to Murphy, while the respective geographies will be responsible for the underlying operations results.

Global Ventures is currently a separate operating segment. Global Ventures will be sunset as part of the reorganization, and the company will issue financials for 2022 through 2024 to reflect the changes. The recast data will be available publicly in early 2025.

The Coca-Cola Company reported on 23 October that net revenues declined 1% to USD $11.9 billion, and organic revenues (non-GAAP) grew 9% for its fiscal 2024 third quarter. Operating margin, which includes items impacting comparability, was 21.2% versus 27.4% in the prior year, while comparable operating margin (non-GAAP) was 30.7% versus 29.7% in the prior year. Coffee declined 6%, primarily due to the performance of Costa® coffee in the United Kingdom. Tea grew 7%, driven by growth in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe, Middle East and Africa.

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Four flavours of Clipper Tea’s everyday line are hitting shelves at over 1,600 Albertsons banner stores, including Acme, Safeway and Vons: Organic Decaf Black Tea, Organic Lemon & Ginger Herbal Tea, Organic Snore & Peace Chamomile & Lavender Herbal Tea and Organic Orange & Turmeric Herbal Tea.

Sprouts Farmers Market stores are now carrying four flavours from Clipper Tea’s existing portfolio: Organic Lemon & Ginger Herbal Tea, Organic English Breakfast Black Tea, Organic Mint Herbal Tea and Organic Snore & Peace Chamomile & Lavender Herbal Tea.

These new retail partnerships cap off a year of significant growth and innovation for Clipper Tea as the brand has grown 273% in value since 2023 according to recent Nielsen data. In February, the brand announced the addition of two new flavours to its US lineup – Organic Spicy Chai Herbal Tea and Organic Mint Herbal Tea – along with expanded distribution in retailers such as MOM’s Organic Market and Dave’s Fresh Marketplace, joining existing retail partners including Giant Food Stores and Town & Country Markets.

As the demand for organically grown tea continues to increase, specifically by a forecasted CAGR of 11.2% until 2027, due to the growing perception that clean-label products are safe and healthy, Clipper Tea’s commitment to making tea that is good for people and good for the planet uniquely positions the company to appeal to US consumers looking for organic premium teas that are sourced ethically and feature bold, 100% natural flavours. Additionally, younger generations have taken an interest in tea, with at least 87% of millennials that drink tea.

The Clipper Tea ‘tea guys’, Dan and James, travel the world in search of the finest tea gardens in Africa, India and Sri Lanka, carefully selecting and blending teas from different origins, each with unique characteristics influenced by the soil and climate. All flavors are blended and packed in Dorset, England, the same place as when the brand started 40 years ago, to create distinct, bright and bold flavor profiles.

2024 also marks the 40th anniversary for the brand, which has been a pioneer in ethical, sustainable tea production, purchasing Fairtrade certified green and black teas and Clipper Tea is Fairtrade’s first and longest-standing tea partner, leading the global market in Fairtrade tea sales and contributing over USD $7 million in Fairtrade Premiums. By supporting Fairtrade, Clipper Tea ensures farmers receive fair prices, fostering community development and strengthening resilience to climate change. Clipper Tea also uses plastic-free, plant-based, biodegradable, unbleached and non-GMO tea bags, along with recyclable and biodegradable individual tea bag envelopes packaged in recyclable boxes.

US shoppers can find Clipper Tea for purchase in retailers across the country and on Amazon.

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The YouGov survey, conducted with over 2,000 UK adults, also uncovered widespread confusion about where tea comes from – 87% of people don’t realise Africa is the largest exporter of black tea, with some even believing it comes from Yorkshire.

This lack of knowledge has prompted Birchall Tea, known for its award-winning blends, to launch the #CheckYourBag campaign. The initiative urges tea lovers to rip open their tea bags and take a closer look at what’s inside. According to Birchall, it’s time for the UK to wake up to the difference in quality between premium tea leaves and the lower-grade offerings that dominate the market.

With 77% of survey respondents prioritising taste when choosing their tea, Birchall is inviting people to see and taste the difference for themselves by comparing the contents of Birchall’s Great Rift Breakfast Tea with the mass-market brands.

With tea as Britain’s favourite beverage, the #CheckYourBag campaign could make people rethink their daily brew.

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Roos joined the Amsterdam-based company in July 2022 after five years at L’Oréal.

In a statement, the Lipton tea maker said Roos and her team had relaunched many of the company’s key brands with some considerable success, noting that she also oversaw the establishment of a new “global responsible sourcing partnership” with Sri Lanka-based tea exporter Brown’s Investments. The agreement included the transfer of the Lipton tea estates in East Africa.

Pierre Laubies, Lipton Teas and Infusions’ chair of the board, will be its executive chair while the board appoints a successor.

Commenting on Roos’ departure, Laubies said, “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Nathalie for her achievements as CEO of Lipton Tea and Infusions. She has set the business on an exciting journey that we continue to follow.”

Roos said, “I found my time at Lipton Teas and Infusions enormously rewarding. I believe we have created a special company with tremendous potential and I look forward to watching its future success.”

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The coffee rollout – which has already begun at Bar Louie’s corporate locations – includes state-of-the-art espresso machines alongside illy’s high-quality and sustainability sourced Arabic beans that, when combined, will offer guests top-tier caffeinated beverage choices for brunch, lunch, dinner or even late-night pick-me-ups.

Available now at select locations, Bar Louie guests can enjoy fresh espresso, tropical teas, lattes and a handful of other non-alcoholic caffeinated offerings from the illy Caffè umbrella of products. Additionally, Bar Louie is enhancing its popular signature coffee beverages, such as the ‘Mean Bean Espresso Martini,’ to incorporate the fresher, better-tasting illy ingredients.

“As only one of a handful of national bar chains to embark on a systemwide investment in their coffee and tea program, we believe this initiative represents untapped potential in both guest satisfaction and revenue streams,” said Ian Welby, vice president of beverage and execution for Bar Louie, based in Dallas, Texas. “Apart from the R&D possibilities this opens up across the menu, we also feel this investment is an opportunity to provide our best-in-class bartenders with the flexibility to get even more creative with all aspects of our beverage programme. Spiked coffee shots, anyone?!”

For more information about Bar Louie and to view the full menu, visit barlouie.com.

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The latest Fruit Cooler portfolio has been specially crafted to be brewed hot and enjoyed chilled. Just infuse one tea bag in 200ml of freshly boiled water for three minutes, allow to cool, and enjoy over ice. The new Fruit Cooler flavours are:
• Peach: delicate peach-flavoured infusion with rosehips and white hibiscus
• Tropical: delicate pineapple-flavoured infusion with roasted chicory root and orange peel.

Harnessing 300 years of innovation and expertise at Twinings, the new Fruit Cooler range responds to consumer demand for different, refreshing ways to enjoy tea. Data from Twinings shows that 32% of UK consumers have enjoyed iced or cold tea and infusions in the 12 months up to November 2023 (Source: Twinings Demand Landscapes Quantitative study (FiftyFive5), Nov 2023). They also complement Twinings’ existing range of infusions, which can be brewed hot and enjoyed over ice.

Each carefully curated blend is tried, tested, and crafted by Twinings Master Blenders, with an experienced consumer sensory panel enhancing the product’s development. “From our rigorous consumer research and monitoring of global consumption trends, we know consumers are always looking for new, exciting ways to elevate their cold drink experiences – from working at home to drinking with friends,” said Gill Close, UK & Ireland marketing director at Twinings. “That is why we’re delighted to introduce a new way to enjoy our infusions with Twinings Fruit Coolers – providing an easy and delicious way to stay refreshed and experience more in every moment this summer, by making our new Fruit Cooler the way you want to drink it, hot, over ice, with or without your garnish of choice or even mixed with some sparkling water.

He added that “this latest investment in the cold drink space reaffirms our long-standing commitment to innovation and evolution – creating the best tasting drinks for the evolving needs of consumers and empowering them to take a moment of cool refreshment.”

Twinings’ new range of Fruit Coolers are available to purchase at twinings.co.uk and Amazon now, Waitrose and Tesco beginning 5 August, and Sainsbury’s from 21 August – with a MSRP of £2.49 per pack.

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With 1.4 billion people and 128 million hectares of arable land, China faces the daunting task of producing nearly half of the world’s tea while also providing food security for 20 percent of the world’s population. The Peoples Republic of China has been able to attain its current level of success in part due to the application of pesticides and fertilisers. However, over reliance and misapplication of these agrochemicals has raised production costs, contributed to environmental pollution, and created instances of agricultural products with unacceptably high levels of chemical residues. Chinese officials have put a strategy in place that has already begun to curtail the over dependence on conventional agrochemicals by using bio-pesticides that are seen as safer alternatives.

China has become the world’s largest consumer of agrochemicals, at one time using about 30 percent of total fertilisers and pesticides. These pesticides include herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. In order to combat agricultural production costs while also reducing environmental damage and impacts on human health, China initiated the “Action Plan to Realize Zero Growth in Pesticide Use by 2020” in 2015. Pesticide use in China peaked around 2014 and has been declining since 2016. As a result, goals for curbing growth in pesticide use were achieved ahead of schedule. In fact, some projections estimate that China may be able to completely eliminate its use of chemical pesticides by 2050.

When it comes to China’s tea industry, attaining chemical pesticide-free agriculture may be an especially important goal. About 60 percent of the world’s tea is grown by smallholders. China tea farms do not operate on the plantation models found in places like Sri Lanka and India, so smallholder farms of two hectares or less are very common. In fact, joint research from the Universities of Melbourne, Zhejiang, Fudan, Wuhan, and Stanford have found that smallholder farms in China tend to use agrochemicals less efficiently. This not only results in greater financial costs for the farmer, but also contributes to increased pollution of the soil and water.

China’s tea industry has likewise been shifting away from chemical pesticides towards bio-pesticides. Examples of bio-pesticides that are gaining more widespread use include:

• Beauveria bassiana: B. bassiana is a fungus that naturally occurs in soils and is a parasite in various insects. The spores enter the insect’s body and spread into a fungus, thereby killing the insect. B. bassiana is used against moths and caterpillars that feed on tea leaves. Current studies have not shown any harmful impacts of B. bassiana applications on animals or humans, so there are few regulations or MRL (maximum residue level) guidelines in place when it is properly used.
• Metarhizium anisopliae is another fungus-based insecticide found in soils around the world that is also parasitic in insects. M. anisopliae has been shown to be harmful to reptiles in some conditions. There are also a few regulations or MRL guidelines when M. anisopliae is properly applied.
• Pyrethrins are compounds found in chrysanthemum and have been known to kill or drive off insects since the Chinese began spreading chrysanthemum powders as a bug deterrent as far back as 1000 BC. Pyrethrins are considered safer insecticides when they are applied locally to tea and other crops because UV light and changes in pH break pyrethrins down into harmless chemicals within a relatively short time frame. Studies of variations of pyrethrin, including higher concentrations, exposure to synthetic pyrethroids (like cypermethrin) and pyrethrins combined with piperonyl butoxide (PBO) have shown potential harm to humans and animals. Effects included allergic reactions and potential carcinogenic effects. As such, pyrethrins are regulated and MRLs exist.
• Matrine is an insecticide derived from the Sophora flavescens plant that is native to various countries, including China, India, Japan, and Russia. Sophora flavescens is used in some Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) applications. Matrine breaks down relatively quickly in nature. It can be toxic to aquatic animals and should not be used during flowering in order to protect bees. Some MRLs (Maximum Residue Level) are in place for matrine in tea and in some botanicals.

China pesticide
consumption levels from 1991 to 2021. Graph credit: Frontiers in Plant Science (frontiersin.org)

Challenges to bio-pesticides

While bio-pesticides do offer a potentially safer, more sustainable alternative to harmful chemical pesticides, challenges do remain. One of the first of these challenges is cost. Some insecticides, like pyrethrins and matrine can begin to break down within days of application. This may make multiple applications necessary to sufficiently control a pest outbreak.

Successful chemical pesticides often have a track record of remaining active for longer periods of time. Access to, and consistent quality of bio-pesticides has also been a concern for researchers measuring the effectiveness of bio-pesticides on Chinese tea production. In some cases, bio-pesticides need to be combined with chemical pesticides to provide sufficient potency.

Bio-pesticides can also be combined with other green forms of pest control, including:

• Pheromone traps: These traps contain synthesised sex pheromones of targeted insects, thereby attracting and killing tea pests like moths and caterpillars. Pheromone traps have been studied on a small scale of tea production, but results have shown potential for combining pheromone traps with other pest control methods. Pheromone traps provide the benefit of targeting the intended insect without harming beneficial insects.
• Light traps: Seasonal use of light traps has also shown potential as a supporting practice of pest control. Solar-powered lights can be activated after sunset during the growing season to attract moths like the tea looper.
• Sticky traps: The placement of improved sticky traps after spring pruning was shown to capture leafhoppers while trapping fewer beneficial predators, like spiders and wasps.
• Traps and green pest control, along with the proper and timely application of bio-pesticides represent aspects of the pedestals of integrated pest management, namely prevention, monitoring, and intervention.

China’s advance towards reducing its dependence on chemical pesticides and adoption of safer, greener bio-pesticides shows potential for the tea industry at large. Smallholder tea farmers across the globe now have increased options to more efficiently use chemical pesticides while also testing better and safer bio-pesticides that benefit human health, the environment, and economic growth.

• Jason Walker is marketing director of Firsd Tea North America. Prior to his work with Firsd Tea, Walker served in a variety of roles in tea and beverage business capacities. His experience includes business services for small tea companies, a top-ranked online destination for tea consumer education and co-founding a coffee business. His insights draw upon his diverse range of experience in sales, operations and management in the tea world. He may be reached at: jason.walker@firsdtea.com.

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Companies are often introducing new products or brands or displaying their recent launches at the Fancy Food Show (which took place between 23-25 June this year), so it is also the perfect opportunity to sample new coffee and tea SKUs. Most companies exhibiting at the show look to gain or expand their retail distribution in the United States. Whittard, for example, is a well-known and highly regarded English tea brand –established in 1886 – but it began to expand its presence in the US only recently so the show is an ideal place to meet retailers. Some companies exhibit hoping to find distributors to launch their products in US stores. For example, Shun Tea, from Japan, which was promoting its Camellia sinensis stem-based matcha called ‘bowcha’ and Brewix from India, which offers black, green and herbal and botanical teas in plastic-free, sugarcane-based packaging, were both hoping to find distributors to help bring their products in the US market.

On the coffee side, licensed brands were strong with many of the established companies (those already available at retail but looking to expand their distribution). White Coffee has long offered an array of licensed brands in its coffee assortment such as Harry & David, Entenmann’s, Jim Bean, Bailey’s and Peanuts. Two of its newest licensed ground coffee products are M&M’s and Snickers branded coffee, which join Twix and Dove.

Two Rivers Coffee from New Jersey also offers several licensed coffee products including ice cream brands Friendly’s and Cold Stone Creamery. Its newest item is Kellogg’s Eggo-branded coffee. According to Sam Blaney, vice president of sales and marketing, this is the first time Kellogg’s has licensed the Eggo name to another F&B product. Flavours for the single-serve coffee line include vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon toast, chocolate chip and blueberry. When I asked who they are targeting with the Eggo coffee line, Blaney said it’s a nostalgia brand so he believes the line will appeal to anyone who grew up eating Eggo waffles, and of course, Gen Z, because that demo tends to enjoy sweet flavours.

New English Teas Ltd has also specialised in licensed products such as Beatrix Potter and tea sporting the Royals such as Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, and Prince William and Princess Kate (technically, it may be Kate, the Princess of Wales). At the Fancy Food Show, New English Teas was highlighting its new Harry Potter line, which ranged from small decorative tins to beautiful large canisters and included a variety of flavours in both loose leaf tea and tea bags.

Unsurprisingly, the most innovation was in the ready-to-drink segment. Boba/bubble tea was ubiquitous, offering a variety of flavours (mango, passionfruit green tea; peach oolong tea; mixed berry hibiscus, etc.) including new tapioca and juice-based boba flavours, and instant bubble tea and instant popping boba kits. There were myriad companies offering new coffee and RTD drinks from cold brewed, to lightly sweetened and unsweetened, those with plant-based additives, and of course, new flavours, such as a lavender and maple oat milk latte from Dripdash, but the real innovation was in functional RTD coffee and tea.

Frujava won the Sofi Gold Award from the Specialty Food Association in the Energy Drink Waters & Functional Beverages category for its coffee bean and green coffee extract-based Cherry Vanilla Energy Drink. Frujava is targeting those consumers who would like the ‘energy’ benefits that energy drinks provide – each can contains 80mg of caffeine – but naturally, as the caffeine is derived from coffee. The drink tasted more like a semi-sparkling juice so it will appeal to those who may not want a soda but do want caffeine yet not necessarily a cup of coffee or a typical energy drink, both of which have much higher levels of caffeine.

Monatea, from South Africa – which was also looking for a distributor – was promoting its cold-brew sparkling rooibos drink (a subtle sparkling tea) that is caffeine-free, organic, has no sugar and only one calorie in distinct flavours such as ginger/peach/African olive leaf, sage/lime/Cape Mint, and hibiscus/berry/buchu. For those who prefer a sweetened beverage, Monatea also offers lightly sweetened versions. Many of the ingredients are native to only the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa, which adds to the uniqueness and originality of the drinks.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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According to D’Amazonia founder, Marcela Tupinamba, “Functional teas are deliberately tasked with offering so much more than great taste and refreshment. Our Beauty Tea specifically responds to the reality that as we age our body not only finds it progressively synthesise collagen but also repel inevitable free radicals (Sun’s UV rays, manmade pollution, the tribulations of passive smoking…) that accelerate the speed at which our inbuilt collagen levels deplete.”

D’Amazonia’s Beauty Tea contains Chinese green tea, Chinese white tea, collagen peptides, hibiscus, turmeric, moringa leaf, rosehip, apple pieces and blackberry leaves — all the usual ‘hero’ ingredients typically found in any well-balanced and nutritionally adept hot beverage. However, it is worth noting the presence of moringa leaves, which were used by ancient Greeks, Romans and Indian Mauryan warriors to boost energy and strength prior to battle. Known by many to come from the ‘miracle tree,’ moringa leaves are packed with calcium, iron, essential B-vitamins, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium.

Each Beauty Tea pack contains 20 tea bags made from 100% biodegradable materials. The Beauty Tea is available beginning 24 May.

D’Amazonia’s Beauty Tea launches on the heels its Menopause Tea, which hit retail in February.

As women, we navigate through various stages of life, each presenting its unique challenges and triumphs. One significant phase that many women experience is menopause, a natural transition marked by hormonal changes that can bring about a range of physical and emotional symptoms. While menopause is a natural part of aging, finding effective relief from its symptoms has been a long-standing concern for many women as there are many complexities of menopause.

Menopause typically occurs in women around the age of 45 to 55, although the exact timing can vary. During this time, the body undergoes hormonal fluctuations, leading to symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, insomnia, and more. While menopause is a natural process, its symptoms can significantly impact a woman’s quality of life and overall well-being.

Recognising the need for natural and effective relief from menopausal symptoms, D’Amazonia embarked on a mission to develop a product tailored to women experiencing this transition. Drawing inspiration from the rich biodiversity of the Amazon rainforest and harnessing the power of herbal remedies, the brand formulated its Menopause Tea.

Its unique blend of nine natural ingredients carefully selected for their efficacy in helping to alleviate menopausal symptoms include hibiscus to help support cardiovascular health, rosehip with its anti-inflammatory properties, passionflower leaf for calming properties and hawthorn to help lower blood pressure, each ingredient is chosen for its specific properties that target common menopause-related issues. Other ingredients include sage, with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties is effective in combating hot flashes and improving mood swings and chamomile which is renowned for its calming effects. Chamomile helps promote relaxation and improve sleep quality, addressing insomnia often associated with menopause.

“From Day.1 our primary goal was to be a vocal advocate for best-in-class hot beverages that offer a mesmerising mix of lingering flavours, aromas, and deep-rooted, healthier living benefits,” said Tupinamba. “We started out with a digestive brew, a health and wellness beverage, and a superior sleep tea in 2021. Therefore, it made perfect sense that our fourth recipe tackled yet another mass-market ailment.”

Each fully recyclable pack of Menopause Tea contains 20 biodegradable pyramid tea bags that can be used, not once but twice. Additionally, D’Amazonia’s alliance with One Tree Planted charity means a tree is planted for every order made.

D’Amazonia’s Menopause Tea and Beauty Tea both have a MSRP of £12.00 per pack and are available at Amazon, Selfridges, and Daylesford Farm.

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The global certification’s fifteenth edition of the report showed that Fairtrade Premium received by producer organisations for Fairtrade’s top seven products – banana, cocoa, coffee, cotton, flowers, sugar and tea – totalled about €210 million, while the Premium for the minor products topped €12 million. The Fairtrade Premium is an additional amount on top of the selling price that is paid to producer organisations and which they democratically choose how to invest in their business and communities.

The small-scale producer organisations invested 36 percent of their Premium into improving production and farming practice, such as building processing plants and warehouses, as well as purchasing farm materials for members. Another 23 percent was spent on financial benefits for farmers, whether direct cash payments to top up incomes or credit services. Meanwhile, workers on Fairtrade certified plantations allocated 75 percent of their Premium into social investments, including education and housing. Another 15 percent was invested in financial benefits for workers and their families.

In addition to the Fairtrade Premium, the report includes a full set of data about producer organisations and their farmer members and workers, as well as the global production of each product, land area, and regional breakdowns.

As of the end of 2022, 1,910 producer organisations were Fairtrade certified, including 1,563 small-scale producer organisations (including those certified for contract production) and 347 larger farms that depend on a hired workforce (known as hired labour organisations). These organisations were made up of 1,848,268 farmers and 197,118 workers.

For the first time, the monitoring report also includes information about organic sales of the six largest Fairtrade products (excluding flowers, for which there is no organic category). Sixty-four percent of the 231,188 metric tonnes of Fairtrade coffee sold by producers in 2022 was organic, while a similar 63 percent of the 730,176 metric tonnes of Fairtrade bananas sold were organic. In addition, organic cotton made up half of all cotton producers’ Fairtrade sales.

Women made up 21 percent of all Fairtrade farmers in 2022, with the highest proportion of women growing Fairtrade certified cereals (60 percent), oilseeds and oleaginous fruit like olives (41 percent), and dried fruit (35 percent). Forty-four percent of Fairtrade workers were women, with workers on farms producing fruit juices topping the list at 74 percent, followed by flowers and plants (54 percent) and tea (52 percent).

To read the full report, please click here.

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Considered an agricultural product that provides income to millions of smallholder farmers, tea is a ‘poverty relief crop’. These farmers often also grow other crops, which all help towards effecting a fair income. Similar to coffee, while some tea farmers are generating decent incomes (depending on the country and size of their farm), many others have no access to market and are struggling to make a living as production costs continue to rise while tea prices fall.

According to data issued by the International Tea Committee (published in its Annual Bulletin of Statistics), tea production continues to increase year over year, reaching 6.604 million metric tonnes in 2023 — up by 2 percent over 2022 and up by 26 percent over the past ten years. However, consumption continues to lag with a reported 2023 consumption tonnage of 6.212 million tonnes.

The global trade pattern of tea and coffee differ greatly, and tea is most often the cheapest at retail or in foodservice channels. It’s important to note that only about a quarter of the global tea production – 26 percent in 2023 – is exported, while nearly 75% is consumed in tea-producing countries — in contrast to coffee, in which more than two thirds of the global production is exported, and about 34 percent is consumed domestically. And although tea is reportedly still the most consumed beverage in the world after water, it has not been able to attract the global marketing, promotion and attention that coffee has. The introduction of International Tea Day was a step towards enhancing tea’s profile globally.

To drive awareness of this year’s International Tea Day (ITD), several tea associations from around the world such as the Tea Association of the USA, Tea & Herbal Association of Canada, and the UK Tea & Infusions Association, as well as tea boards from producing countries, have all embarked on a unique and ambitious campaign that is focused on Google, the ‘Google Doodle’, to be exact. Google dedicates its front page to major events and important dates, etc., through its Google Doodle. These ‘doodles’ appear on the front search page of Google. In a letter to Tea Association of the USA members, its president, Peter F Goggi, wrote:

“Google dominates the world’s searches. controlling ~ 85% of the searches done worldwide. The impact of people seeing the ‘Google Doodle’ approximates 40,000 searches every second. Imagine all 40,000 looking at an International Tea Day Doodle!

The power of our tea industry is in its collective voice, so, in conjunction with Tea & Herbal Association of Canada, UK Tea & Infusions Association as well as other Associations and Tea Boards globally, we are asking EVERYONE to jump on this bandwagon!!”

The Google team receives suggestions from around the world on which ‘doodle’ to consider and then chooses ‘doodles’ for the year.

Goggi asked US Tea Association members to submit an email to Google suggesting a Tea Theme for International Tea Day (21 May), not just for this year but for every ITD moving forward. For those interesting in lobbying Google, the email address is: doodleproposals@google.com. The letter also included a link to a draft proposal that can be used as is or adapted as need. To access that draft, click here.

Whether or not you email Google on behalf of a ‘doodle’ in honour of International Tea Day, when drinking your daily cuppa (be it hot, iced or RTD), not just on 21 May or this month, but with every cup of tea, remember the people around the world toiling hard and yet typically under-appreciated, to produce the tea in your favourite cup.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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US shoppers can find Clipper Tea for purchase in retailers across the U.S.country and on Amazon. Now, in addition to existing retail partners including Giant Food Stores, Lowes Foods and Town & Country Markets, Clipper Tea will bring its ‘good’ tea to shoppers at National Co+op Grocers, MOM’s Organic Market and Dave’s Fresh Marketplace this year, with more doors expected to be added.

“Clipper Tea has been committed to making not just tea, but ‘good’ tea for 40 years. Tea that is good for people and good for our planet – 100% natural with nothing artificial,” said Ben Dell, head of international markets. “We’re thrilled to roll out two new delectable flavours meeting consumer needs for bold, natural varieties that are masterfully blended and sourced in harmony with nature, including Organic Mint and Organic Spicy Chai.”

As of January 2024, the US tea market is a USD $1.9 billion industry. Premium tea accounts for 66% of total tea sales in the US and continues to drive category growth, according to research conducted by Circana on behalf of Clipper Tea. Organic tea accounts for 22% of sales in the US, which has also seen significant growth year over year while non-organic tea sales decline. Millennial shoppers, specifically, show a preference for organic teas, accounting for 28% of total organic tea sales.

Clipper Tea’s commitment to providing tea that is natural, fair and delicious, uniquely positions the company to meet US consumers where they are across all tea segments with organic premium teas that have a joyful brand personality, are sourced ethically and feature bold, 100% natural flavours.

Fortune Business Insights data demonstrates consumers are increasingly drawn to unique blends, and the demand for decaf teas is projected to increase at an 11.1% CAGR between now and 2030 as well. Both of Clipper Tea’s new flavours meet these consumer trends as natural, delicious and caffeine-free blends.

While chai teas often contain caffeinated black tea, Clipper Tea’s Organic Spicy Chai Herbal Tea packs a powerful, flavourful punch infused with a delightful and warming blend of cinnamon, fennel seeds and black pepper that is naturally free of caffeine.

The new revitalising Organic Mint Herbal Tea is also naturally caffeine free and meets an increased consumer demand for non-caffeinated, herbal tea, a market projected to grow at a 7.2% CAGR from 2023-2032 according to market.us.

Like all Clipper Tea varieties, the new flavours are meticulously crafted by Clipper Tea’s “tea guys”, Dan and James, who work tirelessly and travel the world to source from premium organic and Fairtrade gardens that support biodiversity, hand-selecting and blending top-tier herbs in Dorset, England, to create unique, natural teas that taste the best and capture the power of nature.

Clipper’s Organic Spicy Chai Herbal Tea and Organic Mint Herbal Tea have a MSRP of USD $6.99 per box, which comes with 20 servings of tea.

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The steep hills of ‘misty Munnar’ are covered in the recognisable patterns of tea bushes, interspersed with rushing waterfalls – unless there has been an unusual period of dry weather. When I visited in March, instead of the promised view of the rapid torrents of the Attukad waterfalls, the falls were simply bare rock – and the same was true for several of the other waterfalls for which the area is well known.

According to the Indian Tea Association, there are 13,000 hectares planted with tea in the Munnar region, producing 27 million kg of tea per year, with elevations from 950 to 2,600 metres above sea level. Finlay acquired 33 tea estates in 1895, and in 1964 formed a collaborative group with Indian conglomerate Tata, the Tata-Finlay Group (now Tata Consumer Products). Tata’s tea plantations were transferred in 2005 to Kannan Devan Hils Produce Company, which today manages 16 estates spread over 8,600 hectares of land.

Another major producer in the region is Harrisons Malayalam Ltd. Reached by corkscrew roads and hairpin bends, the Lockhart estate was originally planted in 1879 by Baron George Otto Von Rosenberg and was among the first tea gardens to be planted in Munnar. Today the estate’s 645.25 hectares process 21 tonnes of tea per day, as well as housing a tea museum and home-stay bungalows for tourists.

My visit to the Lockhart tea estate began with a tour of the factory. Our guide explained that the factory only uses orthodox methods as opposed to the CTC (crush, tear, curl) method, which was invented in Assam and is widely used for black tea in India.

The factory produces white tea, green tea and different grades of black tea including OP (Orange Pekoe), TFP (Tippy Flowery Pekoe), and FD (Fine Dust). All its tea production is exported to 18 countries (mainly in Europe) and is used in 17 brands.

While leaves for white and green teas are plucked by hand, shears are used to cut the leaves for black tea. The bud used for the highly prized white tea does not undergo processing. The two leaves and a bud used for green tea are heated and then dried to stop fermentation. The leaves destined for black tea go through six processes: withering, rolling, fermentation, drying, sifting, and sorting.

We were able to see all of these processes during the factory tour. As part of the sifting process, once the tea leaves the dryer, electrostatic technology is used to remove the fibres. This by-product goes to make henna dyes that are used throughout India.

Pictured: the byproduct fibres, image: Neil McRitchie

Our tour ended with a cupping during which we tried the four main types of tea produced at Lockhart: the delicate white tea, the longer strands of Orange Pekoe, the bright TFP and the slightly harsher flavour of fine dust.

Lockhart is owned by Harrisons Malayalam Ltd, which has been part of the Indian RPG Group since 1988. Having acquired smaller companies and individual estates over many years, Harrisons Malayalam today produces 20 million kg of tea per year, in equal quantities of CTC and Orthodox teas. It has a planted area of 6,000 hectares in southern India, operating 13 tea estates and 11 factories. It also happens to be the country’s largest pineapple producer.

Of the many tea plantations around Munnar, the Kolukkamalai tea estate on the border of Keraala and Tamil Nadu is celebrated for being the highest in the world, at an altitude of 2,170 metres (7,120 ft) above sea level, which gives the tea a distinct, fresh flavour.

While perhaps not as celebrated as Assam or Darjeeling, the tea hills of Munnar are a beautiful part of India’s tea landscape. The cooler weather of hill station is popular with holiday makers escaping the heat of the Indian plains, and the local tea industry has taken advantage of this, with many tea estates offering tours, museums, and accommodation in the form of homestays or boutique hotels.

While Lockhart wasn’t proclaiming any particular sustainability credentials, Munnar as a whole is striving to recycle and reduce waste. Conservation efforts such as tree planting for shade, rewilding and nature sanctuaries have made Munnar a popular ecotourism destination. The Keralan city, Kochi, has the first airport to be fully run on solar power. For a British tourist escaping the cold and wet of the UK, this was a trip to remember.

• Sarah McRitchie is the editorial director of Bell Publishing, parent company of Tea & Coffee Trade Journal. She may be reached at: sarah@bellpublishing.com. 

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The Unbelievably Sweet Files

To help bust the myth that Pure Leaf Zero Sugar Sweet Tea can’t be sweet and delicious without sugar, Pure Leaf today unveiled its “Unbelievably Sweet Files” campaign, which includes:

• A video starring Emily and Celeste, in which they uncover the truth of the new Zero Sugar Sweet Tea.
• A national promotion, calling on fans to submit their out-of-this-world accounts on PureLeafZeroSugar.com. The most unbelievable stories will be chosen, and winners will receive a Pure Leaf Zero Sugar Prize Pack, including the new Zero Sugar Sweet Tea and a selection of holographic stickers. Submissions will be open until April 26th.
• A multi-city tour kicking off next week, in three of America’s historically mystifying cities – New Orleans (3 April), Boston (5 April), and Chicago (7 April). Consumers can “sip it to believe it” with complimentary Pure Leaf Zero Sugar Sweet Tea tastings at each stop.

“A delicious zero sugar sweet tea that actually tastes good seems like a dream, which is why I’m thrilled Pure Leaf has nailed it,” says actor Emily Alyn Lind. “Celeste and I have had a blast finding a sweet tea that satisfies your cravings without a load of extra sugar. You have to taste it to believe it.”

“This sweet, iced tea tastes truly incredible,” adds actor Celeste O’Connor. “It really is hard to believe it has zero sugar. Emily and I both love a good mystery, so we’re excited to help tea lovers uncover this new truth: sweet tea doesn’t need sugar to be deliciously sweet and satisfying.”

Real brewed and deliciously sweet, minus the sugar
As with every bottle of Pure Leaf Iced Tea, Pure Leaf Zero Sugar Sweet Tea is made from freshly picked, high-quality black tea leaves brewed fresh for each batch – creating a smooth, woody aroma with the perfect level of sweetness. Real brewed without artificial flavors, colors, concentrates, or preservatives, each bottle contains zero calories and zero grams of sugar.

“Bringing our first-ever Zero Sugar Sweet Tea product to market has been a long time coming,” says Julie Raheja-Perera, General Manager, North America, Pepsi Lipton Partnership. “We know this is an iced tea option consumers are looking for today, and we took the time needed to perfect our recipe. We wanted to make the delicious taste of sweet tea happen without sugar, while keeping Pure Leaf’s standards of real, freshly brewed tea that consumers have come to know and love. Partnering with Celeste and Emily to help consumers believe this unbelievable product has been a fun way to explore the phenomenon together.”

For more information on the new Pure Leaf Zero Sugar Sweet Tea, visit www.PureLeafZeroSugar.com. You can also learn more about Pure Leaf’s robust lineup of flavors – including a brand-new Blackberry flavor – by visiting www.PureLeaf.com or following @PureLeaf on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

No purchase necessary. Open to all 50 US & DC legal residents, 18+ (19+ in AL/NE). Sweepstakes ends 26/4/24. See Official Rules.

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For the second year in a row, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal and Firsd Tea North America conducted their tea sustainability perspectives survey to better understand how professionals within tea and related industries perceived sustainability. They discovered overwhelming apprehension about the risk of climate change on operations, cautious hope for the future, and an under-prioritisation of sustainability when selecting teas to offer consumers. By continuing this survey on an annual basis, the report provides a better, longer range view of patterns and changing trends. This year’s findings have been published in the 2023 Sustainability Perspectives Report and are available online at blog.firsdtea.com/news.

This second installment in the two-article series examines respondents’ perspectives and attitudes towards tea sustainability on a more personal level, ranging from their views on third-party certifications to countries’ individual performances to implications to progress and next steps.

General impressions remain positive

One of the first things to note is the overall positive direction that respondents feel is taking place. As
covered in the previous article in this series, 73 percent of respondents indicated the belief that tea
implements sustainability very well or somewhat well. In comparison, 68 percent believed coffee performed within those same parameters.

Additionally, the sustainability reputations of several producing countries improved. Questions regarding producing countries did not distinguish between the countries’ performance in environmental and social welfare, but instead focused on an overall view of country performance. Japan still remained the leader (96 percent), but remarkable differences did surface from 2022.

Though every country witnessed positive increases among survey-takers, Vietnam (+37 percent), Kenya
(+33 percent), China (+26 percent), and Sri Lanka (+26 percent) saw significant improvements in 2023 from the 2022 study.

Respondents also expressed general optimism in the industry’s sustainability direction. When asked to rank how the tea industry performed with sustainability ten years ago on a scale of one to ten, with one being the worst and ten being the best, the average score was 4.9. This score was 0.9 higher than last year’s average score. Rankings of the tea industry’s current performance was 6.38, up 1.38 points over the 2022 average. Average rankings of how the tea industry will perform ten years from now were also up, from 6.9 in 2022 to 7.79 in 2023.

Areas of concern

While respondents had positive outlooks on some general aspects, their answers also revealed areas of
greater concern. A total of 66 percent of respondents felt that the tea industry did well in improving the
livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Estimates usually put about 60 percent of the world’s tea as coming from smallholders, so a thriving smallholder community is important to the tea industry. In terms of workers’ rights, 64 percent believed the tea industry performed very or somewhat well, and gender equity scored 58 percent.

Image: Firsd Tea

A write-in comments section provided some further elaboration. Respondents noted the importance of smallholders receiving a living income and increased training. Worker protection and welfare are also important considerations for those in processing facilities and migrant harvest workers, though these were not mentioned.

Social welfare concerns and certifications

When asked what standards respondents in tea and related industries were most important to consumers, the results reinforced the previous study – 95 percent said organic certification led the way versus 85 percent in 2022. Non-GMO surpassed Fair Trade as the second most important standard to consumers in the eyes of tea and related industry professionals (81 percent to 68 percent, respectively). Rainforest Alliance (53 percent) remained in fourth place.

Though most respondents remain worried about climate change, they continue to rank ‘sustainability’ as a low-priority factor when selecting teas for their businesses. In 2023, respondents still listed flavour (96 percent), leaf grade (91 percent) and origin/terroir (90 percent) as the top three characteristics that contributed to their decisions to stock particular tea types.

Implications

The report paints a largely positive picture of overall tea industry sustainability progress. Respondents tend to feel that improvements are being made both overall and in the perception of particular producing countries. They also remain generally optimistic about the future. However, the report points to key areas for further action and research.

1.  Continued surveys will help reveal industry trends and shifts. While corporate sustainability reports and sustainability certifications provide more of the ‘harder’ metrics on gaps and progress, the perspectives report continues to provide the ‘softer’ metrics that indicate motivations and readiness for change. As such, the survey has become a
   barometer for the industry to assess readiness and acceptance of change within the overall tea product ecosystem.
2. Human welfare concerns are voiced less frequently, or less distinctly. The survey asked respondents about the tea industry’s performance in poverty reduction and investment in safe and caring communities, but favourable and unfavourable views were fairly evenly split. That does not necessarily suggest all tea-producing countries or regions are lagging in these areas. Tea producers are presented here with an opportunity to show and tell consumers how their work develops local communities and promotes economic sustainability at origin.
3. Tea’s contributions along the spectrum of sustainable human development can be given greater prominence. Across different parts of the globe, the tea industry is contributing to ending poverty and providing clean water. In other, more established areas, the tea farmers are improving their lives with access to better education for their children. Still other places are addressing gender inequality and social justice issues. While these sustainability goals can occur in tandem and may not be completely inseparable, they can be presented on a spectrum of more life-essential up to a higher-order development. The opportunity to better understand human welfare gains (and regressions) along the spectrum are important, along with the varying needs and situations of individual producing countries.

While the previous article’s view on environmental sustainability issues emphasised bridging gaps between retailers’ and consumers’ priorities, the concerns of human welfare suggest a greater onus on retailers and those upstream to give richer accounts of the importance (and impact) of sustainability on human welfare across the global tea industry. Tea farms across various countries, and even regions within countries, need a wider range of sustainability solutions to tackle poverty, equality, economic infrastructure, and more. In fact, multiple sectors of agriculture are sounding alarm bells on the topic of fair and living wages for farmers, so farmer livelihood will likely become a topic that receives greater
attention.

Firsd Tea and the Tea & Coffee Trade Journal would like to thank all of the members of the tea, coffee, and cocoa industries who contributed to the survey. A diverse range of respondents from across the world and across the supply chains provided us with their distinctive insights. It is our hope that the survey report continues to spark change and dialogue on the importance of sustainability practices as they affect the future of these global industries and their consumers.

• Jason Walker is marketing director of Firsd Tea North America. Prior to his work with Firsd Tea, Walker served in a variety of roles in tea and beverage business capacities. His experience includes business services for small tea companies, a top-ranked online destination for tea consumer education and co-founding a coffee business. His insights draw upon his diverse range of experience in sales, operations and management in the tea world. He may be reached at: jason.walker@firsdtea.com

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Producers from all over the world submitted teas to be evaluated by a panel of expert judges. Teas were sampled and scored live on the World Tea Expo Stage on merits of leaf style, make, cup character, liquor, appearance and overall finish.

Categories and Winners of the 2024 Beverage Challenge can be found below:

• Grand Champion: Siddha Devi Tea Estate Pvt Ltd –  White Tea/Silver Wings
• Best Leaf: Brook37 The Atelier – Oolong Tea /Moonlight Stroll
• Best Liquor: Siddha Devi Tea Estate Pvt Ltd –  White Tea/Silver Wings
• Best White Tea: Siddha Devi Tea Estate Pvt Ltd –  White Tea/Silver Wings
• Best Green Tea: Tea J Tea – Green /Fishhook
• Best Oolong Tea: Brook37 The Atelier – Oolong Tea /Moonlight Stroll
• Best Black Tea: Panilkanda Tea Factory- Black Tea/FBOPF Extra Special
• Best Pu-erh: Wuhan YSBIO Organic. – Puerh/ Pu-erh Palace

Origins Award Winners:

• Origin Winner- Vietnam: Tea J Tea – Green /Fishhook
• Origin Winner- Sri Lanka: Panilkanda Tea Factory- Black Tea/FBOPF Extra Special
• Origin Winner- China: Marathon Gardens – Green/ RuShan Green
• Origin Winner- Japan: Chicago TeaHouse-  Japanese Green
• Origin Winner- Guatemala: Serendipitea –  Black/ Leaf 38
• Origin Winner- Kenya: LeafBerri Co. LLC – Black/ Aberdares Gold
• Origin Winner- Republic of Korea: Wild Orchard Tea Company –  Green/After Rain
• Origin Winner- Myanmar: Pan Kaung Kin Company –   Black/Gold Tea
• Origin Winner- New Zealand: Zealong Tea Estate –  Green/Whole Leaf
• Origin Winner- Taiwan: MUA YIK TEA –  Black/Small Leaf
• Origin Winner- Turkiye: Dem Istanbul-  Black/ Tirebolu BOP
• Origin Winner- India: Brook37 The Atelier – Oolong Tea /Moonlight Stroll
• Origin Winner- Nepal: Siddha Devi Tea Estate Pvt Ltd –  White Tea/Silver Wings

“The Beverage Challenge celebrates diversity, innovation in flavor and the artistry of tea,” said Tim McLucas, vice president of Bar & Restaurant Group. “I commend each of these participants for showcasing such quality products in this spirited competition. Congratulations to the winners of these prestigious titles.”

For more information about World Tea Expo, visit here.

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While innovation and new/upgraded technology are always key themes, similar to most exhibitions of late, the main theme was sustainable innovation, with exhibitors touting their sustainable/eco-friendly machinery and initiatives.

For example, Cimbria’s new SEA.IQ Optical Sorter is designed to recognise all defects and imperfections. It features cameras with integrated RGB, NIR and SWIR or UV working multifrequency to match multiple data collected during thousands of scans per second.

Goglio introduced a coffee capsule equipped with a degassing valve. This design makes it possible to immediately package fresh coffee without having to wait for the degassing process, which reduces storage times and preserves the aroma of the coffee. The capsule is also available in a 100% compostable version to meet the regulations being discussed in Italy and Europe, and is already certified as industrially compostable.

Mikafi, a Swiss startup, launched its electric tabletop roasting machine at Host Milan. The founders believe that in a world where sustainability, personalisation, and quality experiences are becoming more important, coffee roasting must be ‘rethought’. Designed for the HoReCa market, and in partnership with Thermoplan, the MikafiOne is a fully automated roasting system that uses AI and IoT that offers pre-programmed roast profiles – so non-baristas or inexperienced roasters can use it – as well as customisable roast profiles. “Anyone can roast the coffee, you do not need a roast master and it frees up the barista, said co-founder and CPO, Claudio Vögtli. He shared that the MikafiOne roasts 1 kilo of coffee, which enables businesses to offer a special roast daily in addition to their standard coffee assortment.

Caffe Vergnano was highlighting its ‘Women in Coffee’, which is the company’s women-focused sustainability initiative developed by CEO Carolina Vergnano. Launched in 2018 in collaboration with the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA), the initiative is aimed at supporting women working in small coffee plantations. The initial project in 2019 focused on the Dominican Republic, followed by Honduras beginning in 2020. This year’s project is a further evolution of the Honduras initiative, which will provide equipment for the library (that was built between 2021 and 2022) and a cafeteria. Proceeds from the Women in Coffee items – all pink – that are sold online and in WIC Cafés around the world, contribute to the project. For more information or to purchase items, visit caffevergnano.com.

After being decimated during the pandemic as stay-at-home orders were implemented globally, the office coffee service (OCS) industry is making a comeback this year. At Host Milan, OCS machine manufacturers exhibited a range of products that are stylish, fully automated, offer high quality beverages, and, most importantly, are durable, easy to use and easy to maintain. Bravilor Bonamat, Rancillo and Bunn were just a few of the companies that showcased the latest in OCS technology.

The 44th edition of Host Milan will be held at fieramilano from 17 to 21 October 2025.

• Vanessa L Facenda, editor, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal.
  Keep in touch via email: vanessa@bellpublishing.com Twitter: @TCTradeJournal or LinkedIn: Tea & Coffee Trade Journal

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Coffee grew 5%, primarily driven by the strong performance of Costa® coffee in the United Kingdom and China. Tea grew 1%, primarily driven by growth in Latin America, partially offset by a decline in doğadan® in Türkiye. North America unit case volume declined 1%, as growth in sparkling flavours and juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverages was more than offset by declines in water, sports, coffee and tea as well as Trademark Coca-Cola®.

Net revenues grew 6% to USD $12.0 billion, and organic revenues (non-GAAP) grew 11%. Revenue performance included 10% growth in price/mix and 1% growth in concentrate sales. Concentrate sales were 1 point ahead of unit case volume, largely due to the timing of concentrate shipments.

Operating margin was 20.1% versus 20.7% in the prior year, while comparable operating margin (non-GAAP) was 31.6% versus 30.7% in the prior year. Operating margin decline was primarily driven by items impacting comparability and currency headwinds. Comparable operating margin (non-GAAP) expansion was primarily driven by strong topline growth and the impact of refranchising bottling operations, partially offset by an increase in marketing investments and higher operating costs versus the prior year, as well as currency headwinds.

EPS (earning per share) grew 34% to $0.59, and comparable EPS (non-GAAP) grew 11% to $0.78. Comparable EPS (non-GAAP) performance included the impact of a 6-point currency headwind.

In terms of market share, Coca-Cola gained value share in total nonalcoholic ready-to-drink (NARTD) beverages.

Cash flow from operations was $4.6 billion year-to-date, an increase of $83 million versus the prior year, driven by strong business performance and working capital initiatives, partially offset by the transition tax payment made during the second quarter. Free cash flow (non-GAAP) was $4.0 billion year-to-date, a decline of $45 million versus the prior year.

“I am encouraged that our all-weather strategy, working together with our bottling partners, has delivered strong second quarter results,” said James Quincey, chairman and CEO of Atlanta, Georgia-based The Coca-Cola Company. “We are executing efficiently and effectively on a local level, while maintaining flexibility on a global level. The strength of our first half results and the resiliency of our business gives us the confidence to raise our 2023 guidance.”

To support the company’s goal to reduce carbon emissions by 25% by 2030, against a 2015 baseline, The Coca-Cola Company and eight leading global bottling partners created a first-of-its-kind sustainability-focused $137.7 million venture capital fund in partnership with Greycroft, a seed-to-growth venture capital firm. The fund aligns with the company’s networked approach to sustainability and has the potential to help advance solutions across its global value chain by investing in sustainability-focused companies at the point of commercialisation. Reducing the Coca-Cola system’s carbon footprint is a top priority for the fund, so it will initially prioritise five key areas with the most potential impact: packaging, heating and cooling, facility decarbonisation, distribution and supply chain.

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