RealCup™ Single-Serve Brand Expands Tea Portfolio with Launch of Yogi® Tea Offerings

Four (4) Yogi^® tea varieties debut in recyclable, EcoCup™ capsules

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 25, 2014 /CNW/ - The RealCup™ brand of single-serve capsules for tea and coffee is expanding its product offerings in the recently-launched recyclable EcoCup™ capsule through a new partnership with Yogi^® tea.

Four varieties of top-selling tea blends from Yogi^®, the leading tea brand in the US natural foods channel, will be available in EcoCup™ capsules in select natural and grocery retail stores as well as online starting this fall. EcoCup™ capsules are the newest innovation from the RealCup™ brand, an independent single-serve beverage brand launched by Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee. EcoCup™ capsules are compatible with existing machines in the market that accept K-Cups^® and will be compatible with K2.0 brewers in the near future. To recycle the EcoCup™ capsule, consumers simply pull off the top with an easy-to-use tab, recycle the cup and dispose of the tea and the filter. The EcoCup™ capsule is accepted in many curbside-recycling programs across the country.

"Yogi^® chose RealCup™ capsules for our teas because we share the same values of providing quality products that taste great and that serve the well-being of our customers," said Robin Gabel, Brand Manager, Yogi^® tea. "The EcoCup™ format is the result of that same commitment to providing a sustainable alternative that delivers an authentic, quality experience." For more than 30 years, Yogi^® has innovated in the tea category with purposefully formulated green, black and herbal tea blends that offer delicious flavor and function.

"The EcoCup™ capsule is a perfect fit for housing Yogi^®'s natural and holistic line of teas," said Bill VandenBygaart, VP Business Development, Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee. "The nuances of the tea coupled with the eco-friendliness of the recyclable capsule led to an easy partnership."

EcoCup™ was initially launched in April 2014; single-serve coffee brands, including Marley Coffee®, will be available in the EcoCup™ model in 2015.  In 2012, the RealCup™ brand changed the market for single-serve coffee with a new level of quality and authentic taste delivered by the patented, non-woven FlavorMax™ filter, which allows more of the essential polyphenols into the cup into the cup. With EcoCup™, the brand has further developed the filter and cup to make it recyclable, eco-conscious and the perfect companion for steeping leaf tea to ensure perfect infusions every time.

For more information on the selection of teas initially available for EcoCup™ capsules through Yogi^® Tea, visit www.yogiproducts.com.

About RealCup™ Brand Single-Serve Capsules:

RealCup™ capsules are designed for use with K-Cup® compatible single-serve brewers. RealCup™ single-serve capsules were developed by Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee, one of the largest coffee and tea manufacturers in North America. The company combines state-of-the-art technology and new product innovation with more than 100 years of quality and service excellence to deliver an exceptional beverage experience in mainstream and specialty coffee, tea, and complementary beverages. A leader in the independent single-serve beverage industry, the RealCup™ brand strives to bring sustainability, choice, value and quality to the consumer, both through partner brands and through flexible licensing agreements.

About Yogi^® Tea:

Based in Springfield, Ore., USA, Yogi^® was founded in 1984 and is the No. 1 selling tea in the natural food channel. The Yogi collection combines over 100 exotic spices and botanicals from around the globe to create 60 delicious varieties of green, herbal and black teas rich in both flavor and healthful purpose. All Yogi teas are made with organic ingredients, and many Yogi teas are certified USDA organic. Yogi products are available in the natural food or tea aisle in natural, grocery and mass-market stores across the United States.

*RealCup™ products and Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee are not affiliated with K-Cup® or Keurig Inc. K-Cup® and Keurig® are registered trademarks of Keurig Inc.

SOURCE: RealCup(TM)

Media Contacts: For Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee: Kerry Morgan, 905-273-2491, [email protected]; For Yogi® Tea: Robin Gabel, 1.800.YOGI.TEA, [email protected]