Jointly developed with Teavana's leading teaologist, Oprah Winfrey's chai tea blend will be available in participating Starbucks and Teavana retail stores in support of youth education
TORONTO, March 19, 2014 /CNW/ - Howard Schultz, chairman, president and ceo of Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), and Oprah Winfrey, global media leader and philanthropist, today announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration to co-create Teavana® Oprah Chai Tea. Beginning April 29, Starbucks will make a donation for each Teavana Oprah Chai product sold in Starbucks and Teavana stores in the U.S. and Canada to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation to benefit educational opportunities for youth.
Oprah Winfrey personally developed the tea with Teavana's leading teaologist Naoko Tsunoda. The distinctive blend of tea, which features a bold infusion of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves, blended with loose-leaf black tea and rooibos, will be made available to customers in time for Mother's Day in the U.S. and Canada in handcrafted latte and loose leaf tea formats.
"I looove tea," said Oprah Winfrey. "My daily tea ritual is a vital part of my morning. Savoury and spicy chai, with its deep flavour, has long been a favourite of mine. When Howard Schultz offered to have me come into the Starbucks tasting room and create my very own tea blend, I thought that sounded like such a unique opportunity and fun to the tenth power. To share one of my favourite things with the rest of the world and support youth education at the same time is truly the perfect blend."
"With the introduction of Teavana Oprah Chai, we are going to elevate the tea experience in the same way we did for coffee," said Schultz. "Partnering with Oprah Winfrey in the creation of this distinctive and remarkable tea is a strong next step forward in accomplishing this objective, while also giving back in a meaningful way through the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation. I am personally humbled to work with such an inspirational leader and visionary who shares so many of our core values and beliefs. I truly believe that, together, we will set the bar for a world-class tea experience at Starbucks and Teavana."
Contributions from sales of Teavana Oprah Chai products will go to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, which provides funding for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls - South Africa and is dedicated to helping its graduates attend colleges and universities. For more information, please visit www.oprah.com/SteepYourSoul
Starbucks Canada Tea Heritage and Future with Teavana
Tea has been a part of Starbucks heritage since 1971, when the company was founded as Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spices. Tea represents a $90B global market and with Canadians consuming almost 9.7 billion cups of tea each year, the market in Canada represents more than $500-million1. For Starbucks Canada, tea is the third largest beverage category. Last year, more than 1 in every 10 beverages sold was a hot or iced tea beverage and Starbucks Chai Tea Latte is consistently among the top five-selling beverages across the country. This year, Starbucks is taking steps to integrate Teavana® teas into its more than 1,300 Canadian company owned and licensed stores, beginning with Teavana Oprah Chai at the end of April.
"Canada is a nation with deep tea heritage, connected by traditions and cultures from around the world," said Richard Burjaw, vice president of marketing for Starbucks Canada. "We're excited to build on this heritage and bring new tea experiences to more Canadians with Teavana teas in our stores."
SteepYourSoul.Com
Also unveiled today is SteepYourSoul.com, a new online destination built around the concept of community featuring original videos and articles that inspire moments of reflection and an insider's look behind-the-scenes at how this partnership came together and how Oprah "steeps her soul.". In addition, starting this Sunday, March 23, Oprah will engage with spiritual thought leaders, best-selling authors and filmmakers about how they personally steep their soul. Interviews will feature Shirley McClain, Arianna Huffington, Gary Zukav, Louis Schwartzberg and Sue Monk Kidd, among many others. The site also features information on the new Teavana Oprah Chai and the youth education organizations that will be supported through this partnership.
Availability
Pricing, availability and additional product information will announced closer to the launch in late April. To learn more about Teavana Oprah Chai Tea, please visit www.teavana.com or www.SteepYourSoul.com.
About Starbucks Corporation
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at www.starbucks.ca.
About Teavana
Founded in 1997, the company offers new tea enthusiasts and tea connoisseurs alike its "Heaven of Tea" retail experience where passionate and knowledgeable "Teaologists" engage and educate them about the ritual and enjoyment of tea. The company's mission is to establish Teavana as the most recognized and respected brand in the tea industry by expanding the culture of tea across the world. For more information, visit www.teavana.com.
About Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation
The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation provides funding for the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls - South Africa and is dedicated to helping its graduates attend colleges and universities. In December 2000, during a visit with Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey pledged to build a school for girls in South Africa. In January 2007, the doors opened to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls - South Africa. Through the Foundation, Oprah has contributed to the empowerment of scores of girls and their families.
| 1 Euromonitor International Tea in Canada report, January 2013 |
Image with caption: "Howard Schultz, chairman, president and ceo of Starbucks, announces a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Oprah Winfrey to co-create Teavana® Oprah Chai Tea, which will be available in Starbucks and Teavana stores just in time for Mother's Day. (CNW Group/Starbucks Coffee Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140319_C6060_PHOTO_EN_38150.jpg
SOURCE: Starbucks Coffee Canada
Media Contact:
Carly Suppa
Starbucks Canada
[email protected]
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