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.
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1 Euromonitor International Tea in Canada report, January 2013
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SOURCE Starbucks Coffee Canada
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
