Teavana

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Teavana Corporation
TypeSubsidiary
IndustryBeverage
Founded1997; 25 years ago (1997)
Phipps Plaza
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Headquarters2401 Utah Avenue South,
Seattle, Washington
,
U.S.
ProductsLoose-Leaf Tea
Made-to-order tea beverages
Tea-Related Products
ParentStarbucks (2012–present)
Websitewww.teavana.com

Teavana Corporation is an American tea company, which previously had locations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East.[1] On December 31, 2012, Starbucks acquired Teavana in a deal with an estimated value of $620 million.[2] On July 27, 2017, Starbucks announced it would close all 379 Teavana stores by 2018. However, a very limited variety of Teavana products continue to be sold at Starbucks.

History[]

The New York Stock Exchange on July 28, 2011, when Teavana had its initial public offering, which raised roughly $121 million.

Teavana was started in Atlanta, Georgia in 1997, with the opening of a teahouse at Phipps Plaza.[3] Teavana was founded by Andrew T. Mack, and his wife, who invested their life savings into the business.[4] Their idea was inspired by a road trip, noticing the gravitation of Americans towards fine wines and coffees in the United States.[5]

In late 2012, Starbucks stated that it would pay $620 million in cash to buy the company.[6] Three class-action lawsuits were commenced by shareholders of Teavana concerning the Starbucks buyout; these were settled on December 14, 2012 (subject to court approval).[7] The acquisition of Teavana by Starbucks was formally closed on December 31, 2012.[2][8] On July 27, 2017, Starbucks announced it would close all 379 Teavana stores by 2018, partly due to underperformance.[9] However, in 2017, Simon Malls sued Starbucks over Teavana closures.

Products[]

Teavana currently offers two types of tea after being downsized: hot tea sachets and premade iced tea. Their drinks can be found at most Starbucks locations, as well as in many supermarkets and stores where tea is sold.

Teavana previously offered premium loose-leaf teas and herbal infusions, with tea categories such as: white, black, green, flavored & scented green, "blooming" white, black, flavored & scented black, oolong, and pu-erh teas, along with rooibos, herbal, organic matcha green tea, blooming tea, and Yerba Maté infusions. Teavana retail stores had previously offered various blends of each type of tea, and consistently promoted cross blending different types of tea.[10] Teas were offered in several formats, such as loose-leaf tea, pre-filled tea tins, and tea sachets, or brewed as a to-go beverage.

In addition to high-quality loose tea, Teavana sold teaware products, including cast iron Tetsubin teapots, Bone China teapots, Japanese porcelain teapots and cups, stove-top kettles, electric kettles, milk frothers and automatic tea makers (produced by Australian company Breville), Japanese hot water dispensers and electric tea makers (produced by Zojirushi), tea measures, tea infusion and steeping wares such as the Teavana® Perfectea Maker, contour tumblers, and tea infuser mugs. Teavana also sold all-natural rock sugar (non-GMO beet sugar) sourced from Belgium.[11]

Stores[]

Teavana in Nashville, Tennessee.

Teavana's specialty retail stores were usually located in upscale shopping malls and designed to be "part tea bar, part tea emporium."[12] Individual cups of tea to go are offered for sale, and the retail locations offer free samples of various tea blends and tea varieties at their front door and within the store. There were over 100 loose-leaf teas available on the Tea Wall to try. Accessories for tea-drinking, such as cups and pots were also available in the stores.[13]

On July 27, 2017, parent company Starbucks announced the full closure of all 379 Teavana retail locations, to be completed by the second quarter of 2018.[14] Simon Property Group, one of the largest U.S. mall operators, demanded Starbucks keep running the Teavana shops located in its malls, arguing in part that their closing would reduce traffic to surrounding stores and in December 2017 a judge ruled in Simon's favor.[15] On September 15, 2017 Cadillac Fairview sued Starbucks over Teavana closures in Canada.[16]

However, on January 18, 2018, Simon and Starbucks reached an agreement that would close the remaining 77 Teavana stores in Simon malls, ending the tea shop's existence as independent storefronts after nearly 21 years in business.[17]

Philanthropy[]

Between partners[]

Teavana partnered with a few charities and organizations to help give back. Starbucks and Teavana are known for providing jobs to veterans and military spouses, and have hired over 4,000 total. They also help their partners enroll in Arizona State online classes through their College Achievement Plan.[18]

Supporting youth education[]

In April 2014, Starbucks and Teavana collaborated with Oprah Winfrey to develop a tea called Teavana Oprah Chai Tea, along with additional tea accessories. For every sale of Oprah Chai Tea products, Starbucks would make a donation to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Foundation Academy, which supports youth education and funds the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa.[19] Teavana and Starbucks have raised $5M in support of education for young people with the chai tea. In result of the partnership, Teavana then partnered with the New York-based organization Girls, Inc. to further support youth education and mentorship.[18]

Ethical tea partnership[]

On April 1, 2015, Teavana joined the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP), an initiative that ensures ethical production and distribution of tea products, by "factory health and safety, safe use of agrochemicals, human resource management, and environmental management." The ETP also monitors for issues that cannot be tracked with audits and certification, such as discrimination and living conditions of the workers.[20]

See also[]

  • Tazo, another tea brand, formerly owned by Starbucks

References[]

  1. ^ "Map of retail locations". Teavana. Archived from the original on May 3, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Allison, Melissa (December 31, 2012). "Starbucks closes Teavana deal". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 1, 2013.
  3. ^ SanSone, Arricca Elin; Frere, Jackie (2019-10-04). "The Iconic Stores You Grew up With That Are No Longer Around". Good Housekeeping. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  4. ^ Holden, Ronald. "Starbucks Shutters All 379 Teavana Stores". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  5. ^ Rubner, Justin (February 7, 2005). "Leaves of Green". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "Starbucks Buys Teavana". Huffington Post. 2012-11-15.
  7. ^ Gasparro, Annie (2012-12-14). "Teavana Reaches Settlement With Shareholders Over Starbucks Deal". Deal Journal. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  8. ^ "Starbucks Closes Teavana Acquisition" (Press release). Starbucks Newsroom. 2012-12-31. Archived from the original on 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
  9. ^ "Starbucks is shutting all Teavana stores". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 2017-07-27. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  10. ^ "Teavanna Tea Blends". Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  11. ^ "Teavana® Belgian Rock Sugar 1 Lb". Teavana Store. Archived from the original on 2018-01-12. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  12. ^ "About Us". Teavana. Archived from the original on 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
  13. ^ Taylor, Kate. "Starbucks is the latest victim of the retail apocalypse". Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  14. ^ Hirsch, Lauren (November 2, 2017). "Starbucks tanks on revenue miss, to sell Tazo tea brand to Unilever". CNBC. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  15. ^ Peterson, Hayley (2018-01-01). "A tsunami of store closings is about to hit the US — and it's expected to eclipse the retail carnage of 2017". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-01-03.
  16. ^ "Cadillac Fairview Sues Starbucks Over Teavana Closures". Retail Insider. September 18, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  17. ^ "Starbucks and Simon Reach Agreement in Teavana Store Closure Dispute". Commercial Observer. 2018-01-18. Retrieved 2018-01-21.
  18. ^ a b "Giving Back". Teavana. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  19. ^ (2014, April 29)Teavana Oprah chai tea debuts at Starbucks and Teavana stores in the U.S. and Canada. Retrieved November 24, 2014
  20. ^ "What We Do". Ethical Tea Partnership. Retrieved 2016-11-08.

External links[]

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