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 |
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