India's Tata Tea Group announced it will integrate its tea, coffee and water brands into a single global business unit, with the goal of becoming "a global leader in 'good for you' beverages."

 

Perhaps best known in the United States for its investment in Glaceau Vitaminwater, prior to its acquisition by Coca-Cola, the $1 billion Tata Tea Group includes brands such as Tetley Tea, Tata Tea, Himalayan and the Good Earth speciality teas, and coffees such as Eight O’ Clock Coffee in the United States. The group now will operate under a single management team that will be based in London.

 

Peter Unsworth, chief executive officer of The Tetley Group and a member of the new management group, said: “We want to appeal to consumers who want hydration with flavor, who want to be good to themselves without a cost to the planet and who will smile at their choice of a Tata Tea group brand. We want our business partners to share our aspirations, to help us create and deliver new flavors and concepts to consumers. We want our investors to continue with us on the journey from a regional commodity-focussed business to a focussed, global branded beverage business.

 

“The market opportunity is there to be taken. Despite the global downturn, the longer term growth prospects for our core markets are extremely positive — tea, as in the past, proves to be resilient to recession — and our strategic choices for the future will be in-line with ever evolving consumer needs.”

 

In the United States, Barbara Roth will serve as U.S. regional president. She has been president and chief executive officer of Eight O’Clock Coffee since 2003. The company added that it anticipates a healthy performance in the U.S. marketplace in the coming year and plans to be an innovator in product development and brand awareness.