Unilever boosts tea portfolio with Pukka Herbs acquisition
In a bid to boost its sustainable living brand, PG Tips owner Unilever has acquired herbal tea brand Pukka Herbs for an undisclosed sum.
The €1.6bn organic tea business is the fastest growing organic tea company in the world, according to Euromonitor 2016.
Kevin Havelock, Unilever’s refreshment category president, says, “Both of us believe in business being a force for good in society. The acquisition strengthens our tea business, addressing a gap in our portfolio.
“Pukka is a premium player in the natural, organic, health and wellness segment which is fast-growing, attractive and scalable. We look forward to bringing Pukka to even more consumers.”
Sebastian Pole, Pukka co-founder and master herbsmith, adds, “Choosing Unilever came down to two fundamentals: scale and sustainability. It is a leader in social and environmental change and it wholeheartedly embraces Pukka’s beliefs. So, there’s a meeting of values.
“Pukka will remain 100% organic and a champion for fair trading through pioneering schemes like Fair for Life, and continue to donate 1% of its sales to global environmental charities. With Unilever, we have new levels of reach and opportunity.”
