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PepsiCo inks new Tazo Tea deal with Starbucks, Unilever

PURCHASE N.Y. Starbucks Coffee Co. inked a licensing agreement for the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of the coffeehouse chain’s superpremium Tazo Tea ready-to-drink beverages in the United States and Canada. The agreement includes iced teas, juiced teas and herbal infusions. —PepsiCo Inc., Unilever and

Tazo’s ready-to-drink line will become part of Pepsi/Lipton Tea Partnership, which expands the joint venture between PepsiCo and Unilever, based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. —PepsiCo Inc., Unilever and

The bottled beverages, which currently are sold in Starbucks and other outlets, will be made available nationwide through the PepsiCo bottling system starting in mid-October. —PepsiCo Inc., Unilever and

“By joining forces with the Pepsi/Lipton Tea Partnership, we’re tapping into a long history of innovation and expertise in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of refreshment beverages,” said Gerry Lopez, president of Global Consumer Products, Foodservice and Seattle’s Best Coffee. “This move puts us in a prime position to take our successful Tazo bottled-tea business to an even higher level.” —PepsiCo Inc., Unilever and

Seattle-based Starbucks’ relationship with PepsiCo began in 1994, when the two firms established the North American Coffee Partnership, a joint venture that helped build the ready-to-drink coffee category through the distribution of Starbucks’ bottled Frappuccino, Doubleshot espresso and other beverages. —PepsiCo Inc., Unilever and

The Nielsen Co. said sales of ready-to-drink teas grew 6.6 percent in the year ended in July. —PepsiCo Inc., Unilever and

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