Which company bought Starbucks’ Tazo tea brand in 2017?

Unilever bought Starbucks’ Tazo tea brand in 2017. The transaction transferred the packaged-tea brand to a company with a large international presence in the tea and beverage sector.

Starbucks had acquired Tazo in 1999 and used it in stores and retail products for many years. The later sale reflected Starbucks’ effort to simplify its consumer packaged-goods portfolio while focusing more closely on its coffee business and other strategic brands.

Tazo’s sale is often mixed up with Starbucks’ purchase of Teavana. Starbucks acquired Teavana in 2012, and the company continued using Teavana products after selling Tazo. These were separate tea brands with different histories and retail identities.

Unilever’s purchase placed Tazo alongside the company’s broader tea operations. The deal did not mean that Starbucks left the tea category entirely; Starbucks continued selling tea beverages and products under other brands.