Trends: Starbucks to launch Teavana brand in the UK

By Sophie Witts

- Last updated on GMT

Starbucks to launch Teavana brand in the UK

Related tags Coffee

Starbucks is set to launch its Teavana brand in the UK this year in a bid to channel ‘teahouse’ culture in to its stores.

The coffee chain will debut a range of shaken iced teas nationwide this summer, with varieties including Mango Black and alcohol-free Blackberry Mojito.

A selection of hot teas and lattes, including matcha and rooibos flavours, will hit UK stores in the autumn.

It marks the European debut of the brand, currently only available in the US and Canada, ahead of a planned roll-out across the Middle East and Africa later this year.

Charlotta Oldham, Starbucks tea category manager EMEA, told BigHospitality that the teas had been a ‘fantastic’ success in the USA and was confident that the drinks would strike a chord with the UK’s more discerning tea drinkers.

​Our mission is to create a modern day tea culture with the highest quality, most innovative tea products and experiences that we hope our customers will enjoy,” she said.

Brewing trend

Starbucks’ profits climbed from $16.4bn to $19.2bn in 2014-15, with the company naming tea as the fastest growing beverage in its US stores.

A renewed interest in the varieties and health benefits of tea is driving a resurgence of the drink on UK high streets​, with total tea sales in coffee shops now estimated at £305m​.

Teavana's launch is the latest shake-up of Starbucks' UK offering, after the chain began serving hot food, wine and beer at its Stansted airport site​ in a bid to boost evening trade.

Originally founded by a husband and wife team in Atlanta in 1997, Teavana was bought by Starbucks for $620m in cash in 2012.

Starbucks is serving up nine Teavana varieties to guests at the London Coffee Festival until 10 April.

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