Ito En
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ITO EN (North America)Ltd. | |
|---|---|
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| Type | Private |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | New York, NY |
| Industry | Beverage |
| Products | Tea |
| Website | [ITO EN] |
ITO EN (伊藤園?) (TYO: 2593) is a Japanese multinational beverage company specializing in tea production, distribution, and sales.[1] ITO EN is the largest green tea distributor in Japan.[2] The Ito En Group includes subsidiaries based in Japan, The United States, and Australia.[3] Its products include unsweetened, bottled green tea and high-end loose leaf tea. ITO EN distributes its products globally, including in the United States, where it has established a flagship retail location in New York City at 822 Madison Avenue and 69th Street.
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[edit] Company information
ITO EN (North America) Inc. was founded in May 2001 with the mission of introducing ITO EN's line of green tea products to the United States, and establishing a culture and interest in authentic green tea in the United States and beyond. In order to accomplish these goals, the company developed a three-tier strategy, simultaneously entering the beverage wholesale, retail, and restaurant industries. In 2002, the Teas' Tea line of natural, unsweetened bottled teas was launched. The product line functions as the centerpiece of ITO EN (North America) Inc., as it demonstrates ITO EN's principles of Natural, Safe, Healthy, Well-Designed, and Delicious. The product line, along with the Gotta Juice line, was first introduced through wholesale distribution in New York City and the Tri-State area. In order to give access to a wider clientèle base, a flagship location was launched on New York's Madison Avenue, home to many of the world's most prestigious retailers. The flagship holds the ITO EN New York store and KAI Restaurant, which have both received positive reviews from critics and the public. The breadth of ITO EN (North America) Inc. is increasing through the development of new beverage and loose leaf tea products, the expansion of its distribution network to a national level, e-commerce, and the growth of its retail and restaurant operations.[4] With the attention of industry, the media, and the public, ITO EN (North America) Inc. is well on its way to making green tea an integral part of the new American culture.
[edit] Within the United States
Within the US the company currently has six lines of products. The pre-brewed teas all contain added vitamin C.
- Tea's Tea, an unsweetened-only variety that focuses on traditional Japanese tea flavors, such as Jasmine and Hoji
- Sencha Shot, an unsweetened-only product that focuses on a concentration of green-tea antioxidants
- ITO EN Natural Fruit Tea, a lineup of sweetened fruit flavored teas
- Oi Ocha, marketed as their "original green tea."
- Café Sepia, a line of tea lattes that contains sugar and milk
- The ITO EN line of loose leaf tea, which they claim includes over 100 varieties
ITO EN also sells a line of high-end teabags, which are available through its website.[5]
In addition to these lines, which are mostly sold in specialty stores in the US as well as on their retail website, the company also maintains a tea store and two restaurants in New York City.
[edit] External links
- (English) ITO EN, LTD.
- (English) ITO EN (North America) INC.
