Sara Lee to Acquire Tea Forte

Sara Lee Corp. announces it has acquired Tea Fort, a Massachusetts-based company in the ultra-premium tea category, for an undisclosed sum. With this acquisition Sara Lee strengthens its expertise and presence in the fast-growing segment of luxury teas.

 

“Acquiring Tea Fort fits perfectly into our strategy to spin off ‘CoffeeTeaCo’ as a pure-play coffee and tea company poised for strong growth,” says Jan Bennink, executive chairman of the board, Sara Lee Corp.

 

Tea Fort posted revenues of $12 million in 2011. Founded in 2003 by former Museum of Modern Art designer Peter Hewitt, the company is now present at leading hotels, restaurants and luxury retailers in 35 countries. Tea Fort’s award-winning teas are available in loose format and in the company’s signature pyramid infuser.

 

CoffeeTeaCo will retain the current management team of Tea Fort to run the business independently before integrating it into its international coffee and tea operations.

 

Earlier this year, Sara Lee Corp announced its plans to divide the company into two publicly traded, pure-play entities: one focused on meats in North America and the other focused on the international coffee and tea market. The split is on track to occur during the first half of calendar year 2012.