Steaz
{{Short description|Beverages brand specializing in organic}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Steaz
| logo = SteazLogoNew.png
| logo_caption = Flower logo used on Steaz products
| type = Private
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| foundation = {{Start date|2002}}
| founder = Eric Schnell, Steven Kessler
| defunct =
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| location = Doylestown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| industry = Organic & fair trade green tea beverages
| products = Steaz Iced Green Tea, Steaz Energy
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| num_employees = 8 (2015)
| parent = The Healthy Beverage Company
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| homepage = {{URL|steaz.com}}
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}}
Steaz, a brand of organic green tea-based beverages, was established in 2002 by co-founders Steven Kessler and Eric Schnell. The Steaz brand, headquartered in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, is currently owned by the privately held Healthy Beverage Company.
History
In the 1990s, prior to the founding of Steaz, both Schnell and Kessler were employed at Country Life Vitamins. The business was described as fledgling, but produced a somewhat profitable organic bottled tea product called Long Life Tea.{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2005/07/25/story2.html |title=Soda grows organically - Philadelphia Business Journal |publisher=Bizjournals.com |date= 2005-07-25|access-date=2011-12-23 |first=Peter |last=Van Allen}} Based on this success, the observation that soft drinks were being removed from schools, and the growth in organic products in the United States, Schnell and Kessler decided to pursue the possibility of creating an organic tea-based soda product.{{cite web|url=http://www.organicprocessing.com/opsummer05/opsummer05enterprise.htm |title=OP Summer 05 Enterprise |publisher=Organicprocessing.com |date= |access-date=2011-12-23}}
In 2002, The Healthy Beverage Company was founded by Schnell and Kessler, but their products would be sold under the Steaz brand name. Their first major product was Steaz Green Tea Soda, which was the first USDA Organic certified soda. All Steaz products have since been Certified Organic by Quality Assurance International (QAI) and Fair Trade Certified by TransFair USA.{{cite web |url=http://www.gpi.org/learn-about-glass/glassnews/steaz-turns-heads-with-stylish.html |title=Glass Packaging Institute - Glass News |author= |date= |website=gpi.org |publisher= |access-date= |quote=}} Initially, Steaz products were found only in local groceries and natural food markets. In 2005, Steaz signed an agreement with distributor Polar Beverages, which allowed their products have to become available in some supermarkets.{{cite web|url=http://www.bevnet.com/news/2009/6-23-2009-steaz_mainstream |title=Steaz pushes affordable organic at mainstream |publisher=BevNET.com |date=2009-06-23 |access-date=2011-12-23}} In 2014 and 2015, Steaz also became available at Costco and Target stores.{{cite news|title=Steaz Expands Distribution Into Target|url=http://www.bevnet.com/news/2015/steaz-expands-distribution-into-target|access-date=23 December 2015|work=BevNET|date=13 March 2015}}
In September 2011, Steaz announced its partnership with Whole Planet Foundation to help fund the Foundation's mission to provide entrepreneurs in developing countries with microcredit loans.[https://news.yahoo.com/steaz-pledges-15-000-non-profit-whole-planet-100257225.html Steaz Pledges $15,000 to Non-Profit Whole Planet Foundation to Help Fight World Poverty]
Products
Steaz produces several varieties of canned organic green tea drinks and energy drinks, which include flavors such as peach and mint.{{cite web|url = http://steaz.com/products/|title = product|publisher = Steaz.com|date = |access-date = 2015-08-10}} All products are made using certified fair trade green tea from Kenya, certified fair trade and cane sugar from Paraguay.{{Cite web|title = Fair Trade Tea, Cane Sugar & Ingredients {{!}} STEAZ|url = http://steaz.com/fair-trade/|website = steaz.com|access-date = 2015-08-10}}
Reception and awards
Steaz products have met with generally positive reception. For instance, FastCompany and Greenopia have considered Steaz to be one of the most eco-friendly beverages available.{{cite web|url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/03/prweb3804594.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404075134/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2010/03/prweb3804594.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 4, 2010 |title=Searching for a Sustainable Soda, an Eco-Friendly Energy Drink, or a Natural Juice? Greenopia Updates its Green Beverage Guide |publisher=Prweb.com |date= |access-date=2011-12-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/1602034/honest-tea-santa-cruz-organic-steaz-top-greenopias-list-of-green-beverages |title=Honest Tea, Santa Cruz Organic, Steaz...Top Greenopia's List of Green Beverages |work=Fast Company |date=2010-03-30 |access-date=2011-12-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.greenopia.com/MY/beverages_search.aspx?category=Beverages&Listpage=0&input=&subcategory=None&sort=ratingdesc |title=Greenopia Monterey Environmental Ranking - Green Eco-Friendly Drink Guide |publisher=Greenopia.com |date= |access-date=2011-12-23}} Formal reviews of their individual products have generally been positive,{{cite web|url=http://www.bevnet.com/reviews/steaz_iced_teaz/ |title=Steaz Organic Iced Teaz | BevNET.com Product Review + Ordering |publisher=BevNET.com |date= |access-date=2011-12-23}} although some have noted that Steaz products have similar caloric and sugar content per serving compared to traditional soft drinks such as Coke.
In 2007, Steaz was presented with the Socially Responsible Business Award.{{cite web|url=http://www.smartbrief.com/news/aaaa/industryPR-detail.jsp?id=BBD17664-63C5-4BB4-85C1-CCBDADA23E3A |title=Steaz(R) Launches Organic Iced Teaz(TM) |publisher=SmartBrief |date= |access-date=2011-12-23}} In the same year, Inc. Magazine also named Steaz as the 19th best Food & Beverage company in terms of its company growth; the company's revenue in 2003 was US$980,000 and in 2006, it had increased to $4.1M USD.{{cite web|url=http://www.inc.com/inc5000/profile/steaz |title=Steaz - Newtown, PA - The Inc.5000 |work=Inc.com |date= |access-date=2011-12-23}} It was also considered to be a "top selling brand" in vending machines selling healthy products.{{cite web|url=http://www.vendingmarketwatch.com/news/10525407/fresh-healthy-vending-lists-top-selling-brands-for-2011 |title=Fresh Healthy Vending Lists Top Selling Brands For 2011 |publisher=Vendingmarketwatch.com |date=2011-12-14 |access-date=2011-12-23}}
References
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