Hansen's Launches Line of Green Tea Soda

16 May 2006

Hansen’s Green Tea Sodas have all natural flavors with no artificial colors, no preservatives, no caffeine and no sodium. Diet Hansen’s Green Tea Sodas have no sugar, no carbohydrates, no aspartame, no calories and are sweetened with Splenda.

16/05/06 CORONA, CA - Hansen Beverage Company, a leading marketer and distributor of natural beverages has launched Hansen’s Green Tea Sodas, a new line of luxury sodas that combine the benefits and taste of green tea with several unique natural flavors.

Hansen’s Green Tea Sodas have all natural flavors with no artificial colors, no preservatives, no caffeine and no sodium. Diet Hansen’s Green Tea Sodas have no sugar, no carbohydrates, no aspartame, no calories and are sweetened with Splenda®. The sodas are available in lemon mint, tangerine, pomegranate and ginger, with diet versions available in lemon mint, tangerine and ginger. The sodas maintain the subtle yet distinct taste of green tea, infusing natural flavors to create a unique and savory blend that is certain to tempt even the most discriminating consumer.

Each can of Hansen’s Green Tea Soda contains 35 milligrams of the powerful antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG has 100 times the antioxidant properties of Vitamin E, which is considered to be one of the strongest vitamin anti-oxidants. Green tea has been used as a medicine in China for more than 4,000 years.

“Hansen’s is one of the most trusted names in the natural beverage category,“ said Gregg Arends, vice president of marketing for Hansen Beverage Company. “Hansen’s Green Tea Soda will bring retailers the rapid growth of the ready-to-drink tea category combined with the volume potential of the much larger carbonated beverage category.”

According to industry sources, the ready-to-drink tea category dollar volume, in grocery stores, grew 17.6 percent in 2005 while carbonated soft drink sales posted a small decline. However, the carbonated soft drink category is nearly 10 times the size of the ready-to-drink tea category.

Hansen’s Green Tea Sodas are sold in 4-packs of 16-ounce cans with eye-catching, ultra-premium graphics. There are six 4-packs per case. The suggested retail price is $2.99 per 4-pack. The new line of sodas will be supported by a nationwide print advertising campaign, an FSI campaign in key markets, TV product placement, in-store coupon dispensers and marketing materials and other Hansen’s brand promotions and sponsorships.