| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Rona Tison Elizabeth Kellogg ITO EN (North America) INC. CKPR (707) 327-6413 (212) 251-1210 rtison@itoen.com ekellogg@ckpr.biz ITO EN EXPANDS PRESENCE IN MAINSTREAM SUPERMARKET CHAINS
...company extends its green tea offerings into supermarkets across the country
NEW YORK (December 17, 2007) – ITO EN has some good news for consumers looking to satisfy their taste for tea. The company’s tea beverages are now being offered at additional Kroger, Publix, Safeway and Wal-Mart supermarkets across the country. As a result, over 6,400 additional stores nationwide will carry ITO EN products. The expansion effort is a response to growing consumer demand for authentic green tea – especially unsweetened green tea beverages. ITO EN, renowned for its loose leaf and ready-to-drink green tea beverages, originally sold its product lines at specialty retailers and natural food markets. As consumer awareness of the health benefits of green tea grew, so did the demand for high-quality, green tea beverages. The company then broadened its’ distribution to meet consumer demand, moving into mass merchandise and more mainstream grocery stores across the United States. “We’re thrilled to be moving product into numerous Kroger, Publix, Safeway and Wal-Mart stores across the country,” states Rona Tison, senior vice president of corporate relations for ITO EN (North America) INC. “Our expansion into more mainstream supermarkets shows how popular green tea has become in recent years. And with the growing body of research pointing to its’ numerous health benefits, the request for unsweetened green tea beverages is rapidly growing.” Product offerings at each supermarket will vary. ITO EN’s product lines include:
In addition to being sold at mass merchandise stores, grocery stores and specialty retailers, ITO EN products can also be purchased online at www.itoen.com. About ITO EN Established in 1966, Japan-based ITO EN, LTD. was founded to market green tea, a traditional Japanese beverage. Today, ITO EN, LTD. is firmly positioned as the world's leading supplier of green tea leaves and green tea beverages, developing a steady stream of new products that specifically address customer needs and lifestyles. Known as a trendsetter in Japan's beverage industry, intensive research and development has allowed the company to cultivate better tea and positioned them as the first company to create a patented method of bottling green tea in a manner that carefully preserves its distinct flavor and integrity. Additional information can be accessed through www.itoen.com. |