FDBusiness.com

Nestle Waters is expanding its portfolio of bottled water to include high quality iced teas, lemonades and juices through acquisition. Nestle Waters North America is acquiring the Sweet Leaf Tea Company, including its Sweet Leaf and Tradewinds beverage brands. The acquisition – which remains subject to regulatory approval and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions – follows an initial investment by Nestle Waters in the Sweet Leaf brand in March 2009.

Founded in 1998, the Sweet Leaf Tea Company, which is based in Austin, Texas, is known for its high quality teas and creative consumer communications. Sweet Leaf naturally sweetened products are made with pure cane sugar and premium tea leaves and have been certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Tradewinds brand, founded in 1993, offers authentic, all-natural, brewed iced teas and tropical fruit juice drinks. With combined sales totalling more than $53m in 2010, the two brands’ growth will continue to be managed by the Sweet Leaf Tea Company’s existing staff.

The acquisition will bring Nestle Waters’ increased capabilities to Sweet Leaf Tea Company’s operations, allowing it to make Sweet Leaf and Tradewinds beverages available to more people across the US.

Nestle Waters North America is the leading bottled water company in the US, with sales topping $4b in 2010. In the US, the company produces six regional spring water brands; one nationally distributed purified bottled water named Nestle Pure Life; and three international bottled water brands. Worldwide, Nestle Waters has 64 brands, and operates 97 factories in 36 countries.