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'{{For|people named Lipton|Lipton (surname)}} {{Infobox Brand |name=Lipton |logo= [[File:LIPTON_PRIMARY_RGB_BMT.png|150px]] |image= |type= [[Tea]] |currentowner= [[Unilever]] |introduced= {{Start date and age|1890}} | discontinued = |related= |markets= Worldwide |previousowners = |trademarkregistrations = |website= [http://www.liptontea.com/ www.liptontea.com] }} '''Lipton''' is a [[brand]] of [[tea]] belonging to [[Unilever]]. Lipton was also a supermarket chain in the [[United Kingdom]] before it was sold off to [[Argyll Foods]], to allow the company to focus solely on tea. The company is named after its founder [[Thomas Lipton]]. ==History== : ''For the personal history of Thomas Lipton, see [[Thomas Lipton]].'' ===Supermarkets=== [[File:Allied.GIF|thumb|right|The old Liptons, [[Galbraith supermarkets|Galbraith]], [[R & J Templeton|Templeton]] and [[Presto (UK supermarket)|Presto]] logos]] In 1871 Lipton used his small savings to open his own shop, in [[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]] and by the 1880s the business had grown to more than 200 shops.<ref name="fundinguniverse1">{{cite web|url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Thomas-J-Lipton-Company-Company-History.html |title=History of Thomas J. Lipton Company&nbsp;– FundingUniverse |publisher=Fundinguniverse.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-22}}</ref> In 1929 the Lipton grocery retail business was one of the companies that merged with Home and Colonial Stores, Maypole Dairy Company, Vyes & Boroughs,Templetons, Galbraiths & Pearks to form a food group with more than 3,000 stores. The group traded in the high street under various names, but was registered on the UK stock market as Allied Suppliers.<ref>Allied Stores was originally formed in 1929 to act as the group's purchasing arm.</ref> Lipton's became a supermarket chain focused on small towns, before Allied's acquisition by [[Argyll Foods]] in 1982. The supermarket business was rebranded as [[Presto (UK supermarket)|Presto]] during the 1980s. ===Tea=== [[Thomas Lipton]] began travelling the world for new items to stock in this store, one such item was tea, since sales had doubled from £40 million from the late 1870s to £80 million by the mid-1880s. However, he believed the price was far too high, so in 1890, he purchased his own tea gardens in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, and packaged and sold the first Lipton tea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liptontea.com/article/detail/157721/lipton-history|title=From the tea garden to the tea pot: Sir Thomas Lipton's Vision|work=Lipton® Tea|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref> Staying true to this vision, he arranged packaging and shipping at low costs and sold his tea in packets by the pound (454g), half pound (227g), and quarter pound (113g), with the advertising slogan: "Direct from the tea gardens to the teapot." Lipton teas were an immediate success in the United States. Thomas Lipton was knighted by Queen Victoria, who made him Sir Thomas Lipton in 1898 at the age of forty-eight.<ref name="fundinguniverse1"/> The Lipton tea business was acquired by consumer goods company [[Unilever]] in a number of separate transactions, starting with the purchase of the United States and Canadian Lipton business in 1938 and completed in 1972 when Unilever bought the remainder of the global Lipton business from [[Home and Colonial Stores|Allied Suppliers]]. In 1991, Unilever created a first [[joint venture]] with PepsiCo, the Pepsi Lipton Partnership, for the marketing of [[ready to drink]] (bottled and canned) teas in North America. This was followed in 2003 by a second joint venture, Pepsi-Lipton International (PLI), covering many non-United States markets. PLI was expanded in September 2007 to include a number of large European markets. PepsiCo and Unilever each control 50% of the shares of these joint ventures.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.just-drinks.com/article.aspx?id=91542|title=PepsiCo and Unilever extend partnership|publisher=Just-drinks.com|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref> Due to the [[2008 Chinese milk scandal]], food giant [[Unilever]] started recalling its Lipton milk tea powder in Hong Kong and Macau on 30 September 2008. The tea powder, which used Chinese milk powder as its raw ingredient, was recalled after the company's internal checks found traces of melamine in the powder.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_on_re_as/as_hong_kong_tainted_milk |title=Lipton-brand milk tea powder recalled in Asia |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Yahoo! News |accessdate=2008-09-30 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20081003212837/http://news.yahoo.com:80/s/ap/20080930/ap_on_re_as/as_hong_kong_tainted_milk |archivedate=3 October 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-09-30-liptontea-hongkong_N.htm?csp=34|title=Lipton milk tea powder recalled in Hong Kong |agency=Associated Press|publisher=USA Today|accessdate=2008-09-30 | date=2008-09-30}}</ref> In 2011, [[PETA]] criticized Lipton tea manufacturer [[Unilever]] for conducting and funding experiments on rabbits, pigs and other animals in an attempt to make human health claims about the tea’s ingredients. According to the animal rights organization, Unilever decided to end the practice for Lipton products after receiving more than 40,000 appeals from PETA supporters and days before PETA made plans to launch its “Lipton CruelTEA” campaign. Unilever continues to test other products on animals, arguing it would be unethical to first test those products on humans. <ref>{{cite news|last1=Zelman|first1=Joanna|title=Unilever Ends Animal Testing On Lipton Tea Products After PETA Threatens Major Campaign|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/03/unilever-ends-animal-test_n_818225.html|accessdate=10 February 2015|agency=Huffington Post|date=2 February 2011}}</ref> ===Soup mixes=== Lipton produces instant [[Instant soup|soup mixes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liptontea.com/search/soup|title=: Lipton® Tea|work=Lipton® Tea|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref> In the 1950s in the United States, Lipton ran an advertisement campaign promoting [[French onion dip]] prepared at home using Lipton's French onion soup mix, thus helping to popularize [[chips and dip]].<ref name="Oxford">{{cite web|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=AoWlCmNDA3QC&pg=PA145|title=The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink|publisher=Books.google.com|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref> After this time, many new commercially produced varieties of dips (numbering in the hundreds) were created and produced in the U.S.<ref name="Oxford"/> ==Present day== [[File:Lipton Earl Grey tin.jpg|thumb|right|A tin of loose Earl Grey tea]] Products target the mass market and are generally positioned in the middle of the price spectrum for tea. {{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} Like most branded teas, Lipton teas are a [[Tea blending and additives|blend]] selected from many different plantations around the world, from well-known producing countries like, [[Tea production in Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka]], India, Kenya, and China. Lipton Yellow Label is blended from as many as 20 different teas.<ref>[http://www.time-for-tea.com/producing.asp] {{wayback|url=http://www.time-for-tea.com/producing.asp |date=20090111104522 }}</ref> Apart from black leaf teas (with the long-standing Lipton Yellow Label brand), the company also markets a large range of other varieties, both in leaf tea as well as ready-to-drink format.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40C10FA3E550C708DDDA00894DE404482 | work=The New York Times | title=Brewing for the True Believer; Tea's Got a Brand New Bag | first=Florence | last=Fabricant | date=2006-09-13 | accessdate=2010-05-07}}</ref> These include green teas, black flavoured teas, [[herbal tea]]s, Lipton Linea (a "slimming tea") in Europe and Lipton Milk Tea in various Asian markets. Apart from Lipton Ice Tea, none of their products are available for retail in the UK, as only caterers are supplied. In a number of markets, including Japan, Russia and Australia, the company is advertising the benefits of [[theanine]], which has [[psychoactive]] properties.<ref>{{cite web|title=LIPTON Tea & Your Health |url=http://www.liptont.com/tea_health/performance/index.aspx |accessdate=26 December 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20100924230548/http://liptont.com/tea_health/performance/index.aspx |archivedate=24 September 2010 }}</ref> Lipton still owns plantations in East Africa ( [[Kenya]] (Kericho) and [[Tanzania]] (Mufindi) ) In May 2007, Unilever became the first company to commit to sourcing all its tea in a sustainable manner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20070525-0857-tea-unilever-sustainable.html|title=SignOnSanDiego.com > News > Business -- Unilever to sell environmentally sustainable tea|publisher=Signonsandiego.com|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref> Working with the [[Rainforest Alliance]], an international environmental [[NGO]], Lipton and its parent company, Unilever, announced all Lipton Yellow Label [[tea bag]]s sold in Western Europe would be certified by 2010 and all Lipton tea bags sold globally by 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unilever.com/ourcompany/newsandmedia/pressreleases/2007/sustainable-tea-sourcing.asp|title=About us|publisher=Unilever.com|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref> Lipton's own tea estates were among the first to be certified.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/business/analysis_and_features/article3223697.ece|title=Time to brew up a sustainable cuppa|work=The Independent|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref><ref>[http://investing.reuters.co.uk/news/articleinvesting.aspx?type=consumerProducts&storyID=2007-05-25T170334Z_01_N25420184_RTRIDST_0_SP_PAGE_016-N25420184-OISCP.XML] {{dead link|date=October 2014}}</ref> Product bearing the Rainforest Alliance seal appeared on Western European markets in 2008 and started appearing in North America in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalpost.com/life/story.html?id=1427753|title=Sense & Sustainability: Banking on greener tea|publisher=Nationalpost.com|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/behindTheScenes/idUKTRE5457WX20090506|title=Rainforest certified Lipton tea reaches U.S.|publisher=Uk.reuters.com|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref> On 6 May 2009, Lipton received a Corporate Green Globe Award for its work with the Rainforest Alliance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/news.cfm?id=gala09_honorees|title=Leaders in Sustainability Honored at Rainforest Alliance Gala 2009 - Rainforest Alliance|publisher=Rainforest-alliance.org|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref> ==Brands== [[File:LiptonRAKericho.jpg|thumb|Right|Lipton Rainforest Alliance certified product|200px]] Lipton's main pillar brands are Lipton Yellow Label and Lipton Iced Tea. Other product lines exist as well, like the Lipton pyramid ([[tetrahedron]]) range in Europe and North America, and Lipton Milk Tea in East Asia. In 2008, the brand launched Lipton Linea in Western Europe. ===Lipton Yellow Label=== Lipton Yellow Label has been sold since 1890, when Sir [[Thomas Lipton]] created the first version of the Yellow pack with a red Lipton shield, which to this day typifies the Lipton Yellow Label brand. It is sold in 150 countries worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lipton.com/en_en/#Lipton%20history-0,68|title=Lipton® Tea|work=Lipton® Tea|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref> Lipton Yellow Label is a [[Tea blending and additives|blend]] of several types of tea. Lipton Yellow Label blend is available both in tea bags, the preferred format in Western Europe, North America and Australia, as well as loose packaged tea, the preferred format in much of the Middle East and throughout Asia.{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} Lipton Yellow Label loose packed tea is rolled into small balls like [[Gunpowder tea|gunpowder green tea]]. ===Lipton Iced Tea=== [[File:LiptonIceTealogo.jpg|thumb|right|The Lipton Ice Tea logo as used in many markets]] '''Lipton Iced Tea''', in many markets known as '''Lipton Ice Tea''', is an [[iced tea]] brand sold by Lipton. ===Lipton Brisk=== [[Brisk (beverage)|Brisk]], formerly Lipton Brisk, is an iced tea brand distributed primarily in North America as a [[joint venture]] between Lipton and PepsiCo. It differs from Lipton's other iced tea brands in that [[phosphoric acid]] is added to the blend, giving the beverage a distinctive tart flavor. ===Lipton Pyramid Tea=== Lipton also produces tea using the [[tetrahedral]] bag format as seen in other tea brands. Lipton Clear was also launched in five variants&nbsp;– [[Earl Grey tea|Earl Grey Tea]], [[English breakfast tea|English Breakfast Tea]], Peach Mango Tea, [[Green tea|Green Tea]] Mandarin Orange, [[Mentha|Mint]] and [[Chamomile|Camomile]] Tea. ===Pure Leaf=== Pure Leaf is an iced tea brand distributed primarily in North America by the PepsiCo-Lipton joint venture. As opposed to Lipton Iced Tea and Brisk, both of which use a freeze-dried instant tea powder for a base, Pure Leaf is brewed in liquid form. ==Lipton worldwide== Available in over 110 countries, Lipton is particularly popular in [[Europe]], [[North America]], [[Africa]] and the [[Middle East]], parts of [[Asia]] and [[Australasia]] ([[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]) as well as [[Latin America]] and [[Caribbean]]. Despite its British origins, Lipton black tea (such as Yellow Label) is not marketed in the UK and is not found in mainstream British stores. However, Lipton Ice Tea and fruit teas are available in the UK. ==Marketing and advertising== I love iteffgerfwefwefe In 1914 Lipton's tea were one of the sponsors for the first flight from Melbourne to Sydney by French aviator Maurice Guillaux, This was, at the time, the longest aidsvsvr mail and air freight flight in the world. Guillaux wrote, 'I found it the most delicious tea I have ever tasted....I found it very soothing to the nerves.' Lipton printed 250 000 facsimile copies of the letter, and these could be had by sending to Lipton a one-penny stamp. For a threepenny stamp, Lipton would send out a quarter-pound pack of tea.<ref>''Sydney Morning Herald'', Saturday 25 July 1914.</ref> In an attempt to change the negative perception of Lipton Ice Tea in the United Kingdom&nbsp;– as 60% claimed they do not like the taste before even trying it&nbsp;– Lipton underwent a [[London]]-based summer experiential marketing campaign in 2010 under the slogan "Don't knock it 'til you’ve tried it!".<ref name="Lipton launch campaign">{{cite web |url=http://www.promomarketing.info/experiential/sampling/lipton-launch-dont-knock-it-until-youve-tried-it-c/3773 |title= Lipton launch 'Don't Knock it Until You've Tried It' Campaign|publisher=Promotional Marketing}}</ref> Roaming demonstrators handed out 498,968 samples over the 58-day run. After the campaign, 87% of consumers claimed to enjoy Lipton Ice Tea, while 73% said they were more likely to purchase in the future.<ref name="Lipton Experiential Campaign">{{cite web |url=http://www.idagency.com/work/product-sampling/lipton-ice-tea/#content |title= Lipton Experiential Marketing Results|publisher=iD Experiential}}</ref> ==Product quality controversy== In November 2011, the [[General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine]] of [[China]] found high levels of [[toxin]]s{{which|date=March 2015}} in one variety of Lipton tea. Unilever responded by clearing the shelves of all affected products.<ref name=Greenpeace>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-unilever-china-qualitybre83n0at-20120424,0,731198.story |title=Greenpeace says finds tainted Lipton tea bags in China |first=Ben |last=Blanchard |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=April 24, 2012 |accessdate=April 30, 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/20120426125723/http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-unilever-china-qualitybre83n0at-20120424,0,731198.story |archivedate=26 April 2012 }}</ref> In April 2012, the non-governmental organization [[Greenpeace]] raised questions about Lipton products once again, after two varieties of Lipton tea the group purchased in Beijing supermarkets failed safety tests, with the results allegedly failing to meet regulations as those enforced in the [[European Union]].<ref name="greenpeace1">{{cite web|url=http://www.greenpeace.org/eastasia/news/blog/lipton-tea-laced-with-toxic-pesticide-residue/blog/40093/|title=Lipton tea laced with toxic pesticide residue|publisher=Greenpeace.org|accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref> Additionally, the group stated, "Some of the detected pesticides are also banned for use in tea production by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture." <ref name="greenpeace1"/> Unilever China denied the findings, stating all Lipton products within the country were safe.<ref name=Greenpeace /> ==See also== * [[Lipton Institute of Tea]] * [[2008 Chinese milk scandal]] * [[Cup-a-Soup]] * [[Tea]] ==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==External links== {{commons category|Lipton (tea)}} * [http://www.lipton.com/ Lipton Tea Global (select your region)] * [http://www.liptoninstituteoftea.org/ Lipton Institute of Tea] * [http://liptonicetea.com.au/ Lipton Iced Tea Australia] * [http://www.unileverfoodsolutions.hk/en/promotions/New_Lipton_Pyramid_Tea_Bag Lipton Pyramid Tea Bag Hong Kong] * [http://www.lipton.co.id/teamocktail/view/58/lipton-ice-tea Lipton Ice Tea Indonesia] {{Unilever}} {{PepsiCo}} {{Defunct UK grocers}} [[Category:1871 establishments in Scotland]] [[Category:Companies established in 1871]] [[Category:Companies disestablished in 1929]] [[Category:1929 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]] [[Category:1982 disestablishments]] [[Category:Companies based in Glasgow]] [[Category:History of Glasgow]] [[Category:Defunct companies of Scotland]] [[Category:Retail companies of Scotland]] [[Category:Defunct retail companies of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Food manufacturers of Scotland]] [[Category:Supermarkets of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:1890 introductions]] [[Category:Scottish brands]] [[Category:Iced tea brands]] [[Category:Tea companies]] [[Category:Unilever brands]] [[Category:Tea brands in United Kingdom]]'