ekaterra has announced a strategic partnership with Stuart Alexander & Co, which will see Stuart Alexander & Co distribute all ekaterra tea brands in Australia, including Lipton, Bushells, Pukka and T2. The partnership will also unlock important growth opportunities across the already established supermarket channel, while expanding out of home distribution across restaurants, hospitals, corporate offices and more.
ekaterra Head of Customer Development Robby Lowrey says the company sees the partnership as key to accelerating growth of its Australian business. “ekaterra’s establishment as an independent, single-category business since its sale from Unilever provides a big opportunity to realise the potential of our incredible tea brands across a multitude of channels, and we see Stuart Alexander & Co as the right partner to help us do this,” he said.
“From the world’s number one tea brand Lipton to the Aussie icon Bushells, alongside B-Corp certified T2 and Pukka brands, we own some of the country’s most loved tea brands, and this partnership will help us bringing a unique story and offering to satisfy the Australian consumer’s tastes.
“Perhaps most exciting however is leveraging Stuart Alexander & Co’s existing reach and partnerships to expand into the out of home channel, helping us to deliver tailored tea experiences for a diverse range of customers and occasions,” he said.
According to Stuart Alexander & Co CEO Nick Nairn, the partnership with ekaterra is a huge win for the business, which is responsible for successfully distributing global brands across confectionery; including Chupa Chups, Mentos and Hershey’s, through to Premium beverages; such as MONIN & evian, and unique foods; including hugely popular, Lotus Biscoff and TABASCO® to name just a few.
“With over a century of building relationships, networks, and distribution channels in Australia, we believe that we have the best market customer penetration across all retail environments, meaning we are well equipped to support ekaterra in bolstering their tea business and helping them to break into new channels. In doing so, we estimate that there is the potential to grow the portfolio by 25% in the next three to five years,” Mr Nairn said.
“Like all businesses, Covid has created a set of unusual circumstances, from difficult trading environments to volatile economic conditions. Despite this, we’ve seen impressive growth as a company during this time – a testament to our commitment and strength of relationships across all partners of our business and our adaptability and agility as a company. This will prove invaluable in working to support and getting its beloved tea brands into more Australian retailers, restaurants and businesses,” he said.
The partnership formally commenced on the 1 November. For more information on Stuart Alexander & Co, visit stuartalexander.com.au. For more information on ekaterra, visit ekaterratea.com/au/en/.