Honest Tea

Honest Tea was founded in 1998 by Seth Goldman and his professor at the Yale School of Management, Barry Nalebuff. The company was born from Goldman's observation that there was a lack of bottled drinks that were not heavily sweetened. Together, they brewed some samples, put them in thermos flasks, and went to a beverage trade show to test their idea.

Goldman's background in business and Nalebuff's expertise in game theory and strategy helped them to build the company from the ground up. They raised $500,000 from friends and family to launch the business. The company's mission was to create and promote great-tasting, healthy, organic beverages. They developed a business model that was based on sourcing organic and Fair Trade Certified ingredients whenever possible.

Honest Tea's product line includes a variety of bottled teas, lemonades, and other beverages. The company's products are sold in natural food stores, supermarkets, and other retail outlets across the United States. In 2008, The Coca-Cola Company invested $43 million in the company, acquiring a 40% stake. In 2011, Coca-Cola purchased the remainder of the company.

Keywords: organic tea, bottled beverages, fair trade, healthy drinks, sustainable sourcing, natural ingredients, social responsibility, beverage industry, consumer goods, entrepreneurship