Lipton

Product brand

A globally distributed tea brand known for accessible black tea, green tea, herbal infusions, and ready-to-drink iced tea.

Last updated August 31, 2026

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Overview

Lipton is a British-origin tea brand whose modern identity grew from Sir Thomas Lipton's grocery business and his decision to make packaged tea more widely affordable. Thomas Lipton opened his first shop in Glasgow in 1871 and expanded the grocery operation to more than 200 stores by the 1880s. In 1890, he bought tea gardens in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, and began selling tea under the Lipton name. By combining plantation sourcing, standardized blending, economical packaging, and mass-market distribution, he helped turn tea from an expensive specialty into a more accessible everyday drink. The early advertising phrase “Direct from the tea gardens to the teapot” expressed this supply-chain and value proposition, while the yellow package and red shield became enduring visual identifiers. Although the Lipton name originated in retail grocery, tea eventually became its principal international association. The grocery business joined a large 1929 merger that created a food group operating thousands of shops under several names. That retail lineage later passed through Allied Suppliers and was ultimately absorbed into the broader British supermarket history, while the tea business developed separately. Unilever acquired the North American Lipton business in 1938 and completed the reacquisition of the wider tea operation in 1972 after a series of corporate transactions. Under Unilever, Lipton became one of the world's best-known packaged-tea brands, with major sales across Europe, North America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australasia, and Latin America. The brand's core portfolio has traditionally centered on black tea, especially Lipton Yellow Label, but it also includes green tea, flavored black teas, herbal products, cold-infused formats, loose tea, tea bags, concentrates, and powders. In some markets, the name has also been associated with milk-tea products and soup mixes. The ready-to-drink segment developed through joint ventures between Unilever and PepsiCo. The Pepsi Lipton Tea Partnership began in North America in 1991, followed by Pepsi Lipton International in other markets. Products such as Lipton Iced Tea, Brisk, and Pure Leaf are therefore linked to the Lipton name but are not all operated by the same company as the packaged-tea business. Unilever made tea sourcing and sustainability a prominent part of Lipton's corporate narrative from the late 2000s. In 2007 it committed to sourcing tea sustainably, working with the Rainforest Alliance and setting certification targets for Lipton tea bags. The brand also became associated with consumer sampling, mass advertising, and efforts to normalize iced tea in markets where the category was less familiar. At the same time, product-safety disputes in China and criticism of animal testing created reputational challenges. In November 2021, Unilever agreed to sell most of its tea business to CVC Capital Partners for €4.5 billion; the transaction closed in July 2022 and the new company was named Lipton Teas and Infusions. Unilever retained certain regional rights to use Lipton for tea in India, Nepal, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, as well as global ready-to-drink products sold through its PepsiCo joint ventures and rights concerning instant soup mixes in North America. Consequently, Lipton is now a shared commercial brand with different ownership and operating arrangements depending on product and market. Lipton Teas and Infusions withdrew its packaged-tea business from Russia in 2022. In 2024, the company announced a tea education and innovation academy in Kenya and a proposed sale of tea estates in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda to Browns Investments, with proceeds intended for reinvestment in East African tea. The brand remains active and is positioned as a broadly accessible, familiar, and convenient tea choice rather than a narrowly premium specialist brand.

History

Thomas Lipton began the business that gave the brand its name by opening a small grocery shop in Glasgow in 1871. The enterprise expanded rapidly and reportedly exceeded 200 shops by the 1880s. Lipton's retail strategy emphasized value, scale, and direct procurement. Tea was an especially attractive category because consumption was growing while the product remained relatively expensive and associated with luxury. In 1890, Lipton purchased tea gardens in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. He used the plantations as a foundation for a packaged-tea business, selecting and blending tea for standardized retail sale. Tea was distributed in several package sizes and promoted with the idea that it traveled directly from the tea gardens to the consumer's teapot. The business gained early traction in the United States and established the core association between Lipton and mass-market tea. The original grocery operation later became part of a major 1929 merger involving Home and Colonial Stores, Maypole Dairy Company, and other British retail and food businesses. The resulting group operated more than 3,000 shops and was associated with Allied Suppliers and Allied Stores. Lipton shops increasingly served as a small-town supermarket format. Allied was acquired by Argyll Foods in 1982, and the supermarket operation was later rebranded as Presto. This retail succession was separate from the international tea brand that consumers continued to recognize as Lipton. Unilever acquired the United States and Canadian Lipton business in 1938. In 1972, after an earlier ownership arrangement involving Allied Suppliers and Cavenham Foods, Unilever completed the purchase of the Lipton tea business for a price determined through an independent process. Under Unilever, Lipton expanded as an international packaged-tea brand and developed a portfolio beyond traditional black tea. Ready-to-drink tea became a distinct part of the Lipton commercial system. Unilever and PepsiCo formed the Pepsi Lipton Tea Partnership in 1991 for North America and established Pepsi Lipton International in 2003 for other markets. The international joint venture was expanded in 2007. These arrangements supported brands such as Lipton Iced Tea, Brisk, and Pure Leaf, while ownership and distribution differed from the packaged-tea operations. Sustainability became a major development in the late 2000s. In 2007, Unilever announced a commitment to source Lipton tea sustainably in cooperation with the Rainforest Alliance. Certification began appearing on Lipton products in Western Europe in 2008 and North America in 2009, with the company setting a longer-term global target. Lipton also used high-volume sampling and advertising to develop iced-tea consumption, including a 2010 London campaign aimed at consumers who said they disliked iced tea before trying it. The brand faced controversies over product safety and testing practices. In 2008, Lipton milk-tea powder was recalled in Hong Kong and Macau after melamine was detected. In 2011, Chinese authorities and Greenpeace reported pesticide concerns involving certain Lipton teas, while Unilever disputed the broader safety allegations and removed affected products. The same period also saw criticism from PETA over animal testing conducted in connection with health claims about tea ingredients; Unilever subsequently stated that it would not conduct animal testing unless required by regulators. In November 2021, Unilever agreed to sell most of its tea business to CVC Capital Partners. The sale closed in July 2022, and the divested business adopted the name Lipton Teas and Infusions. The transaction did not transfer every use of the Lipton name: Unilever retained tea rights in India, Nepal, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka, global ready-to-drink rights connected to its PepsiCo partnerships, and rights for certain North American soup mixes. Lipton Teas and Infusions withdrew from Russia in 2022. In 2024, it launched a Kenya-based tea innovation and training initiative and announced the proposed sale of tea estates in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda to Browns Investments. Lipton remains an active global brand, but its corporate ownership and product responsibility now vary by geography and category.

2024
Kenyan tea academy announced
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Lipton Teas and Infusions launched an education and innovation academy with Kenyan public and academic partners.
2022
Lipton Teas and Infusions begins operating
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
The sale closed and the divested business began operating as Lipton Teas and Infusions.
2021
Agreement to sell most of the tea business
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Unilever agreed to sell most of its tea operations to CVC Capital Partners.
2007
Sustainable tea-sourcing commitment announced
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Unilever announced a partnership with the Rainforest Alliance and targets for sustainable certification of Lipton tea.
1991
Pepsi Lipton Tea Partnership formed
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Unilever and PepsiCo created a North American joint venture to market ready-to-drink tea.
1972
Unilever completes tea-business reacquisition
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Unilever completed its purchase of the Lipton tea business after earlier ownership arrangements involving Allied Suppliers and Cavenham Foods.
1938
Unilever acquires North American Lipton operations
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Unilever purchased the United States and Canadian Lipton business.
1929
Grocery business joins a large retail merger
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
The Lipton grocery operation became part of a merger that formed a food group with more than 3,000 shops.
1914
Sponsor of the Melbourne–Sydney flight
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Lipton sponsored Maurice Guillaux's pioneering flight from Melbourne to Sydney and used the event in a promotional tea-mailing campaign.
1890
Lipton enters packaged tea
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Lipton acquired tea gardens in Ceylon and began selling packaged tea under the Lipton name.
1871
Thomas Lipton opens his first grocery shop
[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Thomas Lipton opened a grocery shop in Glasgow, creating the retail business from which the later consumer brand developed.

Products and positioning

Mass-market, accessible, convenient tea with broad international availability and a heritage associated with direct sourcing, recognizable packaging, and everyday consumption.

Packaged black and blended tea · 1890
Lipton Yellow Label
Lipton's best-known packaged-tea line dates to the brand's early tea business and is identified by its yellow packaging and red shield. It is sold in tea bags and loose-leaf formats and is distributed in roughly 150 countries. Blends vary by market and may incorporate tea from producing regions such as Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, and China.
Cold-infused tea
Lipton Cold Infused
Cold Infused is formulated to steep in cold water, offering a convenient alternative to brewing hot tea and chilling it afterward. It is also marketed in some markets using cold-brew or real-iced-tea terminology.
Ready-to-drink tea
Lipton Iced Tea
Lipton Iced Tea is a ready-to-drink beverage sold through Unilever and PepsiCo joint ventures. Common variants include lemon and peach, with mint and lime, mango, raspberry, citrus, watermelon, or mixed berry versions available in selected markets.
Ready-to-drink iced tea
Lipton Brisk
Brisk is a ready-to-drink iced-tea brand concentrated primarily in North America. It was formerly branded Lipton Brisk and has a sharper flavor profile associated with the use of phosphoric acid as a preservative.
Ready-to-drink tea
Pure Leaf
Pure Leaf is distributed mainly in the Americas through the PepsiCo–Unilever joint venture. Unlike Lipton Iced Tea and Brisk, it is described as being brewed from liquid tea rather than made from freeze-dried instant tea powder and is sold in recyclable PET bottles.
Soup mixes
Lipton soup mixes
The Lipton name has also been used for soup mixes, particularly in North America. French onion soup mix became especially associated with homemade onion dip, helping popularize dip-and-chip preparation in the United States.

Controversies

2011
Pesticide-content controversy in China
Chinese quality authorities reported high pesticide levels in one Lipton tea variety, leading Unilever to clear affected products from shelves. Greenpeace later reported concerns about two other samples, while Unilever China disputed the findings and maintained that its products were safe.
Source
2011
Animal-testing criticism
PETA criticized Unilever-funded animal experiments connected with potential health claims about tea ingredients. Unilever subsequently said it would not test products on animals unless governments required such testing for regulatory purposes.
Source
2008
Melamine contamination recall
Unilever recalled Lipton milk-tea powder in Hong Kong and Macau after internal checks found traces of melamine during the wider Chinese milk-contamination crisis.
Source

2017Let's Go!
United Kingdom
A follow-up iced-tea activation in the United Kingdom used the slogan “Let's Go!” to encourage trial and broaden familiarity with the category.
Outcome. Campaign outcome not independently specified in the reference material.
Source
2014Muppets Most Wanted advertising
International
Lipton used commercials featuring the Muppets in connection with the release of Disney's Muppets Most Wanted.
Outcome. The campaign linked the brand with entertainment-property marketing.
Source
2010Don't knock it 'til you've tried it!
United Kingdom
A London sampling campaign sought to overcome resistance to iced tea by distributing almost 500,000 samples over 58 days.
Outcome. The campaign reported improved stated enjoyment and purchase intent among surveyed consumers.
Source
1914Melbourne–Sydney flight promotion
Australia
Lipton sponsored Maurice Guillaux's pioneering Melbourne-to-Sydney flight and distributed promotional copies of a testimonial letter, using postage-based offers to encourage tea purchases.
Outcome. The event connected the brand with aviation publicity and direct-response promotion.
Source

Brand decisions

2022
Withdrawal from RussiaStrategy
Background
The decision followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Action taken
Lipton Teas and Infusions stopped producing and selling Lipton tea in Russia.
Aftermath
The packaged-tea business exited the Russian market.
Source
2021
Sale of most tea operations to CVC Capital PartnersM&A
Background
Unilever decided to divest most of its tea business while retaining selected regional, ready-to-drink, and soup-related rights.
Action taken
Unilever agreed to sell the majority of the tea business to CVC Capital Partners for €4.5 billion; the transaction closed in July 2022.
Aftermath
The divested business became Lipton Teas and Infusions, while Lipton remained connected to Unilever–PepsiCo ready-to-drink ventures and selected regional uses.
Transaction value. €4.5 billion agreed consideration (2021 announced transaction)
Source
2007
Commitment to Rainforest Alliance tea sourcingStrategy
Background
Unilever sought to make Lipton's tea supply chain more sustainable and to respond to growing scrutiny of agricultural sourcing.
Action taken
The company announced certification targets for Lipton tea bags and worked with the Rainforest Alliance; certified products began appearing in Western Europe in 2008 and North America in 2009.
Aftermath
Sustainable sourcing became a visible part of Lipton's brand and supply-chain communications.
Source

Recent events

2025
Marc Busain appointed CEO of Lipton Teas and Infusions[3]Marc Busain appointed CEO of Lipton Teas and Infusionsfoodbev.com
Leadership change
Marc Busain was announced as the incoming chief executive of Lipton Teas and Infusions after departing his leadership role at Heineken Americas.
2025
Lipton appoints Ryohei Abe as Japanese brand ambassador[4]Lipton appoints Ryohei Abe as Japanese brand ambassadorlipton.jp
Leadership change · Campaign
Lipton Japan announced Snow Man member and actor Ryohei Abe as a brand ambassador for campaigns supporting Yellow Label and the Green Tea range, including national television advertising and retail promotions.
2024
Tea Innovation and Technology Academy launched in Kenya[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Other
Lipton Teas and Infusions, the Kenyan government, and the University of Kabianga announced an academy offering training related to tea cultivation, harvesting, and technology.
2024
Lipton tea estates in East Africa proposed for sale[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Lipton Teas and Infusions announced an agreement to sell its estates in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda to Browns Investments, with proceeds intended for reinvestment in East Africa's tea industry.
2023
Lipton restores the earlier flavor of its Japanese milk tea[5]Lipton restores the earlier flavor of its Japanese milk teawithnews.jp
Product generation · Other
After changing its long-running carton milk tea to a Royal Milk Tea formulation, Morinaga Milk Industry returned the product toward its previous flavor profile following 667 consumer requests recorded over six months.
2022
Lipton Teas and Infusions completes separation from Unilever[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
M&A
The transaction closed in July 2022, creating Lipton Teas and Infusions as the operating company for the divested tea business.
2022
Lipton Teas and Infusions withdraws from Russia[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
Regulation
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Lipton Teas and Infusions announced that it would stop producing and selling Lipton tea in Russia.
2022
Unilever tea business acquired by CVC Capital Partners[6]Unilever tea business acquired by CVC Capital Partnerstracxn.com
M&A
CVC acquired Unilever’s global tea business, creating the corporate platform later known as Lipton Teas and Infusions.
2022
Lipton Teas and Infusions exits Russian tea production and sales[7]Lipton Teas and Infusions exits Russian tea production and salesja.wikipedia.org
Regulation
The company announced that it would withdraw from manufacturing and selling tea products in Russia during 2022.
2022
Lipton tea business operates under the Lipton Teas and Infusions name[1]Liptonen.wikipedia.org
M&A
Following the separation from Unilever, the tea business adopted the Lipton Teas and Infusions identity and continued international commercialization of Lipton and related tea brands.

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