Salada tea
Salada tea is a Canadian tea brand founded in Toronto in 1892 and now sold through separate ownership and production arrangements in Canada and the United States.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Salada tea is a packaged tea brand founded in Toronto in 1892 by Peter Charles Larkin, a Montreal-born businessman. The brand emerged during a period when tea was commonly sold loose from large chests. Larkin's principal innovation was to package tea in foil, helping protect the product, standardize its flavor, and communicate a more reliable level of freshness to consumers. This packaging approach became central to Salada's identity and helped the brand develop a substantial following in Canada and the northeastern United States. The business expanded beyond Canada as demand grew. In 1917, Salada Tea Company Limited established a United States headquarters, blending operation, and packaging plant at 330 Stuart Street in Boston, Massachusetts. The building was designed by Densmore and LeClear and was notable for large bronze doors created by Henry Wilson. The doors incorporated imagery associated with the history of the Ceylon tea trade and references to Larkin's quality-oriented contribution to the tea business. Although the property subsequently changed ownership, the doors remained in place and became a surviving physical marker of Salada's Boston-era presence. By the 1950s, Salada had established production plants in several parts of North America and had become one of the leading tea brands in Canada and the northeastern United States. Ownership changed several times during the second half of the twentieth century. Shirriff-Horsey acquired the company in 1957. In Canada, the brand was owned by Kellogg Canada from 1969 until 1988. That year, Redco Foods, Inc. acquired Salada. Redco had been formed to produce Red Rose Tea in the United States under license from Unilever, and its subsequent involvement with Salada contributed to a more complex division of brand rights between the two countries. After the 1988 transaction, Redco Foods sold Salada's Canadian business to Unilever. As a result, the brand became associated with different operating and ownership structures in Canada and the United States, with each company producing both Salada and Red Rose in its respective market arrangements. Since 1995, Redco Foods has been owned by Teekanne of Germany. In the United States, Salada remains owned by Redco Foods and has been produced under license by Harris Tea Company since 2018. The Canadian business changed hands again after Unilever divested most of its tea operations. Since 2022, Salada tea in Canada has been a brand of Lipton Teas and Infusions, the tea business acquired from Unilever by CVC Capital Partners. The brand therefore continues as a market-specific packaged tea offering rather than as a single globally integrated operating business. Its historical positioning rests on accessible everyday tea, consistent taste, protected packaging, and a long-established North American heritage.
History
Salada tea began in Toronto in 1892 under the direction of Peter Charles Larkin. Its early distinction was not simply the tea itself but the way it was prepared for retail sale. Rather than relying on loose tea dispensed from chests, Larkin promoted foil packaging. The packaging helped shield the tea from exposure and supported a more uniform flavor and freshness promise. This proposition gave Salada a recognizable point of difference as packaged tea became more important to North American consumers. The brand developed a strong presence in Canada and the northeastern United States. In 1917, Salada Tea Company Limited established a United States headquarters, blending facility, and packaging plant at 330 Stuart Street in Boston. The building, designed by Densmore and LeClear, featured bronze doors made by Henry Wilson. Their imagery referred to the Ceylon tea trade and to the company's quality ideals. The building later changed hands, but the doors remained, preserving a visible connection to Salada's historical Boston operation. By the 1950s, the company had expanded its manufacturing footprint to plants in several parts of North America and was regarded as one of the leading tea brands in Canada and the northeastern United States. The following decades brought repeated changes in corporate ownership. Shirriff-Horsey acquired the business in 1957. In Canada, Kellogg Canada owned Salada from 1969 through 1988. Redco Foods acquired Salada in 1988. Redco had been created to manufacture Red Rose Tea in the United States under license from Unilever. After acquiring Salada, Redco sold the Canadian portion of the brand to Unilever. This produced a split operating model in which Salada and Red Rose were handled through different country-specific corporate arrangements. Redco Foods has been owned by Teekanne of Germany since 1995. In the United States, Redco Foods continued to own Salada, while production was later outsourced under license. Harris Tea Company began producing Salada-branded tea for the U.S. market in 2018. In Canada, ownership changed again after Unilever sold most of its tea business to CVC Capital Partners. Since 2022, the Canadian Salada business has been associated with Lipton Teas and Infusions. Salada is therefore best understood as a longstanding North American tea brand whose commercial structure differs by market. Its historical assets include its early foil-packaging innovation, its Toronto origin, its Boston manufacturing history, and its association with consistent everyday tea. Publicly available reference material identifies the brand's ownership and production transitions but provides limited detail about current product varieties, advertising campaigns, financial performance, or named executives.
- 2022
Canadian business moves to Lipton Teas and Infusions
[1]Salada tea in Canada became part of Lipton Teas and Infusions following the divestment of most of Unilever's tea business.
- 2018
Licensed U.S. production begins with Harris Tea
[1]Harris Tea Company began producing Salada-branded tea in the United States under license.
- 1995
Teekanne ownership of Redco Foods
[1]Teekanne of Germany became the owner of Redco Foods, which retained U.S. ownership of Salada.
- 1988
Redco Foods acquires Salada
[1]Redco Foods acquired Salada, after which the Canadian business was later sold to Unilever.
- 1969
Kellogg Canada ownership begins
[1]Kellogg Canada became the Canadian owner of Salada, retaining the business until 1988.
- 1957
Shirriff-Horsey acquisition
[1]Shirriff-Horsey acquired the Salada tea business.
- 1950
North American manufacturing expands
[1]By the 1950s, Salada had plants in several parts of North America and had become a leading brand in Canada and the northeastern United States.
- 1917
United States headquarters and plant open in Boston
[1]Salada Tea Company Limited established a U.S. headquarters, blending operation, and packaging plant at 330 Stuart Street in Boston.
- 1892
Salada tea is founded in Toronto
[1]Peter Charles Larkin founded the Salada tea business in Toronto and introduced foil packaging as a way to support freshness and consistency.
Products and positioning
An established, mainstream North American tea brand emphasizing dependable taste, freshness, and accessible everyday consumption.
Packaged tea · 1892
Salada packaged tea
The core Salada offering is packaged retail tea. The brand's original commercial distinction was foil packaging, intended to protect the tea and provide a more consistent flavor and freshness experience than loose tea sold from chests. Current reference material identifies the product broadly as Salada-branded tea but does not provide a complete market-by-market catalog of blends, formats, or package sizes.
Tea bags
Salada tea bags
Salada is sold as a retail tea brand in packaged formats, including tea bags. These products extend the brand's original emphasis on convenient, protected, and consistent tea preparation. Exact varieties and current availability differ by country and are not fully specified in the reference material.
Brand decisions
2022
Canadian Salada business moves to Lipton Teas and InfusionsM&ABackground
Unilever divested most of its tea business to CVC Capital Partners.
Action taken
The Canadian Salada business became part of Lipton Teas and Infusions.
Aftermath
Canada and the United States continued to have different corporate structures for the same historic brand.
2018
U.S. production is licensed to Harris Tea CompanyStrategyBackground
Redco Foods continued to own the Salada brand in the United States while using a separate manufacturing arrangement.
Action taken
Harris Tea Company began producing Salada-branded tea in the United States under license.
Aftermath
The arrangement separated U.S. brand ownership from production while allowing Salada to continue operating in the American market.
1988
Redco Foods acquires SaladaM&ABackground
Salada had developed into a major North American tea brand with operations and customers in both Canada and the United States.
Action taken
Redco Foods acquired Salada. The Canadian portion was subsequently sold to Unilever, creating separate country-level ownership arrangements.
Aftermath
Redco retained the U.S. brand while Salada in Canada became associated with Unilever and later Lipton Teas and Infusions.
Recent events
- 2022
Salada becomes part of Lipton Teas and Infusions in Canada[1]
M&A
Following Unilever's divestment of most of its tea business to CVC Capital Partners, Salada's Canadian business became part of Lipton Teas and Infusions.
- 2018
Harris Tea begins licensed U.S. production[1]
Other
Salada-branded tea in the United States began to be produced under license by Harris Tea Company, while Redco Foods retained ownership of the brand.
- 1995
Redco Foods ownership passes to Teekanne[1]
M&A
Teekanne of Germany became the owner of Redco Foods, the company that owns Salada in the United States.
- 1988
Redco Foods acquires Salada[1]
M&A
Redco Foods acquired Salada, changing the brand's ownership structure in the United States and contributing to later market-specific arrangements.
- 1969
Kellogg Canada becomes the Canadian owner of Salada[1]
M&A
Salada was brought under Kellogg Canada's ownership in Canada, beginning a period that lasted until 1988.
- 1957
Shirriff-Horsey acquires Salada[1]
M&A
Salada's ownership changed when the tea business was acquired by Shirriff-Horsey.
Sources1 sources
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