Lipton Teas and Infusions
Lipton Teas and Infusions B.V. is a Dutch company based in Amsterdam that makes tea and herbal drinks for customers around the world. It was created in 2021 as a spin-off from Unilever and is now the largest tea company in the world, owning brands such as Lipton, PG Tips and TAZO, along with several others.
How it started and ownership changes
- The business began in 2020 as a Unilever division named Ekaterra.
- In November 2021, private equity firm CVC Capital Partners agreed to buy Ekaterra for about €4.5 billion. The sale closed in 2022, and Ekaterra was renamed Lipton Teas and Infusions.
- Unilever keeps the Lipton brand in India, Nepal and Indonesia, and still runs the Lipton Iced Tea joint venture with PepsiCo.
Brand heritage
- The Lipton name comes from Sir Thomas Lipton, who started a UK grocery business in 1871.
- Unilever acquired the Lipton business in pieces between 1938 and 1972.
Recent developments
- After the 2022 sale to CVC, Lipton Teas and Infusions became an independent company.
- In 2022, the company withdrew from the Russian market due to the invasion of Ukraine, saying the situation made it hard to operate steadily.
Education and investment
- In February 2024, Lipton Teas and Infusions launched the Lipton Tea Innovation & Technology Academy with the Government of Kenya and the University of Kabianga to offer training from vocational courses to advanced degrees in tea growing and harvesting.
- In May 2024, the company announced plans to sell its tea estates in Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda to Browns Investments, with the proceeds reinvested into East Africa’s tea industry.
Brands and people
- The company owns more than 30 tea brands, including Lipton, PG Tips, Brooke Bond, TAZO, Pukka, T2, Red Rose Tea, Laojee (Sri Lanka only) and Salada.
- Headquarters: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- CEO: Nathalie Roos
- Chair of the board: Pierre Laubies
- Employees: about 17,000 (2024)
- Website: liptonteas.com
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:36 (CET).