Unilever plans hundreds of T2 locations worldwide
Unilever has big plans for the T2 brand, an Australian premium tea retail chain purchased last year. T2, based in Melbourne, opened its first international location in London just last month, but the parent company is already planning hundreds of outlets in major cities around the world. According to Kevin Havelock, Unilever's president for refreshment, the food and beverage giant sees T2 as a way to introduce tea to a new generation of young urban consumers who are currently more likely to drink coffee. However, T2 is likely to remain a retail chain and its products won't end up on supermarket shelves, where Unilever's Lipton dominates, despite increased competition in the premium tea sector. T2 currently operates 40 tea shops in Australia. Last year's turnover was $57 million.