NEW YORK — ITO EN, the world’s leading supplier of loose leaf green tea and ready-to-drink beverages has announced the hiring of Bob Cormier as General Manager-Warehouse Club Channel. With extensive experience in national sales of consumer goods, Bob will oversee the warehouse club channel based in Seattle, Washington, assuming his responsibilities on April 15, 2013.
Prior to joining ITO EN, Bob worked at Solo Cup Company managing Costco’s Western and International Regions. Starting his career with Nestle, Bob later worked at Sara Lee Coffee and Tea as the National Account Manager for Costco and Target, Oberto Sausage Company as Director of Sales overseeing Costco, and Harry’s Fresh Food as National Account Manager. Bob brings not only sales and broker management experience, but consumer product and package development.
“As our company expands our existing business in the warehouse club channel, we are excited to welcome Bob to help us strategically reach our company goals,” says Jim Hoagland , executive vice president of sales & marketing. “Bob’s wealth of experience will be a contribution to our team.”
With consumer demand for healthier beverages, ITO EN’s portfolio of tea beverages are gaining rapid distribution in the marketplace. A pioneer and leader in the unsweetened tea market for over 10 years, ITO EN’s award-winning line of TEAS’ TEA® is becoming popular with the health-conscious consumer for its all-natural meticulously brewed teas and refreshingingly clean finish. “What drew me to ITO EN, was the quality products that are on trend with the consumer and the companies focus on customer satisfaction.” says Bob Cormier .
According to the Tea Association of the USA, national tea purchases continue to grow at least 10% a year for the last decade, with ready-to-drink showing the largest market share with a growth of 50%.
About ITO EN(North America) INC.
ITO EN (North America) INC., a subsidiary of ITO EN, LTD., is the nation’s leading purveyor of green tea products and beverages. The company is an innovator in the beverage industry, marketing award-winning Japanese tea lines in the U.S., including: TEAS’ TEA®, Traditional Japanese Tea (Oi Ocha – Japan’s 1 Selling Green Tea), and ITO EN Shots. Voted as “Best Tea” in New York City’s Zagat’s Gourmet and Entertainment Guide for eight consecutive years and hailed as “Model Tea” by Beverage World Magazine, ITO EN is dedicated to creating an authentic green tea culture in the United States. Committed to products that embody the company’s five principles of Natural,Safe, Healthy, Well-designed and Delicious, ITO EN is uniquely positioned as a pioneer in the tea industry.
TEAS TEA® is an all natural ready-to-drink tea, named from the Japanese expression Ocha no Naka No Ocha, simply meaning “The Tea of ALL Teas!” With thoughtful sourcing and meticulous brewing methods, TEAS’ TEAS’® proprietary filtration method reduces sediment creating a clean finish. The company has been a pioneer and leader in the unsweetened tea market for over 10 years, and continues to expand its distribution in natural and mainstream markets.