\EMERYVILLE, California — February 17, 2012-- Jamba Juice Company (NASDAQ: JMBA) announced today the acquisition of Talbott Teas™, a Chicago-based boutique, premium tea company, recently profiled on ABC-TV's "Shark Tank". Talbott Teas founder, certified master tea blender, Shane Talbott, has a unique talent for blending specialty ingredients to produce exceptional, award-winning teas that appeal to tea aficionados and conventional consumers alike, and which Oprah Winfrey selected as one of her "Favorite Things" in 2010.
"Talbott Teas is part of our strategy for growth through the acquisition of lifestyle specialty brands that fit well with the Jamba brand and our positioning as a leading health and wellness company," said James D. White, Chairman, President, and CEO, Jamba Juice Company. "Jamba shares Shane's commitment to using the finest quality ingredients to create premium tea blends that are flavorful and healthful, but designed with a flair that only a visionary trendsetter could achieve. I welcome his creativity on our team."
Steeped in style and wrapped in museum quality, designer packaging, Talbott Teas is reinventing the premium tea category with their luxurious, but accessible collection of caffeinated and decaffeinated loose leaf, all-natural teas blended with real fruit, flowers, herbs and spices to create delightfully decadent flavor profiles. Talbott Teas tea blends are available in 23 customizable flavors, including the award winning "Chocolate Lover" teas. All tea blends are made from high quality ingredients, certified free-trade and 100% natural with no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.
Talbott Teas appeared on the "Shark Tank", which airs Fridays from 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on the ABC Television Network, gives nascent entrepreneurs the chance to dramatically alter the course of their business by making a possible deal with the Sharks --self-made millionaires in search of innovative investment deals to bankroll. While on the show, the founders of Talbott Teas received an offer from venture capitalist Kevin O'Leary, who subsequent to the show worked with fellow Sharks Daymond John and Barbara Corcoran to seal a bigger deal with the iconic leading national smoothie and specialty healthy lifestyle brand, Jamba Juice.
"Jamba is a progressive, specialty beverage brand with a passion for creating innovative, trendy offerings that support healthier lifestyles," said Shane Talbott, founder Talbott Teas. "Jamba has broad reach and appeal among consumers who are seeking premium products at affordable pricing that are better-for-you and great tasting. The Sharks connected us with Jamba Juice and we could not have found a better company with whom to align and grow our brand."
Talbott Teas' products are available online at QVC, fine retailers, and the Talbott Teas website as well as specialty retailers, gourmet grocers, salon spas, select luxury hotels and restaurants throughout the Chicagoland area. Talbott Teas will also be available for sale at Jamba Juice locations. The purchase of Talbott Teas is part of Jamba's strategy to accelerate growth through the acquisition of specialty, lifestyle brands that support Jamba's expansion into new and relevant product categories.
About Jamba Juice Company
Founded in 1990, Jamba Juice Company (NASDAQ: JMBA) is a leading restaurant retailer of better-for-you beverage and food offerings, which include great tasting fruit smoothies, fresh juices and teas, hot oatmeal made with organic steel cut oats, fruit and veggie smoothies, Whirl'ns™ Frozen Yogurt, breakfast wraps, sandwiches and wraps, California Flatbreads™, and a variety of baked goods and snacks. As of January 3, 2012, there were 750 locations in the United States consisting of 307 Company-owned and operated stores and 443 franchise-operated stores. In addition, as of January 3, 2012 there were 19 international locations. For more information on Jamba Juice, please visit: www.jambajuice.com, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jambajuice or follow us on Twitter @JambaJuice.
About Talbott Teas
Talbott Teas was founded in 2003 by Shane Talbott, former owner of the highly regarded Troupe salon and spa in Chicago and stylist to the stars. Utilizing only Fair Trade Certified tea growers, Talbott Teas creatively combines the finest all natural and organic whole-leaf teas which are artfully blended with fruit, flowers, herbs, and spices, to create sophisticated, elegant tea blends, free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Talbott Teas is a lifestyle brand that gives consumers a healthy and tasteful experience through its collection of luxury, designer, whole-leaf teas and accessories that are steeped in style. Profiled on the Oprah Winfrey show and selected as one of Oprah's "Favorite Things" in 2010, Talbott Teas are available in 23 blends. For more information on where to purchase Talbott Teas visit our website atwww.Talbottteas.com .
