The founder of Arizona Iced Tea has his consumers in mind!
In a new interview with Today that aired Wednesday, June 26, NBC’s Savannah Sellers spoke with Don Vultaggio — the man behind the family-owned beverage brand.
During their conversation, Vultaggio proudly explained why Arizona Iced Tea has remained affordable for more than three decades.
Founder of Arizona Iced Tea Don Vultaggio.
TODAY/Youtube
“We are successful. We are debt free. We own everything. Why?” he said in response to Sellers’ question about why his company doesn’t raise the price of its products to increase profits.
Vultaggio continued, “Why do people who have trouble paying their rent have to pay more for our drinks?”
“Maybe it’s my little way of giving back.”
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The first Arizona Iced Tea products were released in 1992, and since they were introduced, they have always sold for “just 99 cents for a 23-ounce can,” Sellers said. Vultaggio started his family business in New York after being inspired by the success of Snapple products.
Today, Arizona Iced Tea is a multi-billion dollar company with “close to 200 flavors and three billion units sold annually.”
Vultaggio seems pleased with his success.
Asked again if he ever plans to raise prices, the mogul said: “Not in the foreseeable future. We will fight as hard as we can for consumers.”
He also admitted that he had never been to Arizona when he named the drink, but got the idea from the house where his family lived, which made him think of the state.
“We had a house in Queens that looked like it belonged in Arizona, and that’s where the name came from,” he said.
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Decades later, Vultaggio still clings to its family values.
“My wife designed the beautiful can,” he said of the company’s signature iced tea. “Beautiful look, turquoise, pink and yellow — vibrant colors. Great taste and fair price.”
His two sons are also following in his father’s footsteps.
Wesley is the brand’s chief creative officer and Spencer is the chief marketing officer.
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Vultaggio called working with his boys “awesome.”
“Whoever hasn’t tried it, should,” said the proud father, laughing. “Otherwise, when your children grow up and go to college, you only see them on birthdays, holidays, sometimes on weekends. I see them all the time.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education