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'''Milo's Tea Company''' produces '''Milo's Famous Tea''', which is sold in several southeastern states. It was originally named '''Milo's Restaurant Services''' and is currently located in [[Bessemer]].
'''Milo's Tea Company''' is a [[List of large private companies|large family-owned business]] which produces and distributes '''Milo's Famous Tea''', now sold in much of the United States. The company reported $444.6 million in retail sales in [[2022]]. Its headquarters offices are at 3112 [[Dublin Lane]] in [[Bessemer]]'s [[Morgan Industrial Park]].  


==History==
The company was founded as '''Milo's Restaurant Services''' in [[1980]] by [[Milo Carlton|Milo]] and [[Bea Carlton]], the owners of [[Milo's Hamburgers]], along with their son [[Ronnie Carlton|Ronnie]] and daughter-in-law [[Sheila Carlton|Sheila]]. It originally provided tea and hamburger sauce to the [[Milo's Hamburgers]] chain
[[Ronnie Carlton]] founded Milo's Restaurant Services as an outgrowth of the [[Milo's Hamburgers]] restaurant chain.  The company began selling Milo's Famous Tea to [[Birmingham]] grocery stores in one gallon jugs in April 1989. It also produced the tea and hamburger sauce used by Milo's Hamburgers restaurants.  Carlton sold the restaurant business to [[Dean Chitwood]] in January 2002, but continued providing the chain with sauce and tea.


The company's original plant was located behind [[Barber's Dairies]], just off [[West Oxmoor Road]] in [[Homewood]]. In 2002, the company moved to the [[Morgan Industrial Park]] in Bessemer.  The original location, which had grown to 21,000 square feet, no longer had room for needed expansion.  When originally constructed, the Bessemer facility was 28,000 square feet.  In 2004, the company made plans to expand to 43,000 square feet.
The company began selling Milo's Famous Tea to [[Birmingham]] grocery stores in one gallon jugs in April [[1989]]. Ronnie Carlton sold the restaurant chain to [[Dean Chitwood]] in January [[2002]], but continued to furnish the brand's famous sauce and tea.


The company's current slogan, introduced on [[May 23]], [[2007]], is "Taste the Milo's Difference." It replaced the slogan, "The Great Southern Tea Company Since 1946," which had been in use for over a decade.
The original Milo's Tea Company plant was located behind [[Barber's Dairy]], just off [[West Oxmoor Road]] in [[Homewood]]. That plant expanded to 21,000 square feet before running out of room to grow. The company moved to newly-built 28,000 square foot facility at its present location in [[2002]]. In [[2004]], the company made plans to expand to 43,000 square feet.
 
As of [[2014]] the plant with 100 workers was capable of producing 300,000 gallons per day with plans to double in capacity and add a second production facility in the western United States. In [[2017]] the company expanded its Bessemer production and distribution facility to 150,000 square feet, housing 150 workers.
 
In [[2008]] the company began selling 35 tons of used tea leaves per week, which it had previously sent to landfills, to a Scott's plant in [[Vance]], where it is mixed with pine bark and other components to make "Miracle-Gro" garden soil. Milo's also sources many of its input products from Alabama companies, including packaging from [[Pratt Industries]].
 
The company's current slogan, introduced on [[May 23]], [[2007]], is "Taste the Milo's Difference." It replaced the slogan, "The Great Southern Tea Company Since [[1946]]," which had been in use for over a decade. In [[2020]] the company trademarked a new slogan, "Brewed like you do, so you don't have to."
 
The Carlton's granddaughter, attorney [[Tricia Wallwork]], took over as chair and CEO in March [[2012]]. Two months later, the Milo's Franchise Company restaurant chain, which had been acquired by an investment group led by [[Tom Dekle]], began experimenting with brewing its own iced tea at some locations. Milo's Tea Company responded by suspending its supply agreement during the summer. The restaurant group preemptively sued Milo's Tea over the matter that August. During the dispute, Milo's restaurants switched to using tea provided by [[Royal Cup Coffee]]. The two companies resolved their differences in March [[2013]], and Milo's restaurants began serving Milo's Tea again.
 
In [[2014]] Milo's Tea Company expanded its distribution area to 38 states across the South and West. By [[2017]] it was distributing to 13,000 retailers in 42 states. In [[2018]] the company moved its headquarters offices to [[Lakeshore Park Plaza]] in [[Homewood]], but reconsolidated its offices at its Bessemer plant two years later.
 
In [[2020]] the company opened its second production facility, a 108,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution facility at the Cherokee Extension Industrial Park in Owasso, Oklahoma. In [[2021]] the company purchased the 100,000 square-foot former [[Prairie Farm]] milk packaging facility at 36 [[Barber Court]] as a production plant for lemonade.
 
In [[2022]] Milo's Tea Company opened a  [[2023]] the company opened a new $130 million manufacturing and distribution facility in Moore, South Carolina.
 
Also in 2023, Milo's Tea contracted with [[Eagle Solar & Light]] to install a photovoltaic system on the roof of its Bessemer facility.


==Products==
==Products==
The tea the company produces only lists three ingredients: water, sugar, and custom blended teas. However, the exact recipe, including the brewing, sweetening, and cooling processes, are kept secret.  The company began with a single product: sweet tea in one gallon jugs. As of 2006, the company sells the tea as follows:
The tea the company produces only lists three ingredients: water, sugar, and custom-blended teas. However, the exact recipe, including the brewing, sweetening, and cooling processes, are kept secret.  The company began with a single product: sweet tea in one gallon jugs. As of [[2023]], the company sells the following products:


*Milo's Famous Sweet Tea, one gallon jugs and 8 ounce bottles, introduced in [[1997]].
* "Milo's Famous Sweet Tea", one gallon jugs and 8- and 12-ounce bottles, introduced in [[1997]], 20-oz. bottle introduced in [[2008]]
*Milo's Famous Tea Unsweetened, one gallon jugs, introduced in [[1999]].
* "Milo's Famous Unsweet Tea", one gallon jugs, introduced as "Milo's Famous Tea Unsweetened" in [[1999]].
*Milo's Famous Tea with Splenda, one gallon jugs and 8 ounce bottles, introduced in [[2006]].
* "Milo's Zero Calorie Sweet Tea", one gallon jugs and 8- and 12-ounce bottles, introduced in [[2006]] as "Milo's Famous Tea with Splenda", 20-oz. bottle introduced in [[2008]]
* "Milo's Decaf Sweet Tea", introduced in [[2014]]
* "Milo's Lemonade", introduced in [[2014]]
* "Milo's Famous Sweet Tea and Lemonade", introduced in [[2014]]
* "Milo's Extra Sweet Tea"
* "Milo's Sweet Tea with Lemon"
* "Milo's Peach Sweet Tea"
* "Milo's Raspberry Sweet Tea"
 
In [[2016]] Milo's Tea Company developed a line of "Café Style Organic Teas", brewed with organic tea leaves and organic cane sugar and stevia. The line included four varieties: Sweet, Light Sweet, Green Citrus and Light Green Citrus. All four were sold in 59-ounce bottles. The line was later discontinued.


== Distribution ==
== Distribution ==
Milo's Tea Company has signed deals with several dairies to distribute their products.
As a refrigerated product without preservatives added, Milo's Tea has historically been delivered and stocked in retail outlets by established dairies outside of its own distribution territory. These have included [[Barber's Dairy]] in Alabama, Brown's Dairy in Louisiana, LuVel Dairy in Mississippi, Mayfield Dairy in Georgia and East Tennessee, and Purity Dairy for the rest of Tennessee.
 
* [[Barber's Dairy]] (Alabama)
* Brown’s Dairy (Louisiana)
* LuVel Dairy (Mississippi)
* Mayfield Dairy (Georgia and East Tennessee)
* Purity Dairy (Tennessee)


== References ==
== References ==
*[http://www.milostea.com/history/default.asp Milo's - History]. Milo's Tea Company. Accessed August 18, 2006.
* "[http://www.milostea.com/history/default.asp Milo's - History]". Milostea.com - accessed August 18, 2006
*Nicholson, Gilbert.  (February 1, 2002.) "Milo's serves up a warehouse in Bessemer" [http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2002/02/04/story5.html].  ''Birmingham Business Journal''
* Nicholson, Gilbert (February 1, 2002) "[http://www.bizjournals.com/birmingham/stories/2002/02/04/story5.html Milo's serves up a warehouse in Bessemer]" {{BBJ}}
*Brooks, Staci Brown.  (February 24, 2004.) "Milo's Tea brews big plan for its plant, distribution" [http://www.milostea.com/images/NewsImages/BhamNews04.pdf]. ''The Birmingham News''. p. 1C.
* Brooks, Staci Brown (February 24, 2004) "[http://www.milostea.com/images/NewsImages/BhamNews04.pdf Milo's Tea brews big plan for its plant, distribution]" {{BN}}
*Williams, Roy L. (May 23, 2007.) "Fresh idea brewing." ''The Birmingham News''.
* Williams, Roy L. (May 23, 2007) "Fresh idea brewing."  {{BN}}
* Spencer, Thomas (July 29, 2008) "Milo's ships 35 tons of tea leaves to garden soil company." {{BN}}
* Poe, Ryan (March 4, 2013) "Milo's Famous Tea back on the menu at Milo's restaurants." {{BBJ}}
* Azok, Dawn Kent (April 25, 2014) "Alabama beverage company Milo's Tea expands into states across the U.S., adds lemonade and other new drinks." {{BN}}
* Gamlin, Rachael (May 20, 2016) "Milo's Tea launches a new line of drinks." {{BBJ}}
* Van der Bijl, Hanno (October 25, 2017) "Milo's Tea completes massive HQ expansion." {{BBJ}}
* Edgemon, Erin (August 7, 2018) "[https://www.al.com/business/2018/08/milos_tea_company_is_expanding.html Milo's Tea Company is expanding into Homewood]" {{BN}}
* Yarborough, Kaitlyn (November 8, 2018) "[https://www.southernliving.com/food/drinks/milos-sweet-tea Why Southerners Love Milo's Sweet Tea]" ''[[Southern Living]]''
* "Milo's Tea Co. Invests $60 Million in New Production Plant in Owasso." (May 23, 2019) TulsasFuture.com
* Mann, Joshua (October 7, 2021) "Milo's Tea Co. plans expansion, adding up to 200 jobs.' {{BBJ}}
* Fraser, Phoebe (January 25, 2023) "Milo’s Tea Company to build new $130m South Carolina plant." ''FoodBev Media''
* Byington, Pat (April 19, 2023) "Milo’s Tea Co. installs solar array at Bessemer HQ and partners with Cahaba River Society." {{BNow}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.milostea.com/ Milo's Tea Company official website]
*[http://www.milostea.com/ Milo's Tea Company] website


[[Category: Food industry]]
[[Category:Major private companies]]
[[Category:Food industry]]
[[Category:1980 establishments]]
[[Category:2002 establishments]]
[[Category:Bessemer products]]
[[Category:Lakeshore Park Plaza]]

Latest revision as of 10:23, 20 April 2023

Milo's Tea Company is a large family-owned business which produces and distributes Milo's Famous Tea, now sold in much of the United States. The company reported $444.6 million in retail sales in 2022. Its headquarters offices are at 3112 Dublin Lane in Bessemer's Morgan Industrial Park.

The company was founded as Milo's Restaurant Services in 1980 by Milo and Bea Carlton, the owners of Milo's Hamburgers, along with their son Ronnie and daughter-in-law Sheila. It originally provided tea and hamburger sauce to the Milo's Hamburgers chain

The company began selling Milo's Famous Tea to Birmingham grocery stores in one gallon jugs in April 1989. Ronnie Carlton sold the restaurant chain to Dean Chitwood in January 2002, but continued to furnish the brand's famous sauce and tea.

The original Milo's Tea Company plant was located behind Barber's Dairy, just off West Oxmoor Road in Homewood. That plant expanded to 21,000 square feet before running out of room to grow. The company moved to newly-built 28,000 square foot facility at its present location in 2002. In 2004, the company made plans to expand to 43,000 square feet.

As of 2014 the plant with 100 workers was capable of producing 300,000 gallons per day with plans to double in capacity and add a second production facility in the western United States. In 2017 the company expanded its Bessemer production and distribution facility to 150,000 square feet, housing 150 workers.

In 2008 the company began selling 35 tons of used tea leaves per week, which it had previously sent to landfills, to a Scott's plant in Vance, where it is mixed with pine bark and other components to make "Miracle-Gro" garden soil. Milo's also sources many of its input products from Alabama companies, including packaging from Pratt Industries.

The company's current slogan, introduced on May 23, 2007, is "Taste the Milo's Difference." It replaced the slogan, "The Great Southern Tea Company Since 1946," which had been in use for over a decade. In 2020 the company trademarked a new slogan, "Brewed like you do, so you don't have to."

The Carlton's granddaughter, attorney Tricia Wallwork, took over as chair and CEO in March 2012. Two months later, the Milo's Franchise Company restaurant chain, which had been acquired by an investment group led by Tom Dekle, began experimenting with brewing its own iced tea at some locations. Milo's Tea Company responded by suspending its supply agreement during the summer. The restaurant group preemptively sued Milo's Tea over the matter that August. During the dispute, Milo's restaurants switched to using tea provided by Royal Cup Coffee. The two companies resolved their differences in March 2013, and Milo's restaurants began serving Milo's Tea again.

In 2014 Milo's Tea Company expanded its distribution area to 38 states across the South and West. By 2017 it was distributing to 13,000 retailers in 42 states. In 2018 the company moved its headquarters offices to Lakeshore Park Plaza in Homewood, but reconsolidated its offices at its Bessemer plant two years later.

In 2020 the company opened its second production facility, a 108,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution facility at the Cherokee Extension Industrial Park in Owasso, Oklahoma. In 2021 the company purchased the 100,000 square-foot former Prairie Farm milk packaging facility at 36 Barber Court as a production plant for lemonade.

In 2022 Milo's Tea Company opened a 2023 the company opened a new $130 million manufacturing and distribution facility in Moore, South Carolina.

Also in 2023, Milo's Tea contracted with Eagle Solar & Light to install a photovoltaic system on the roof of its Bessemer facility.

Products

The tea the company produces only lists three ingredients: water, sugar, and custom-blended teas. However, the exact recipe, including the brewing, sweetening, and cooling processes, are kept secret. The company began with a single product: sweet tea in one gallon jugs. As of 2023, the company sells the following products:

  • "Milo's Famous Sweet Tea", one gallon jugs and 8- and 12-ounce bottles, introduced in 1997, 20-oz. bottle introduced in 2008
  • "Milo's Famous Unsweet Tea", one gallon jugs, introduced as "Milo's Famous Tea Unsweetened" in 1999.
  • "Milo's Zero Calorie Sweet Tea", one gallon jugs and 8- and 12-ounce bottles, introduced in 2006 as "Milo's Famous Tea with Splenda", 20-oz. bottle introduced in 2008
  • "Milo's Decaf Sweet Tea", introduced in 2014
  • "Milo's Lemonade", introduced in 2014
  • "Milo's Famous Sweet Tea and Lemonade", introduced in 2014
  • "Milo's Extra Sweet Tea"
  • "Milo's Sweet Tea with Lemon"
  • "Milo's Peach Sweet Tea"
  • "Milo's Raspberry Sweet Tea"

In 2016 Milo's Tea Company developed a line of "Café Style Organic Teas", brewed with organic tea leaves and organic cane sugar and stevia. The line included four varieties: Sweet, Light Sweet, Green Citrus and Light Green Citrus. All four were sold in 59-ounce bottles. The line was later discontinued.

Distribution

As a refrigerated product without preservatives added, Milo's Tea has historically been delivered and stocked in retail outlets by established dairies outside of its own distribution territory. These have included Barber's Dairy in Alabama, Brown's Dairy in Louisiana, LuVel Dairy in Mississippi, Mayfield Dairy in Georgia and East Tennessee, and Purity Dairy for the rest of Tennessee.

References

External links

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