WELCOME to East West Tea Company
Welcome to East West Tea Company. We are excited to have this opportunity to introduce ourselves to you. The first thing you should know is that we are so much more than just a tea company. We are a wellness company that exists to inspire everyone we touch. Whether we are connecting with you as a farmer who grows our ingredients; as a distributor who brings our teas and botanicals to our warehouses; as a customer who buys sells products; as a team member who helps develop, produce, and bring our teas to market; as a consumer who enjoys our delicious teas; or as a fellow member of this Planet, that we all care for...
WE EXIST TO INSPIRE
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PHOTO OF PEOPLE
Our culture comes from our soul and lives in our heart. You will see it in every aspect of the vast network of people working collaboratively, with purpose and inspiration, to create the products we offer. And because of this, we are more than a tea company. We are a global wellness company, each actively contributing to the whole, creating a company with a mission born of our collective energy. 3 Welcome
THE ROOTS OF OUR CULTURE The roots of East West Tea Company run deep, dating back as many as 3,000 years to the origins of Ayurvedic medicine in India. Ayurveda, an ancient healing philosophy, is a holistic approach to wellness, emphasizing the importance of bringing your body, mind, and spirit into a state of balance. Today, Ayurvedic philosophy is reflected in the Yogi Principles of wellness: proper exercise, breathing, relaxation, diet, and positive thinking through meditation. East West Tea applies Ayurvedic philosophy in developing its products, honoring the Yogi Principles of wellness in many of our functional teas, including teas for stress relief, sleep, wellness, and immune support. In 1972, Yogi began with an aromatic and warming tea inspired by the ancient holistic philosophy of Ayurveda, an herbal tea blend of ginger, cinnamon,clove, black pepper, and cardamom. Yogi's product offering has grown to over 40 tea blends made from 140 exotic spices and botanicals sourced from around the globe. We blend with intention, creating blends to support body and mind, creating products to enhance wellness and complementing them with intriguing, delightful flavors. In 2019, East West Tea Company acquired Choice Organics Teas. Since 1989, Choice Organics Teas has been recognized as "The Original Organic Tea Company." As pioneers in the industry, Choice Organic Teas was the first tea crafter in the United States to produce exclusively organic, Fair Trade Certified™, and Non-GMO Project Verified teas. Choice Organics offers a collection of organic traditional tea, organic herbal tea, and unique, flavorful organic tea blends. Choice Organics premium teas are sourced exclusively from organic and non-GMO growers around the world and are beautifully balanced to perfection for a full-flavored taste experience. However you connect with East West Tea, as an ingredient source (farmer), a customer who sells our products (retailer, e-commerce, distributor), a team member who helps develop, produce, or bring our teas to market, or a consumer who enjoys our delicious teas, we want you to know about the amazing and rich culture that you are an integral part of. 4
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Our Farmers
East West Tea sources over 140 botanicals and spices from farms all over the world. We work with thousands of farmers who are part of a vast and complex supply chain. Some of these farmers own just a hectare of land. Others are responsible for managing hundreds of other small farmers. Our goal is 100% transparency so we know exactly where each of our ingredients comes from. We want to make sure we pay fair and sustainable prices that allow farmers to cover their production costs and make a good profit, We only work with companies that use fair labor practices. We support sustainability and regenerative agriculture programs.
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Our Brokers & Suppliers We believe quality tea begins at the source. Organic farming is the starting point for a great cup of tea. We work with brokers and suppliers to deliver the raw ingredients from the farms. These distributors support our goal of 100% transparency and let us know exactly where our ingredients originate. This ensures that all our products are ethically sourced and we are good stewards of the land and that is why we trust and certify.
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Our Customers Our customers are made up of Mass Retailers, Grocery, Specialty, and Natural Food stores. We also offer our products through E-Commerce so that every consumer has access to our extensive line of organic traditional, black, green, and herbal teas and Yogi teas, the #1 brand of wellness teas (the fastest growing brand of teas in the wellness category). These retailers provide our consumers access to our better-for-you alternatives when choosing teas. And for those concerned with not only a wide choice of great tasting products, the Yogi and Choice Organics Teas also provide more innovative, organic, non-GMO, sustainably sourced products, with sustainable packaging options.
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Our Consumers We love to inspire our consumers... through a delicious cup of Choice Organics tea or a cup of a Yogi wellness tea! In 2021 our consumers bought more than 1.4 billion of our tea bags. That means that every second, 47 of our consumers around the world are inspired by a cup of Yogi tea, making us the #1 global wellness brand in the world. And we know our consumers love the inspirational tea tags because we hear from them every week, letting us know how much those messages mean to them. Their messages inspire us to be innovative, bringing them new blends and flavors from the finest spices and botanicals from around the world.
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Our Team Members Collectively, we are more than 350 team members from 24 countries of origin who speak 28 languages. We operate in the U.S. at East West Tea Company, in Imola, Italy as Yogi Tea, and in Hamburg, Germany as Tea Pak. Even though we operate as separate entities, we collaborate as a global organization to maximize our ability to do good. 14
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Our Communities We are an integral part of our communities. From the communities our ingredients come from to the communities we manufacture our teas in, to the communities we sell our products in, we dedicate our time, talents, and financial resources to organizations and causes that align with our vision and values. We are particularly committed to focusing on healthcare, education, hunger relief, the environment, women's issues, and the care of underprivileged children.
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Our Planet As a manufacturer, we recognize that we take actions that have a negative impact on the planet. And every day, at E.W.T.C. we take actions to reduce that negative impact. While other manufacturers may strive for a netzero impact, we want to heal and revive. We want to empower and enrich the lives and livelihoods of everyone who connects to our business. It is our intent to unite and enlighten people in our industry and beyond. We PARTNER with others in our industry to expand our thinking. We are forwardthinking. We think big. We challenge ourselves and others to be the best we can be.
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"Our business is all about plants, and plants require healthy soils and a healthy Earth to thrive. It's our responsibility not only to protect these natural resources but to foster environments where nature can heal and revive itself. We ask a lot of our Earth, but our intention is to give back more than we take. These principles are the foundation behind our sustainability pillar: Heal and Revive." Briana Buckles Sustainability Manager
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we are continuously creating
A CULTURE OF ENGAGEMENT & GROWTH
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Our Vision, Mission, & Values Guide Us
To ensure we are aligned in all we do, we have created our Vision, Mission, and Value Statements. They are at the heart of everything we do. They guide us in our daily actions. With them and through them, we grow, we thrive, and we evolve.
Our Mission Fuels Our Engagement
We are engaged with our mission: To be the best global wellbeing company enhancing the everyday life of humans through their experience with us. It brings us fulfillment every day.
OUR ENGAGEMENT H
A Gallup study of over 1 that they are seeking to trust, compassion, stability
These four needs are criti progress and evolve on o we each strive to satisfy a needs.
Lori S Global Chie Inspiratio 22
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
10,000 employees found fulfill four primary needs: y, and hope.
ical all of the time. As we our path of engagement, and embody these primary
Stohs ef Strategy & on Officer Welcome
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Our Values Influence Every Action We Take
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We are aligned with and guided by our values, every day: We honor people by continuously creating a culture of engagement and growth with our employees and business partners. In the communities where we work; in the places we source our ingredients. We honor team members by protecting our business by proactively managing risks; for our team, our product, our process, and our organization. We honor the people we work with and their communities through our partnerships and collaborations.
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WE HONOR PEOPLE... With Our Transparency Even though we are a privately held company, we strive to be transparent. We share our goals. We share our results. We started our year with a company-wide kick-off meeting, sharing our management direction for the year ahead. We shared plans for our company culture, revenue, growth, sustainability, operations, risk management, and plans for our 'doing good' programs. We discussed production and sales numbers, marketing strategies, sustainability programs, and more. And it was a discussion. Team members from our three productions shifts, along with our office teams, all participated in the conversation... asking questions and making recommendations; embodying trust, compassion, stability, and hope.
With Our Open Communication We openly communicate, celebrate, and share goals, accomplishments, successes, and milestones. We connect as individuals, teams, and collectively as a company. We have a company newsletter, Live, Light, Insights, which is distributed quarterly.
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Our digital Weekly Communications Connection goes out to everyone via email (every employee has a company email address), and is posted on the T.V. in the company break room.
Through Appreciation & Recognition We acknowledged everyone for their uniqueness, their individual strengths, and their diversity. Our culture is one where employees are encouraged to contribute and to share, individually as well as in meetings. There are corporate-wide recognition programs and a team made up of employees that help come up with new ways to appreciate and recognize fellow employees. We enjoy celebrating personal and group accomplishments, successes, and milestones (work anniversaries, birthdays), one-on-one, and as a company. Together, we recognize holidays, and we share events such as company-wide picnics. Our entryway celebrates every team member with a professional photo proudly displayed on the wall. A new program offers Appreciation notecards for employees to use anytime they feel inspired to offer words of kindness and appreciation to one another.
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WE HONOR PEOPLE...
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With A Welcoming Work Environment When you walk into the building the first thing you may notice is the bright open spaces, the natural lighting, and the native plants. The second is the light scent of the over 140 exotic spices and botanicals that drifts in from the lab and warehouse. Our manufacturing facility, our testing labs, our Research & Development labs, and our corporate offices are all connected.
With Diversity, Equity, & Inclusiveness We honor each one of us as individuals and honor all people we come across in our day-to-day business and life. We recognize the differences in each one of us, we come from different backgrounds, have different colors of skin, speak different languages, love who we love, identify as who we are, eat the foods we love and practice the faith or belief that serves us. We have the opportunity to be our best self at work. When we honor one another, support one another, share kindness with each other, have compassion for our experiences and celebrate what makes us unique, we ALL benefit. Let's continue to show up for one another and build this great place to work. We are supporting our families, our community, our partners and our consumers. We want to honor each of you as individuals and honor all people we come across in our day-to-day business and life. To focus on the importance of this, we wanted to ensure we were understanding where we are today and what else we need to do as an organization to ensure all were feeling valued and respected. Below are the questions we asked as part of our 2020 Engagement Survey. We are happy to see many of you feel respected and feel we will treat individuals fair and do what's right. We know we still have progress to make. Education. Understanding others' backgrounds and cultures allow us to learn more about each other and appreciate each other better. Welcome
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WE HONOR PEOPLE... With Opportunities For Growth & Development When it comes to our people, we start with the best. Our recruiting team is made up of people experts. Whenever we have a department opening, we step back and take a look at the department. Where it is and where it is going. A gap may create opportunities for those already in the department to grow. We may shift responsibilities based on the strengths and interests of those already working here. We assess the open position and may change the role to better suit the department's growing or future needs. Then we start the search process. We operate on a strengths-based culture. This means we look at the strengths of those on the team, and determine who can best complement the team, based on their natural abilities and their long-term fit to role. We complete an extensive interview process. Part of this process includes having most applicants complete the Gallup CliftonStrengths Profile. Whether the applicant becomes an E.W.T.C. Team Member or not, they will learn more about themselves, having another tool to help them in their process. We compile strength profiles to help ensure the applicant is the right fit for the role, the department, and the company, as much as we are the right fit for the applicant. We thrive in growth and development, offering opportunities for every team member. We have one-on-one check-in meetings among managers and each team member every month. The purpose of these meetings is to dedicate time to openly discuss how things are going. Managers check-in to ensure that expectations are clear, while clarifying that individual success is being measured and effectively managed. They also ensure that the proper training is being 30
received, their teams are openly communicating, and each team member is receiving enough support to be successful, ensuring they have the right tools to complete their work. One of the goals of these discussions is to help to make sure that each person understands their individual role, their role as a member of the team, and how they contribute to the mission, value, and goals of the company. All meetings are safe spaces for two-way, open conversation. They offer managers an opportunity to provide positive feedback to team members by recognizing and encouraging them to share ideas, suggestions and provide their feedback on processes and systems. Performance Reviews, yearly target goal setting, and training classes, are all a part of our growth and development opportunities. For instance, our CliftonStrengths training provides an opportunity to learn more about your distinct strengths profile, and how to maximize your potential by understanding what you naturally do best, positioning you for success through creating stronger relationships and improving teamwork. All Team Members have heard the buzzword 'StrengthsFinder'. The Gallup StrengthsFinder assessment uncovers your uniquely ranked order of 34 strengths themes. These themes fall into four domains: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking. The assessment helps develop us into our highest potential whether it's in our career or personal lives, thus leading to higher engagement and productivity. Ultimately encouraging us to work stronger as a team and overall organization. In August, our StrengthsFinder team began leading weekly lunch sessions on one of the 34 strengths. These sessions breakdown each meaning, how they relate or pair well with other strengths, and how to maximize and look for potential blind spots. Additionally, the sessions allow for meaningful peer to peer dialogue and questions. Welcome
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WE HONOR PEOPLE... By Nourishing The Whole Person We nourish people with many things like company events, food, swag, experiences, and the like, that many find cool, which is how they describe our culture. These experiences are a part of our organizational culture, providing opportunities for us to be together, having fun day-to-day work, celebrating our success along the way. Even moreso, we bond and bind... we build trust, convey compassion, striving to create a culture of stability and safety, fueling a greater sense of hope, belonging, and fulfillment. Our intention is to to create a highly trust-based environment, where together, we flourish as individuals, teams and as one united organization.
We Honor People With Comprehensive Benefits & More We offer competitive salaries, and a generous annual bonus. As a wellbeing-focused company, our comprehensive benefits package seeks to offer team members peace of mind. We offer a choice of exceptional benefits including health, dental, vision, F.S.A. and H.A.S. options, alternative care options, life and disability insurance, a 401K plan, paid time off, holidays, sick leave, and parental leave. There is also an Employee Assistance Program, available free of charge. And, we have a dedicated team to help you with any questions about our benefits. Many of our positions offer a hybrid work-from-home option that provides the opportunity to work outside the office up to two days per week. Our Nourish Market provides employees subsidized, healthy, plant-based lunch and snack options. We also have a 'Breathe Deep' room that offers employees a space to relax, meditate, and practice yoga. As part of our mission to Do Good in our local, national, and international communities, we provide to our employees the opportunity to participate in volunteer activities. Each year, we provide paid time off to engage employees with local charities and other non-profit partners. 32
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OUR GREAT WORK ENVIRONMENT
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WE HONOR PEOPLE... With Our Great Work Environment In 2016, we decided to build a new headquarters. At the time, there wasn't a single tea facility that met LEED's high standards. For us, however, we felt that sustainability needed to start at our front door. After a long design and building process, we are proud to spend our workdays in the world's first LEED-certified tea production facility. Designing this building from the ground up enabled our team to implement new practices that help to minimize waste, reduce emissions from natural gas, and maximize water efficiency, such as: • Over 60% of building materials were locally sourced within 250 miles • No CFC-based refrigerants limit potential atmospheric impact
• Roof membrane is 50% recycled content, made white to deflect heat • Ceiling tiles are made from 72% recycled material • The HVAC system is projected to save 33%
• R.C.E. is providing 1,399 megawatt hours of wind energy
• Potable water use inside the building has been reduced by 37%
• Potable water use for landscape irrigation has been reduced by 56% • Carpet is 56% recycled content
The energy we use is offset every year through the purchase of renewable energy credits. These credits go to funding green energy initiatives whose emissions savings offset our energy usage, every day. Designed with wellness in mind, the building provides employees with an onsite massage chair, and our 'Breathe Deep' room for relaxation, mediation, and yoga. The facility is supported by an abundance of natural lighting and indoor plants, which have been shown to reduce stress in a work environment.
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sustainability is built into the walls around
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OUR COMMITTMENT TO BEING A B-CORP
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Why We Love Being B Corp Certified Being a certified B Corporation demonstrates our commitment to doing good holistically. B-Corp Certification demonstrates that we meet high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on various factors, from employee benefits and charitable giving, to supply chain practices and input materials, including the treatment of workers, engagement with communities, customer assistance, supplier relations, and environmental action. As a Certified B Corporation (one of only four in our hometown of Eugene, OR), we strive to support quality, sustainability, and social responsibility on a local, national, and global level. As part of our commitment to this triple-bottom-line approach, we: • implement environmentally preferred practices • we support organic farming practices in our supply chain • Work with organizations in our local community and across the globe through partnerships that empower others to achieve their greatest potential and live vibrant lives. When we were initially certified in 2014, we hardly had to make any internal adjustment, as we were already in such alignment with B Corporation standards. Since then, the standards continue to increase, fueling our desire to continuously improve. Our European operations are also undergoing certification this year. The next time you see that distinctive B, know that you’re supporting values that are comprehensive, legally binding, and permeate every aspect of our operations. If you’d like to look over our scorecards, all our ratings are publicly available on bcorporation.net. 40
being a B Corp demonstrates our commitment to doing good holistically
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we are continuously nourishing people we are building
WITH OUR AMAZING A GREAT PRODUCTS & BRANDS WORK ENVIRONMENT
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We Have Amazing Products & Brands We are intentional with our products and authentic with our brands. We are mindful of who we work with, and the practices we use. We work with organizations such as the Rainforest Alliance, and always seek to source sustainable, organic ingredients. We blend our teas with intention. Our Yogi teas are created to support body and mind, combining ingredients to enhance their wellness-supporting potential. We blend only the best of what nature has to offer, using the finest spices and botanicals. Our Choice Organics collection of premium teas are sourced exclusively from organic and nonGMO growers around the world.
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we are more than just a tea bag
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BY SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES
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We share in our success by giving back to others, supporting causes we believe in. Through the EWTC foundation, our Day of Giving, and many local community programs, we strive to make an impact on our local community, as well as work to do good globally. Doing Good has been part of our D.N.A. since the company was founded. We are committed to give back to the world through our internal, local, national, and global giving. This commitment started with grassroots efforts, and has evolved into the East West Tea Foundation. We begin our efforts internally, supporting any of our team members in need. We are also honored to work with organizations through partnerships that align with our vision and help support the livelihoods and needs of communities we have relationships with. The focus areas of giving align with our wellbeing focus, and include education, health, nutrition, water, safety, gender empowerment, and equality. We offer our team members the opportunity to make a direct impact with our Tea-M Member Day of Giving... a day when the company pauses all production to dedicate ourselves in supporting local non-profits, including Relief Nursery, Sunshine Division, FOOD For Lane County, and the Friends of Buford Park and Mt. Pisgah
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we share in our success Recent & Ongoing Doing Good Projects • EWTC Hope Fund for EWTC Team Members in need • The Kumari Project works to build safe and joyful childhoods for orphans in Nepal • The Medadumbara Scholarship program funding education and providing schooling for children who would not otherwise have this opportunity • Sorwathe Porridge Project in Rwanda, Africa designed to support healthy child development to nearly 1,000 children at local daycare centers and preschools on the Sorwathe tea farms • Y.O.G.A. for Youth to help provide customized yoga and mindfulness programming tailored to address youth population's behavioral, emotional, and physical needs Welcome
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We Are Committed To Sustaining Our Planet We have ongoing sustainability programs, as we are actively working to improve our sustainability efforts. Many team members are engaged, working on committees to turn our goals into actions. We are committed to making a positive impact on the planet. In our sustainability manifesto, we state that we want to IMPROVE the world around us. This means WORKING TOGETHER, we are creating a world that's better off because we're in it. Not just giving back what we take from it. Rather, contribute to the gradual development of humanity.
we are creating a world that's better off because we're in it
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As a manufacturer, we recognize that we must take actions to deliberately have a positive impact on the planet. And every day, at E.W.T.C. we take actions these actions. While other manufacturers may strive for a net-zero impact, we strive for more... to heal, regenerate, and revive. We empower and enrich the lives and livelihoods of everyone who connects our organizational ecosystem. It is our intent to unite and enlighten people in our industry and beyond. We PARTNER with others in our industry to expand our thinking. We are forward-thinking. We think big. And by doing so, we continually challenge ourselves and others to be the best we can be. Welcome
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life is like tea... it's a you m
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e a cup of all in how make it
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we are grateful
THANK YOU!
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We hope that you have learned something more about us as we have shared this time together and that you better understand what motivates us here at East West Tea. More than anything, we hope that we have inspired you in some small way. If you have any questions or would like to continue this conversation, please reach out to us at XYZ@EastWestTea.com. We are happy to speak with you, perhaps over a cup of tea! East West Tea Executive Team
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