Milo's Tea Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Beverage |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Ronnie Carlton and Sheila Carlton |
| Headquarters | Birmingham , United States |
Area served | United States (38 states) |
Key people | Tricia Wallwork (CEO) |
| Products | Fruit-flavored teas, sweet tea, lemonade, decaffeinated tea, Arnold Palmer-style beverages |
Milo's Tea Company is a U.S.-based beverage manufacturer specializing in fruit-flavored teas distributed through grocery retailers across the country. Established in 1989 as a spin-off from the Alabama-originated restaurant chain Milo's Hamburgers, it currently holds the position of the fourth-largest producer of iced tea within the United States.
History
The roots of Milo's Tea Company trace back to Milo's Hamburgers, which was founded in 1946 by Milo and Bea Carlton in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1989, their son Ronnie, along with his wife Sheila, launched Milo's Tea Company after recognizing that tea was the top-selling item at the restaurant. They initially brought Milo's Famous Tea to supermarket shelves, starting with Piggly Wiggly stores.
Originally, Milo's Franchise Co. managed both the restaurant and tea enterprises until 2002, when it divested the restaurant operations and established Milo's Tea Co. as a separate entity. A legal dispute in 2012 between these companies led to a temporary removal of Milo’s tea from the restaurant menus; however, this issue was settled in 2013, allowing the tea to return to those locations.
Under the direction of CEO Tricia Wallwork beginning in 2014, Milo's broadened its distribution to cover 38 states nationwide, effectively more than doubling its market presence. The company also expanded its product offerings to include varieties such as lemonade, decaffeinated tea, and Arnold Palmer-style beverages. In support of its brand evolution, a redesigned logo was introduced in 2020.
Products
Milo's is renowned for its sweet tea, a recipe dating back to 1946 that features just three ingredients. The product range includes an Extra Sweet Tea variant with increased sugar content and a Zero Calorie option free from sugar and calories. Additionally, offerings encompass unsweetened tea, a drink resembling an Arnold Palmer, and lemonade. These beverages are sold in three different sizes: , , and .