• April 22, 2009

The Pepsi-Lipton Tea Partnership is launching Lipton Sparkling Green Tea, the first sparkling beverage from the Lipton brand.

The drink -- a blend of fruit flavors, green tea and lightly sparkling water -- will be available nationwide in a berry flavor and both diet and regular versions of a strawberry kiwi flavor, in 20-ounce, 1.5-liter and 16.9-ounce 12-packs.

The sparkling beverage's antioxidant benefits will be highlighted as part of the marketing, which will include TV, radio and digital advertising.

Green tea has been the fastest-growing segment of the ready-to-drink tea category, with an average annual growth rate of 16.5% between 2006 and 2008, per Information Resources Inc. data. Lipton Iced Tea has been the biggest driver of this growth and accounts for 42% of category sales, according to the company.--Karlene Lukovitz