July 19, 2007 | Turning Over a New Leaf in the Beverage Industry (Back to Past Events)

Clayton Christopher and co-founder David Smith started Sweet Leaf Tea in 1998 after noticing that although there were multiple options for bottled iced tea, there was nothing that came close to the homemade tea. Inspired by the recipe that Clayton's grandmother used to make, they began by brewing tea in Clayton's kitchen. Shortly thereafter, with $10,000 in savings and an old delivery van, Sweet Leaf Tea was born. Since Sweet Leaf Tea's inception, Christopher has consistently found innovative ways for marketing especially in the rapidly changing and highly competitive beverage industry. Today Sweet Leaf Tea is one of the fastest growing food & beverage companies in the U.S. and consumers can buy Sweet Leaf Tea products at many grocery and retail outlets.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, Clayton will discuss how he grew the Sweet Leaf Tea utilizing effective "outside the box" start-up guerrilla marketing (branding, positioning, messaging, corporate identity, strategic marketing, funding ) principles in order to build a small business and succeed in growing the company. He will also show how the company is continuing to be innovative and providing marketing leadership, achievement and social responsibility.

Clayton received the 2006 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Central Texas Region in 2006 and takes an active role in the local community and philanthropic organizations and national charities such as Big Brothers and Sisters of Central Texas, AIDS Services, Susan G. Komen Foundation, Caritas and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Location: Cool River 4001 Parmer Lane Austin, Texas 78727

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