Exclusive: Southern Living launches its own sweet tea brand
Southern Living, a lifestyle magazine published by People Inc., is launching its own sweet tea brand called "Sweet Talk," representing the publisher's first owned and produced consumer packaged good company. Why it matters: People Inc., one of the largest content publishers in America, is leaning into new revenue lines across commerce, events and licensing across its portfolio to help offset AI-driven changes to open web traffic. Zoom in: The launch of "Sweet Talk" is a milestone for Southern Living as the first product the brand owns and develops itself. "This is not a licensing deal. This is our product. We have developed the recipe," Southern Living editor-in-chief Sid Evans told Axios. Evans said the tea is less sugary than alternative products, comprising of a half-sweetened and half-unsweetened blend. It was created using ingredients from the South, and will be packaged and distributed there, he said. People Inc. hired beverage industry veteran Jeana Harrington to lead the product effort. Between the lines: The brand will debut the new tea this weekend at People Inc.'s Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, South Carolina. A retail rollout across stores in Alabama and Florida will begin next spring, followed by a broader rollout in
