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Steven Smith

American businessperson

Steven Dean Smith (May 29, 1949 – March 23, 2015) was an American tea entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Tazo tea company, co-founder of Stash Tea Company, and co-founder of Steven Smith Teamaker in Portland, Oregon. Smith was recognized internationally as one of the tea industry's leading entrepreneurs, and often spoke to various industry groups about branding, product development, and origin projects.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Steven Smith (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born May 29, 1949, died Mar 23, 2015.1

About

He was an active investor in, and consultant to, multiple business ventures in North America and abroad. A philanthropist, Smith supported numerous community projects locally and internationally, ranging from work with Mercy Corps to local schools and arts organizations, creating special tea blends for the Oregon Ballet Theatre and the Oregon College of Art and Craft.

From Wikipedia’s article on Steven Smith, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedPortland State University3

Career

Occupation: businessperson.5

  • Date not recordedFounded Tazo4

As a manager of Sunshine Natural Foods, the first natural foods shop in Portland, Smith co-founded Stash Tea Company in 1972 with partners Stephen Lee and Dave Leger and investors Tom Mesher and Jay Garner. Noting the interest in their teas and herbal blends by university and college students outside of Portland, the partners started the mail order division, which was run out of Smith's barn by Smith's then-wife Teri (formerly Schwarz; now Duncan) with Leslie Lee and Colleen Leger. Stash introduced herbal and specialty black teas to retail and food service accounts throughout North America, eventually growing to become one of the largest-selling food service specialty tea brands in America. During this time, Smith also started Universal Tea Company, which traded in wild-crafted botanicals. In 1975, Smith, Lee, and Leger pioneered the market for domestic peppermint and spearmint, selling Oregon-grown mint to Lipton, Celestial Seasonings, and others.

Stash Tea Company was acquired by Yamamotoyama, the oldest tea company in Japan, in 1993.

From Wikipedia’s article on Steven Smith (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • CitizenshipUnited States6

Sources

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