*** ABVG NEWS 11-9-2017 ***
Village Tea Company Announces Re-launch of Retail Store Platform
Washington DC -- November, 9, 2017 -- InvestorsHub NewsWire: Village Tea Company Distribution, Inc , a division of Affinity Beverage Group, Inc (OTC PNK: ABVG) announced that it has partnered with retail industry veteran Don Jones to form Village Tea Direct, LLC (hereinafter “The Company”) for the purposes of re-launching the Village Tea Company branded retail store concept and e-commerce platform (www.villageteaco.com) to create a dynamic and robust direct to consumer experience to compliment the brands existing wholesale distribution and food service strategy. Mr. Jones, who is the co-founder of Verite Capital Partners and is currently a senior advisor for retail, consumer products and food service sectors at Beechwood Capital Advisors, has served as a trusted advisor to Village Tea Company over the past several years. Mr. Jones will bring his 40+ years of retail and consumer products experience with some of the world’s most iconic brands, including GAP, Target Corporation, Ikea and others to grow and expand the new Village Tea Company retail and direct to consumer platform.
The Company intends to develop, open and operate various formats (free-standing, kiosk, tea bars, etc ) of Village Tea Company branded retail locations. The locations will not only feature Village Tea Company premium loose leaf teas by the cup in various forms but also other Affinity Beverage Group portfolio and distributed products including; Undone Chocolate hot cocoa, Jawea vegan shakes, Vegan Smart smoothies and other locally sourced food and beverage options. There are also plans (depending on the size) to create a retail section in each location that will offer various sizes of packaged Village tea products and accessories, Undone Chocolate bars and drinking chocolate,Vegan Smart, PURA Organic Agave Sweetener and other complimentary products.
“We feel that a strong brand needs to have a presence in 3 areas; brick and mortar, e-commerce and wholesale distribution in order to survive and thrive in today’s marketplace. With the announcement of the closing of Teavana, the ever increasing popularity of boutique tea brands and retail outlets across the country, coupled with the increased emphasis on health and wellness in the US market, there is a growing need for more healthy food and beverage retail concepts. We feel that the timing is right to re-launch the Village Tea Company direct to consumer platform. The demand for healthier food and beverage options, especially among millennial’s, has exploded of over the past several years which gives us a unique opportunity to showcase all of our fantastic organic, natural and vegan friendly products directly to our core consumer in our own branded retail environment,"stated Janon Costley, CEO, Village Tea Company and Affinity Beverage Group, Inc.
In addition to developing new locations, the new venture will also seek to identify opportunities to acquire and convert existing “neighborhood” tea and coffee shops in urban centers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States to launch the new concept. In fact, the Company has already identified an opportunity in the Washington DC area as its first targeted acquisition and conversion. The Company will provide more details regarding this opportunity as they become available.
Please continue to followVillage Tea Company and Affinity Beverage Group for more updates.
About Village Tea Company Distribution, Inc
Village Tea Distribution Company, Inc ( www.villageteaco.com ) sources high-quality, unique teas with distinct flavor combinations and packages them under its Village Tea Company brand name in a variety of creative and earth-friendly ways. The Village Tea Company brand is currently sold in many major retailers throughout North America.
About Don Jones
Don Jones, a veteran retail industry executive with over 40 years of retail and consumer products industry experience who has held up senior-level management positions with companies such as GAP, Target Corporation, IKEA and Macy’s. Mr. Jones is the Cofounder and Managing Partner at Verite’ Capital Partners, a minority and women owned fund-less sponsor private equity fund focused on investing in and advising small businesses in domestic emerging markets with revenues of less than $100 million. He is also a Senior Advisor for Retail, Consumer Products and Food Service Sectors at Beechwood Capital Advisors, a full-service investment banking firm. He also sits on the board of directors of several retail companies and organizations including Chairman of Connecticut Retail Merchant Association’s Charitable Foundation, the Board of Directors of New York City Investment Fund, Elaine Turner Designs, Connecticut Retail Merchant Association, Amenity Skincare and the Trinity High School Foundation to name a few. Most recently Mr.Jones was the chairman and CEO of two fast casual restaurant chains located across several states in the Northeast.
About Affinity Beverage:
Affinity Beverage Group, Inc. (www.affinitybeverage.com) is a holding company that focuses on branded consumer product acquisition opportunities in the $3.4 trillion health and wellness sector. Affinity primarily targets lifestyle brands, companies, and/or exclusive product distribution rights focusing on traditional and non-traditional, healthy beverage options. Affinity will also seek opportunities involving uniquely positioned young brands specializing in all natural/organic foods, bio-food, supplements and personal care products for strategic partnerships, distribution agreements and potential acquisition. The Company currently has two wholly owned subsidiaries, Village Tea Company Distribution, Inc and Undone Chocolate, LLC.
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