The founder of Arizona Iced Tea, Don Vultaggio, is standing firm on keeping his iced tea affordable for everyone.
In a recent interview aired on Today and Morning News NOW, NBC’s Savannah Sellers spoke with Vultaggio, who proudly explained why Arizona Iced Tea has stayed at 99 cents for over three decades. “We’re successful. We’re debt free. We own everything. Why?” Vultaggio said, emphasizing that raising prices isn’t necessary for them.
“Why should people who are struggling to pay rent have to pay more for our drink?” he continued. “Maybe it’s my little way to give back.”
Arizona Iced Tea hit the market in 1992 and has always been sold at 99 cents for a 23-ounce can. Vultaggio started the family business in New York, inspired by Snapple’s success. Today, Arizona Iced Tea is a multi-billion dollar company with nearly 200 flavors and three billion units sold annually.
When asked if he plans to raise prices, Vultaggio responded, “Not in the foreseeable future. We’re gonna fight as hard as we can for consumers.”
Interestingly, Vultaggio had never been to Arizona when he named the beverage. The name came from a house in Queens that reminded him of the state.
“Beautiful can designed by my wife,” he shared. “Beautiful look, turquoise, pink, and yellow — vibrant colors. Great taste, and a fair price.”
His two sons, Wesley and Spencer, are following in his footsteps, serving as chief creative officer and chief marketing officer, respectively. Vultaggio enjoys working with his sons, saying, “Anybody who hasn’t tried it should. Otherwise, when your children grow and go to college, you only see them on birthdays, holidays, weekends sometimes. I get to see them all the time.”
