Local beverage makers Sweet Leaf Tea are planning to go national within the next two years, after scoring a fresh infusion of over $15 million from Nestle Waters North America Inc. As part of the investment deal, Nestle exec Dan Costello will take over as President of Sweet Leaf, while the Austin company's founder and CEO Clayton Christopher will retain his leadership role. [Austin Business Journal]



That sucks. Nestle is the same company working to destroy Mt Shasta in Northern California (the State of Jefferson). They plan on destroying the headwaters of the Sacramento river by sucking it dry at its source. Now our local heroes? Here's to hoping the good of Sweet Leaf leaks into the corporate culture of Nestle...
After interning (aka unpaid slave labor) for Sweet Leaf Tea for about a summer and then working with an agency that was ripped off by Sweet Leaf Tea, I can't say I am surprised by this move to sell out. Nothing about Sweet Leaf is heroic. They don't respect people's work or effort and they steal intellectual property. They are just a bunch of corrupt corporate douche bags much like the leaders of any other big name corporate brand. This is an excellent move on Clayton's part, and well done walking on the backs of the people who wanted to help Sweet Leaf Tea get there. He'll fit in well.