Brand Overview
#Bigelow Tea is America’s leading specialty tea company, founded in 1945 by Ruth Campbell Bigelow. The company pioneered the specialty tea category with its iconic “Constant Comment” tea. Still 100% family-owned after three generations, Bigelow is headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, and is both a Certified B Corporation and a certified woman-owned business.
Key Facts
#- Headquarters: 201 Black Rock Tpke, Fairfield, Connecticut 06825
- Founded: 1945
- Founder: Ruth Campbell Bigelow
- Current CEO: Cindi Bigelow (3rd generation, since 2005)
- Chairman: David C. Bigelow (2nd generation)
- Employees: ~350
- Annual Revenue: ~$188.9 million (2020)
- Ownership: 100% family-owned
- Certifications: Certified B Corporation, WBENC Woman-Owned (2023)
Founding Story
#In 1945, Ruth Campbell Bigelow, a designer by trade, was dissatisfied with the commodity tea that was commonplace in the 1940s. In her New York City brownstone kitchen, she focused on formulating a better cup of tea. After weeks of trial and error, blending black tea with orange rind and sweet spices, she created the first cup of specialty tea in the country. She shared her tea with friends and received many comments—in fact, “constant comments.” Her new brew got its name, and the Bigelow Tea Company was born.
Family Leadership
#| Generation | Leader | Role | Period |
|---|
| 1st | Ruth Campbell Bigelow | Founder | 1945-1960s |
| 2nd | David C. Bigelow | CEO, now Chairman | 1960s-2005 |
| 2nd | Eunice Bigelow | Vice President | Ongoing |
| 3rd | Cindi Bigelow | President & CEO | 2005-present |
| 3rd | Lori Bigelow | Company leadership | Ongoing |
Product Lines
#- Constant Comment: Iconic original blend (black tea, orange rind, sweet spices)
- Black Teas: English Teatime, Earl Grey, Vanilla Chai
- Green Teas: Green Tea with Lemon, Green Tea with Blueberry
- Herbal Teas: Cozy Chamomile, Sweet Dreams, Lemon Ginger
- Steep by Bigelow: Premium organic tea line
- Bigelow Benefits: Wellness-focused teas
- Bigelow Botanicals: Cold Water Infusions
Product Portfolio
#- 50+ varieties of tea
- Black, green, and herbal teas
- All blended in Fairfield, Connecticut
Manufacturing Locations
#- Fairfield, Connecticut: Headquarters and primary blending facility
- Boise, Idaho: Production plant
- Louisville, Kentucky: Production plant
Certifications & Recognition
#- Certified B Corporation
- WBENC Certified Woman-Owned Business (2023)
- #1 Tea Company in the U.S. (specialty tea category)
Retail Availability
#- Official Website: bigelowtea.com (10% off first purchase with subscription)
- Amazon: Full product range
- Walmart: In-store and online
- Target: Same Day Delivery, Drive Up, Order Pickup
- Whole Foods Market: Premium grocery
- Major grocery retailers nationwide
Database Presence
#| Source | Products | Notes |
|---|
| DSLD | 0 | Not registered (tea products may not require DSLD registration) |
| Keepa | 24 | Amazon marketplace data |
Company History Timeline
#| Year | Event |
|---|
| 1945 | Ruth C. Bigelow creates “Constant Comment” in NYC brownstone |
| 1950 | Company moves from NYC to Norwalk, Connecticut |
| 1955 | Survives great flood devastation in Norwalk |
| 1990 | Opens new headquarters in Fairfield, CT |
| 2005 | Cindi Bigelow becomes 3rd generation CEO |
| 2023 | Receives WBENC woman-owned certification |
Investigation Summary
#| Aspect | Finding | Confidence |
|---|
| Database Presence | Keepa: 24 products (DSLD: 0) | High |
| UPC Prefix | 072310 (6-digit) | High |
| Official Website | bigelowtea.com | High |
| Parent Company | Independent (R.C. Bigelow, Inc.) | High |
| Retail Availability | Amazon, Walmart, Target, Whole Foods | High |
| Brand Status | Active | High |
Status Rationale: Bigelow Tea is a highly active brand that has been operating continuously since 1945. As America’s #1 specialty tea company, it maintains strong retail presence across major retailers, operates an active e-commerce website, and continues to be led by the third generation of the Bigelow family. The company is certified as both a B Corporation and a woman-owned business, demonstrating ongoing corporate responsibility commitments.