Turkey Hill steps up iced tea brands

CONESTOGA, Pa. Famous ice cream maker Turkey Hill Dairy is dedicating more of its operations towards the iced tea category, reports have said.

Turkey Hill iced tea is stretching its distribution from 14 states to 24 states. It is also tripling its ad spending to $3 million from $1 million last year in order to to launch four TV spots June 23.

Four 15-second spots will air with the tagline: “Turkey Hill. America’s No. 1 Refrigerated Iced Tea.” Outdoor supporting ads feature the phrase, “Cold-fashioned refreshment.”

Turkey Hill will debut new zero-calorie chai spiced tea and zero-calorie pomegranate acai white tea later this year.

“For an old company they’ve caught onto some of the new trends,” said partner at Cascadia Consulting, Ramsey, N.J., Bill Sipper. “Teas are hot and no one is doing Chai in cold iced tea right now.”

Turkey Hill started as a small dairy operation in Pennsylvania in 1947. Turkey Hill is now the fourth biggest premium ice cream brand in the United States. Turkey Hill sells about 46 million gallons per year, the company has said.