PerfectTed grows into $67 million matcha brand

Marisa Poster’s PerfectTed has grown from a startup built around matcha into a business Forbes valued at $67 million in a report published on May 13. Forbes said the company sells powders, lattes, ready-to-drink cans and pods online, adding to a broader push to make matcha a mass-market caffeine option rather than a niche tea product. (forbes.com) PerfectTed’s own website lists powders, lattes, energy drinks and pods, and says the brand has sold more than 10 million products. The site also ties the brand’s origin to Poster’s search for “energy that didn’t come at the expense of mental health,” saying coffee and energy drinks worsened her ADHD and anxiety before she turned to matcha. (mv-voice.com) The company’s rise is landing alongside fresh signs of consumer interest in matcha-focused retail. Mountain View Voice reported on May 13 that Bonbon Matcha is planning to open in Cupertino in early June, one of several Bay Area matcha cafe openings this year. (forbes.com) ### How big is PerfectTed now? Forbes reported on May 13 that PerfectTed had reached a $67 million valuation. The publication framed the company as a matcha-led consumer brand selling across several formats, from at-home powders to canned drinks and pods. (perfectted.com) The Retail Technology Show, which hosted Poster as a speaker in April, described PerfectTed as Europe’s largest matcha brand and said the company has reached a £40 million run rate. That page also said the brand’s products are stocked in more than 30,000 stores across more than 50 countries. (mv-voice.com) ### What exactly does the company sell? PerfectTed’s website shows a product line built around several price points and use cases. The range includes ceremonial-grade matcha powders, flavored lattes, energy drinks and Nespresso-compatible pods. (forbes.com) The company presents that mix as a way to move matcha beyond specialty preparation. Product listings on the site include vanilla matcha powder and matcha pods, while the homepage groups the catalog under powders, lattes, energy drinks and pods. ### Who built the brand with Poster? (retailtechnologyshow.com) The Retail Technology Show biography says Poster co-founded PerfectTed with her husband and brother-in-law. Just Drinks separately reported on May 13 that the company was founded in the UK by Poster and siblings Levi and Teddie Levenfiche about five years ago. (perfectted.com) Poster’s public biography says the company gained wider exposure through BBC’s “Dragons’ Den,” where it secured backing from Steven Bartlett. The same biography says Poster was recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Young British Entrepreneur of the Year. (perfectted.com) ### Why is Poster talking about matcha as “recession-proof”? Just Drinks reported on May 13 that Poster sees matcha as a category that can still perform in a tougher economic environment. Forbes similarly quoted Poster describing matcha as “recession-proof,” linking that view to expansion across gyms, offices and cafes. (retailtechnologyshow.com) PerfectTed’s own marketing emphasizes steadier energy and a calmer effect than coffee or conventional energy drinks. The website says matcha offers a “steady lift” without the “sharp spike,” language that aligns with the brand’s pitch to consumers seeking alternatives to coffee. (retailtechnologyshow.com) ### Where does this show up beyond supermarket shelves? Forbes said PerfectTed now appears across gyms, offices and cafes, suggesting the company is pushing distribution beyond direct-to-consumer sales. The Retail Technology Show biography also points to wide physical distribution, citing 30,000 stores in more than 50 countries. (just-drinks.com) In Cupertino, Bonbon Matcha’s planned opening offers a separate sign that matcha demand is extending into dedicated retail spaces. Mountain View Voice said Bonbon Matcha is expected to open in early June at 19900 Vallco Parkway, joining other recent or planned matcha cafe launches in the Bay Area. (perfectted.com) ### What comes next for the brand and the category? Bonbon Matcha’s next milestone is its early June opening in Cupertino, according to Mountain View Voice. PerfectTed, meanwhile, is already selling powders, lattes, energy drinks and pods through its website, while Poster continues to present the company publicly as it expands distribution. (forbes.com) (mv-voice.com)