8th January, 2007: ABC Primetime Challenge Continued: TEAM STRATEGY TAKES SHAPE
In a healthy partnership for healthful living, ABC and Bigelow Tea joined forces this summer. A competition was set to follow two teams testing weight loss moTEAvators. The Bigelow Tea Team was on a quest to become healthy for one’s sake. The Bridgeport Bluefish Corporate Office who took on becoming healthy to avoid humiliation. he The ABC Primetime Challenge Weight Special, which aired December 20th, followed the story and people who took part in the event.
Team Strategy Takes Shape
A caravan of ABC personnel arrived at Bigelow early Tuesday morning, July 18, to set up lights, cameras, and sound and scale equipment. Then they set off to capture some early morning film shots of the Bigelow operations, as the Bigelow Tea team participants gathered on the production floor for the opening shoot. Each team member was greeted by Jay Schadler (ABC Primetime Correspondent). Then they participated in individual interviews.
Daily teamwork, diet and exercise became three synonymous words spoken throughout the next two months. With Cindi leading the group, the team’s strengths were identified and we began our journeys toward a healthier lifestyle. To assist in reducing the unwanted pounds, the company subsidized a two-month gym membership fee for each person and many participants elected to utilize one of the two gyms next door for their workouts. Others opted for neighborhood walks or other home activities.
It was difficult at first to change a lifestyle we were accustomed to, but once we became adjusted to the new routines, it was easier to continue with our exercise and diet programs. Feeling good about ourselves was a moTEAvating factor that encouraged us to stay the course. But one common denominator prevailed as the backbone of our strategy– the support given and received from teammates, coworkers and family. As our weight loss regimes continued, our weekly weigh-ins began to see promising results.
In the beginning, some of us were shy about stepping on the scale, but once the weights were posted on the board, the shyness disappeared along with the pounds and waistline measurements. Although individual weight loss triumphs and struggles were experienced along the way, sharing our stories aided in a greater support group as we focused on each person’s goal. The group shared constant advice about the effects that certain foods and exercises have on weight loss. A variety of articles and recipes were circulated and countless weight loss discussions occurred throughout the workday.
Halfway through the challenge, ABC returned to film one of our weekly weigh-ins along with additional camera footage at the homes of Liz, Don and Mike. By this time, four team members had reached their weight loss goal, some were within five pounds. Still a handful of others were experiencing a more slightly uphill battle. Yet, we were each determined that we would not let anyone on the team down. True diligence would prevail, and teamwork, dedication, and perseverance would win out. We increased the weekly weigh-ins to twice per week to help ensure that the team remained focused in reaching our goal.
Three guest speakers joined us to offer nutrition and weight loss information. Stavros Mastrogannis, Personal Trainer and Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant, Rene White, Nutraceutical Consultant, and Lisa Storch, Holistic Nutrition Health Counselor. Each expert shed additional light on the impact of body, diet, exercise and the reaction to certain foods consumed on our quest for a healthful lifestyle. They also discussed other factors that affect our health and well-being (physical activity, career, spirituality and relationships) and shared recipes for healthful foods with us.
All of this support was sure working in our favor.
ABC News Primetime detailed the science of the story. ABC News covered the story with the team members. The ABC Primetime Challenge Weight Loss Special aired on local ABC channels on Wednesday, December 20th, at 10pm, EST.
Posted by Elizabeth at 8:33 am |
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I have not been able to find “Almond & Fruit” or “Fruit & Almond” tea. Has this been discontinued? Is it still available? Please advise
Comment by Marge — January 15, 2007 @ 1:30 pm
We have Fruit & Almond tea on the website at http://www.bigelowtea.com. Thanks!
Comment by Valorie — January 15, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
The Bigelow Tea website has Fruit & Almond tea. Go to http://www.bigelowtea.com to order that and many other varieties!
Thanks!
Comment by Sabine — January 15, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
I’m looking fro Fruit & Almond flavor-has it been discontined?
Comment by Pat DuBois — October 7, 2007 @ 6:53 pm
I am looking for the Fruit & Almond tea, my husband hates tea, this is the only one i have made for him that he LOVES!! and now i cannot find it ANYWHERE…… Is there some stone i have not overturned to find some? Help
Comment by Tina — October 16, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
Tina,
While supplies last, you can buy the tea on the website, http://www.bigelowtea.com.
Thanks for asking,
Valorie for Bigelow Tea
Comment by Valorie — October 17, 2007 @ 6:55 am
You have been telling people as recently at October 17, 2007 that Fruit and Almond is available onthe website, but it is actually discontinued.
I truly wish you would bring it back. I cannot find another brand that is similar to the taste - but if anyone out there has, please let me know!
Comment by Eileen — October 22, 2007 @ 1:58 pm
I agree, Fruit and Almond is the best tea I’ve ever had. Luckily I ordered a case of it a while back and still have some, but am VERY disappointed to hear that it has been discontinued.
PLEEEEEEASE bring it back!!
Comment by Kelly Forney — October 28, 2007 @ 9:26 pm
Your website shows that Fruit & Almond tea has been discontinued.
That is such a disappointment. Please consider bringing it back. How about as a holiday special?
Deanna
Comment by Deanna Riley — October 29, 2007 @ 2:36 pm
We are so disappointed to learn that Fruit and Almond tea has been discontinued and we cannot find it in any store or online. It was one of our all time favorites and we stocked it in all of our families homes.
We miss it… Please bring it back!!
Comment by tootie — January 25, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
Everyone that I shared my fruit and almond tea with said it was the best they’d ever had and were instantly hooked. I can’t believe it is discontinued! Could you PLEASE bring it back! I have tried several others and NOTHING compares!
Comment by Jackie Wetmore — January 26, 2008 @ 11:45 pm
How can Fruit and Almond be discontinued?!? It’s the most delicious tea I’ve ever had, and now that my case has run out, I’ve lost my favorite drink.
Will you please bring it back, Bigelow? Pretty please??
Comment by Anne — January 27, 2008 @ 1:52 am
I somehow found a few boxes of Bigelow’s Fruit & Almond Tea on my grocer’s shelf today, by chance. I’m planning to go back this evening and pick up the remaining two boxes.
If I have to, I’ll comb the area to find more. I can’t believe you are discontinuing the best tea in your line!
Comment by Mary S. — February 1, 2008 @ 3:28 pm
Fruit and Almond Tea discontinued??? Say it aint so!!! Every Christmas, my sister buys me a case of tea - this past Christmas, I said, I ONLY want Bigelow’s Fruit & Almond - she said it wasn’t available, and I didn’t believe her. Now I find that it’s true. But, how can it be true? WHY? I am so very disappointed. I have driven 45 minutes one way to get to a store that carries the Fruit & Almond tea; now I’m running low and cannot get more? Much like Elaine on Seinfeld who had to determine if men were “Spongeworthy”, I now have to make a determination amongst my friends if they are “teaworthy”. PLEASE bring back the Fruit & Almond tea!!!
Thank you.
Debra White
Milford, OH
Comment by Debra L. White — February 1, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
The painful process of discontinuing a tea….not fun but unfortunately a necessity. Each year we have the wonderful opportunity to create new and exciting flavors for our tea consumers. The receptivity to our new flavors over the years has been outstanding, whether it was with our Pumpkin Spice, Green Tea with Pomegranate or one of our newest AriZona teas that has the powerful antioxidant Acai in it. Our tea consumers have come to know that when we put our name on a tea, it is the most flavorful, freshest tea possible.
However, with all the fun work in creating and introducing new teas, we have to occasionally let go of our slower moving/slower selling teas because when a tea flavor reaches a certain point of sales, it becomes almost impossible to run a very limited quantity of teabags on our equipment. Then comes the hardest part of all…we have to share news with our wonderful consumers that a tea will not be produced any longer. Of course, with that decision, we make lots of really lovely people very unhappy. The letters, the phone calls, the emails come flooding in pleading with us to reconsider. We try very hard to take care of our faithful consumers and provide some of the discontinued tea through the website but eventually we get to a point where the tea is not longer available.
The reality is, we cannot make those passionate fans happy and that is not fun…We have over 80 beautiful teas and with that our warehouses would explode and our machines would revolt if we did not eventually let some of our slower moving teas retire to the Bigelow Tea “pasture.”
So for all you amazing fans that we cannot satisfy 100% by taking away one of your favorite teas…we are very sorry. Please know if we could, we would love to supply you with every tea you ever wanted from us, but that is not truly possible.
Thank you for loving those teas and I can only hope that you might find a wonderful substitute somewhere in our array of teas that makes you just (or at least close to “just”) as happy.
At least I can dream…..
Cindi Bigelow
Comment by Cindi — February 7, 2008 @ 7:14 am
I am also dissapointed that this wonderful tea is no longer available. If you believe you have something similar that the “fruit and nut” fans would like to try, please recommend one. I haven’t found anything close. One I found similar is Celestial Seasonings Almond Sunset a Dessert Tea for others interested.
Comment by Michelle — February 13, 2008 @ 3:50 pm
Is “Fruit & Almond” tea only available at Amazon and Bigelow.com? Are any stores still carrying it?
Comment by Valri — February 15, 2008 @ 12:45 pm
Valri,
You asked where you could purchase our Fruit & Almond Tea.
We no longer make this flavor and apologize for any disappointment this may have caused you. At this time, we do not offer a similar flavor, or have any remaining inventory. We will, however, share your e-mail with the appropriate department within the company.
Bigelow Tea Consumer Department
Comment by Valorie — February 19, 2008 @ 9:43 am
My disappointment with your nere.ed to discontinue Fruit $ Almond has been great. My entire family loves this flavor and have been fans of it for some time. We have tried the other flavors but none compare.
Hope you reconsider.
Comment by Betty McKenna — February 20, 2008 @ 9:56 am
Dear Cindi,
Well this is truely dissapointing. I have been ordering Fruit and Almond for my wife for some time. Its about the only flavor she likes. I also enjoy it. It never fails, find something you truely like an sure enough, it will be discontinued. We hope you will reconsider this decision.
Dennis Nissen
Comment by Dennis Nissen — February 20, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
Well that explains why none of my grocery stores has it… Honestly it and the fruit series of teas are the only ones I actually liked from your brand. That it didn’t sell amazes me since many of your other teas I consider to be average or unappealing.
Comment by Jasmine — February 23, 2008 @ 2:04 am
Cindi,
I too would like to express my dissatisfaction with having my favorite tea discontinued. I have been looking for Fruit and Almond Tea since September when I noticed my store put it on the clearance shelf. I have checked the Bigelow website several times and haven’t seen it, even though you have said since at least November that it was still available.
When I logged on to the website tonight and followed the link you posted as recently as January 15th I became excited that it might still be available. I was so disappointed that it was not there. But wait…I looked really hard to find it on the website, and I did. It is still being sold and perhaps not discontinued at all. Of course, I am not gullible enough to purchase the Afternoon Assortment of Herbal Teas for just 3 bags of Fruit and Almond Tea.
I really enjoy tea in the winter, but this is the only flavor I have purchased for at least 3 years. I purchase other teas, some Bigelow some not, to find other teas I like. What I have found is that I never use more than 1 or 2 tea bags. This is really bad for me because I quickly waste money, but good for Bigelow because tea sales go up. I am tired of wasting money on tea to find a flavor I like, but of all the ones I’ve purchased, and I’ve purchased a lot, the most revolting has been Ginger Snappish.
I am sorry to see Fruit and Almond being sent to the Bigelow Tea Pasture.
Comment by Shelley — February 23, 2008 @ 6:42 am
PLEASE PLEASE BRING FRUIT & ALMOND BACK!!!! So many people love and miss this tea, it truly was the best bigelow has ever produced. At least sugggest a similar flavor or create a new similar flavor or just bring it back.
Comment by emma — February 23, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
OMG….PLEASE BRING THE FRUIT AND ALMOND BACK!!! My parents introduced it to me and I cannot bring myself to drink any other flavor now. Ive tried others and they do not add up. Why discontinue a flavor that seems to draw attention. I need answers….I need my tea
Comment by Kelly — February 26, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
Bring back the Fruit & Almond tea! The flavor is unique and it’s quite obvious the tea has a loyal following. This is the only tea I have ever ordered in a case lot. Listen to your customers: bring this one back.
Comment by Heidi — February 27, 2008 @ 7:01 pm
Fruit and Almond Tea has been harder and harder to find in Los Angeles. Years ago it was promoted in you variety pack of 6 teas and we could buy it in any grocery store. Slowly the number of stores stopped carrying Fruit and Almond Tea. At last Vicente Foods in Brentwood was the only store that had it on the shelves until November. This Christmas I found a case of six boxes on line and now it is aomost gone.
How can a tea continue a brisk sale if none of the regular or specialty stores carry it. Of course sales declined!
Comment by Nancy Jones — March 1, 2008 @ 10:32 pm
What is the minimum quantity necessary to economically justify your machines to “run” a batch of Fruit and Almond? I will commit to purchase the entire amount. This is a serious offer.
Tea consumers: If Bigelow responds favorably to this overture, look for availability on eBay.
Comment by George — March 2, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
What a fantastic idea George! I will look for your listing, should Bigelow respond favorably. The UPC code is already assigned - all they have to do is print up some packaging and put it on the production schedule. Surely, they already have the ingredients!
My dear Cindi:
You obviously have a huge customer base for this product. BRING IT BACK!!! The sales probably declined because it was so hard to find this flavor for the last two years. Being in Product Development myself, I understand your position, however, this is a “no-brainer”. People LOVE this tea! You have introduced “trendy” flavors that will come and go - but “Fruit and Almond” is a classic! Don’t make the mistake that Coke made and discontinue something that customers LIKE. (Coke “Classic” now?)
PLEASE bring our favorite tea back!
Vivian from PA
Comment by Vivian — March 4, 2008 @ 10:09 am
I have a full court press working on this; we just need a few more days to figure this out! It is hard to get some of the ingredients needed in small quantities but I promise you, my team is all over this!!!!! We have one ingredient that is causing the majority of the problems……
Cindi Bigelow, President
Comment by Cindi — March 5, 2008 @ 2:35 pm
Dear Cindi,
How wonderful to hear that there may be hope! Truly, there is NO tea out there like Fruit and Almond. My friends and I are all crossing fingers and toes hoping for a comeback of this delightful one-of-a-kind flavor.
Many thanks,
Cheryl
Comment by Cheryl — March 5, 2008 @ 6:31 pm
I have exciting news we have enough ingredients to make 400 cases of Fruit & Almond tea. The tea will be available to purchase online at http://www.bigelowtea.com in approximately two weeks. The tea will be packaged in white generic boxes but the foil will be in the standard Fruit and Almond overwrap. I am also working on making it available (on line only) from this point forward. More news to come on that front – but for now, we are making up to 400 cases for you amazing wonderful consumers. Thank you so much for enjoying our tea!!!
Cindi Bigelow, President
Comment by Cindi — March 6, 2008 @ 7:09 am
Cindi,
You’re the best! Thank you for listening to the customers.
Comment by Shelley — March 7, 2008 @ 2:14 pm
What will we do w/out Fruit & Almond? I have a couple of boxes left & am using them to “treat myself.” Please bring it back.
Comment by jean — March 9, 2008 @ 12:01 am
Please don’t do this to us!
We need Fruit and Almond tea back ASAP!!!
This is the best tea ever! Listen to what people want!!!!!
Comment by beth brown — March 11, 2008 @ 11:21 am
I just preordered my case of Fruit and Almond Tea. I am so excited! It may seem like a little thing, but this is one flavor that is unique and not mass produced by other companies. I feel like a tea junkie saying this, but keep me supplied in Fruit and Almond and I will be a dedicated Bigelow customer.
Comment by Shelley — March 18, 2008 @ 11:08 pm
Cindi please keep the Fruit & Almond coming.
Damn I just went to the site.
$17.97 a box!!!
That sure is a high price.
Comment by Les T. — March 27, 2008 @ 11:41 pm
I am a huge fan of Fruit and Almond tea, but I was wondering…is it really 17.75 for a single box or is that the price for a case with 6 boxes in it?
Thanks and keep that Fruit and Almond coming!!!
Comment by Chris — March 31, 2008 @ 4:25 pm
Chris,
The price of the Fruit & Almond Tea is $17.75 per case, plus shipping and handling charges. A case is six boxes of 20 teabags in each box.
Thanks for your question.
Valorie for Bigelow Tea
Comment by Valorie — April 1, 2008 @ 11:01 am
Thank you for bringing the fruit & almond tea back - that and your peach are the only teas I drink and the F&E is my absolute favorite. I was so disappointed that it was gone and just checked back on slim hope - yay! I just ordered two cases. I think it’s fantastic that you listened and responded to your customers - that’s impressive!
Comment by julie — April 29, 2008 @ 6:57 pm
Yay!!! Thanks so much for taking your loyal consumers into consideration, Cindi! I’d all but given up hope of finding Fruit & Almond again, and then on a pure whim I ran a search on Google to see if there was an ebay listing, an overstock sale, *anything*. When I saw the tea was available for sale again, I actually cheered out loud! (I scared my kitty who was taking a nap on my scanner. *lol*)
I just ordered two cases, and I’ll be spreading the word to my fellow tea-holics.
Thank you again!
Comment by Anne — May 4, 2008 @ 10:40 pm