AriZona Iced Tea founder says they will not raise prices due to tariffs
Share and Follow


Concerns about price increases stem from the Trump administration’s 50% tariff on aluminum imports from Canada.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — A week after AriZona Beverage’s founder said they were considering raising prices on their cans for the first time in 30 years, they’re addressing those concerns. 

Chairman and co-founder Don Vultaggio told TODAY there are no plans to increase their legendary 99-cent price tag. 

“We’re trying to hold the line,” he said in an interview aired Thursday. “I can tighten my belt because the people I service and the customers of mine, they’re tightening their belt every day.” 

Talks about raising prices were in response to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, particularly on aluminum. AriZona uses more than 100 million pounds of aluminum annually for its cans, with approximately 20% sourced from Canada. Trump’s tariffs double the tax on aluminum being shipped into the U.S. to 50%. 

Though only 20% is sourced from Canada, TODAY says most of the aluminum the company uses, which is recycled in America, will also be tariffed. 

“I hate even the thought of (raising the price),” Vultaggio told The New York Times last week. “It would be a hell of a shame after 30-plus years.”

If the price of AriZona cans kept pace with inflation over the years, the company would be selling its iced tea for $1.99 today, The NYT reported. Instead, the 99-cent price has remained so central to the brand’s identity that the numbers are prominently displayed on every can.

The company has had to refute viral claims of price hikes in the past when photos of cans printed with a $1.29 price pop up online. Those beverages are in Canadian dollars, which is equivalent to 99 cents in U.S. currency. Although the cans are pre-printed with the suggested 99-cent retail price, the company’s website acknowledges some stores may charge more than that.

Vultaggio told TODAY the cans are costing him about 40% more, resulting in millions of dollars the company has to absorb. 

He says there’s a way for the company to offset the costs — sell more products. 

It’s resulting in them pushing to use more plastic bottles, cutting the price of their 20 oz. “tall boy” drink from $1.25 to just $1. 

“Offering value is always a good idea, and when you can do it, you should,” Vultaggio told TODAY. “I grew up in Brooklyn, and I worked for $1 an hour. I respect the value of $1. And I’d say, ‘if I can help people who do that and give them a refreshing beverage for an affordable price, why not?’ And since I can afford to do it, why not continue to do it?”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
JetBlue flight makes emergency landing at Tampa Airport after sudden 'drop in altitude' injures passengers

JetBlue Flight Executes Emergency Landing at Tampa Airport Following Sudden Altitude Drop, Resulting in Passenger Injuries

A JetBlue flight en route from Cancun to New Jersey had to…
Banks and retailers run short on pennies as the US Mint stops making them

U.S. Mint Halts Penny Production: Banks and Retailers Face Shortages

The United States is currently experiencing a shortage of pennies, a situation…
Vehicle owner uses GPS app to track Naperville Ford dealership employee driving his SUV on 'unauthorized rides'

Naperville Ford Employee Caught Red-Handed: How a GPS App Exposed Unauthorized SUV Joyrides!

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (WLS) — When you leave your vehicle at a dealership…
Dolphins move on from GM Chris Grier after team's humiliating start

Dolphins Make Bold Move: Part Ways with GM Chris Grier Amidst Disappointing Season Start

The Miami Dolphins have decided to part company with General Manager Chris…
California principal resigns after allegedly using Grindr app to pursue student: report

California Principal Steps Down Amid Allegations of Inappropriate Conduct with Student via Grindr: Report

A high school principal has stepped down following allegations of inappropriate conduct…
Dishing With Diane: Kappy's American Grill on Dempster Street in Morton Grove

Discover the Ultimate Dining Experience at Kappy’s American Grill: A Morton Grove Gem on Dempster Street

The beloved segment “Dishing with Diane” has made its much-anticipated return, bringing…
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, attends a special legislative session in Richmond, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (Mike Kropf/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)

Ohio and Virginia Advance Congressional Redistricting Plans: Key Updates on Political Boundaries

On Friday, a Republican-majority panel in Ohio approved a new map for…
'We don’t have time': Parents of 4-year-old with rare disorder urge FDA to reconsider drug denial

Desperate Plea: Parents of Child with Rare Disorder Urge FDA to Reevaluate Drug Rejection

The FDA has recently declined to approve dichloroacetate (DCA) as a treatment…