| |
to read after purchase. The company website is hosted
in Sri Lanka, also perhaps beyond the scope of some
consumer watchdogs!
Dilmah is going where other tea companies may hesitate
to tread or are restricted from exploring. There is
great interest from the rest of the tea fraternity in
Dilmah’s activities and a little admiration is professed.
However regulatory bodies and industry figures frown
on some competitive claims, such as “freshness”, that
might imply that other teas were not fresh.
I have given more information about Dilmah than any
of the other companies in this section of the
Report because I consider they have the vision and potential
to drive a new UK tea industry forward. They have the
most innovative approach in the whole UK tea industry.
e) Finlays. Part of the Swire group. It is a
global tea logistics company.
f) Fortnum & Mason were established in 1706,
a year before Twinings. Twinings now buy tea for Fortnum
& Mason.
g) Harrods is a small volume but high profile
tea retailer. Some house blends are created.
h) Independents such as Mumbos (temporarily ceased
trading due to physical collapse of premises) are taking
a contemporary approach to tea service and have undertaken
extensive market research before opening a shop on King
Street in Manchester. The founder, Michael Green, moved
from Pret-a-Manger and is determined the market is right
for his bold venture. Whittards are investing in the
USA in a tea- form of the coffee lounges. Unilever’s
Cha is also testing a similar modern format in selected
UK cities.
i) Traditional Tea Rooms abound and each year
the UK Tea Council awards are given to those that lead
in overall service, quality and other key attributes.
Current holders of the UK Tea Council award may be found
on
www.teahealth.co.uk.
An example of a classic traditional tea room is Betty’s
in Yorkshire.
j) Premier Brands (formed in 1986) has acquired
Melroses, Ridgways, Typhoo, Kardomah, Glengettie and
the London Herb and Spice Tea companies.
k) Tata Tea (GB) Ltd was formed in March 2000
and incorporated as the special purpose vehicle for
purchase of the shares of The Tetley Group Limited.
The total share capital is £70,000,000 of which £60m
was subscribed to by TTL and the balance by Tata Tea
Inc. The company has assumed the burden of debt to the
extent of £211,00,000 for the balance portion of the
total cost of the Tetley acquisition, which insulates
TTL from any downside thereof.
|
|
