Clipper Teas: Difference between revisions
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Clipper is a [[British]], [[fairtrade]] [[tea]] company based in [[Beaminster, Dorset]]. <ref name= bea>{{cite web|author= Tom Dyckhoff |url= http://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/oct/12/lets-move-to-beaminster-dorset|title=Let's move to Beaminster, Dorset |
Clipper is a [[British]], [[fairtrade]] [[tea]] company based in [[Beaminster, Dorset]]. <ref name= bea>{{cite web|author= Tom Dyckhoff |url= http://www.theguardian.com/money/2012/oct/12/lets-move-to-beaminster-dorset|title=Let's move to Beaminster, Dorset |
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|publisher= The Guardian| date=2012-10-12 | accessdate=2014-05-20}}</ref> They were founded in [[1984]] by Lorraine and Mike Brehme. In 1994, they were one of the first companies in the [[UK]] to receive the [[Fairtrade Mark]] |
|publisher= The Guardian| date=2012-10-12 | accessdate=2014-05-20}}</ref> They were founded in [[1984]] by Lorraine and Mike Brehme. In 1994, they were one of the first companies in the [[UK]] to receive the [[Fairtrade Mark]], alongside [[Green & Black’s]] Maya Gold Chocolate and [[Cafedirect]]. <ref name= mwv>{{cite web|author= Katherine Locke |url= http://www.marshwoodvale.com/food/articles/contributors/katherine-locke/lorraine-brehme|title= Lorraine Brehme |
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|publisher= Marshwood Vale Magazine | date=2011-03-01 | accessdate=2014-05-20}}</ref> Clipper was purchased in 2012, by [[Royal Wessanen]], for around £50 million. <ref name= sale>{{cite web|author= Daily Mail Reporter |url= http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2110679/Clipper-Teas-goes-Dutch-50million-sale.html|title= Clipper Teas goes Dutch in £50million sale |publisher= This is Money | date=2012-03-05 | accessdate=2014-05-20}}</ref> |
|publisher= Marshwood Vale Magazine | date=2011-03-01 | accessdate=2014-05-20}}</ref> Clipper was purchased in 2012, by [[Royal Wessanen]], for around £50 million. <ref name= sale>{{cite web|author= Daily Mail Reporter |url= http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-2110679/Clipper-Teas-goes-Dutch-50million-sale.html|title= Clipper Teas goes Dutch in £50million sale |publisher= This is Money | date=2012-03-05 | accessdate=2014-05-20}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 15:02, 21 May 2014
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| Industry | Fairtrade Tea |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Lorraine and Mike Brehme |
| Headquarters | Beaminster, Dorset, United Kingdom |
Area served | International |
| Products | Tea, Organic tea, Hot chocolate, Coffee |
| Owner | Royal Wessanen |
Number of employees | 90 (2012) |
| Website | www |
Clipper is a British, fairtrade tea company based in Beaminster, Dorset. [1] They were founded in 1984 by Lorraine and Mike Brehme. In 1994, they were one of the first companies in the UK to receive the Fairtrade Mark, alongside Green & Black’s Maya Gold Chocolate and Cafedirect. [2] Clipper was purchased in 2012, by Royal Wessanen, for around £50 million. [3]
History
Clipper Tea was started in 1984 by wife and husband team, Lorraine and Mike Brehme, who were master tasters. They wanted to share their love of tea, with the promise that the ingredients had been ethically sourced and naturally produced. It started in their Dorset kitchen with two chests of Assam tea, [4] which they bought for £50 and sold to local health food shops in the Dorset area. [5]
The principles laid down were “always a pure, natural product – there isn’t a single artificial ingredient in any of our products” [4] and the company went from strength to strength. However, the couple divorced and in 2007 the they sold to Fleming Family & Partners, a fund backed by one of Britain’s wealthiest families, for around £25- £30 million. [6].
Then in 2008, Perry Haydn Taylor’s creative branding agency, big fish, was approached to rebrand the business. They turned it down as they were Twinings fans and don’t believe in working on projects that they wouldn’t choose themselves. But during a blind tasting the whole company chose Clipper’s black Fairtrade tea, so big fish took the job. They created the branding, striking Clipper packaging and slogan "Natural, fair & delicious". [7].
In 2012, the business was sold again to Royal Wessanen. Michael Brehme was believed to have retained a very small stake in the business and will have trousered considerable gains at the re-sale to Wessanen. [3] Big fish continue to work with the brand. [7]
It is now the UK’s sixth biggest tea brand. Export sales represent 20% of group turnover with products currently sold in 45 countries. In the first six months of 2013 exports grew by 36% while the 2012 full year increase was 40% above 2011. Export growth is vitally important to the business and has allowed Clipper Teas to invest over £1 million in capital expenditure upgrading its manufacturing facility in Beaminster. [8].
Clipper now produce 95 varieties of tea with up to two million tea bags made per day. [5]
Ethics
Clipper remains the UK market leader in Fairtrade and organic tea. [8] It was an ethical business from the start. Mike Brehme said “I was in tea already, and I realised there was child labour involved and I thought, “That’s no way to make a living.” [4] When we first started” Lorraine says, “Fairtrade was very much in its infancy”. Clipper Tea had always had high quality, single estate tea at its core, but Lorraine wanted to extend that same commitment to ethical working practices. She had very little idea about how to do this and didn’t know who to ask. Whilst out shopping one day she wandered into the Body Shop and picked up a book about how to shop with a conscience. She didn’t buy it, but instead copied the telephone number of the Fairtrade Foundation, and resolved to approach them for advice. [2]
So Clipper became involved with the Fairtrade Foundation in its earliest stages and policy development. [4] All of Clipper’s tea is purchased from estates where there is no exploitation of workers. [6] In 1994. Clipper Tea was one of the first three companies in the UK to receive the Fairtrade mark and then decided to produce a magazine, called “The Teapot Times” to teach the public about the history of tea production, the ethos and positive impact buying Fairtrade goods had on communities around the world. Clipper also became official advisors to the Fairtrade Foundation for tea. [2]
Awards
• Great Taste Gold award 2011
• Soil Association Organic Food Award 2011
• Great Taste Gold award 2012
References
- ^ Tom Dyckhoff (2012-10-12). "Let's move to Beaminster, Dorset". The Guardian. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
- ^ a b c Katherine Locke (2011-03-01). "Lorraine Brehme". Marshwood Vale Magazine. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
- ^ a b Daily Mail Reporter (2012-03-05). "Clipper Teas goes Dutch in £50million sale". This is Money. Retrieved 2014-05-20.
- ^ a b c d Clipper Tea. "Our Story". Clipper Tea. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
- ^ a b Unknown (2005-06-05). "More Tea Vicar". BBC News. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
- ^ a b Ben Harrington (2007-12-20). "Fleming family in Clipper purchase". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
- ^ a b big fish. "Clipper Tea". big fish. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
- ^ a b James Marquette (2013- 08- 30). "Exports case study: Clipper Tea". Open to export. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
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