Clipper Teas
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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] founded in 1984. In 1994, it was one of the first companies in the UK to receive the Fairtrade Mark.[2][3] Clipper was purchased in 2012 by Royal Wessanen for around £50 million.[4]
History
[edit]Clipper Tea was started in 1984 by Lorraine and Mike Brehme. Already being in the tea industry, they cited increased amounts of child labour in the trade as their original motive to found Clipper.[citation needed]
Clipper Tea started in the couple's Dorset kitchen with two chests of Assam tea,[5] which they bought for £50 and sold to local health food shops in the Dorset area.[6] Their product approach was "always a pure, natural product – there isn't a single artificial ingredient in any of our products".[5]
The couple divorced, and in 2007 they sold to Fleming Family & Partners, a fund backed by one of Britain's wealthiest families, for around £25–£30 million.[7]
In 2008, Perry Haydn Taylor's creative branding agency was approached to rebrand the business. They created new Clipper packaging and the slogan "Natural, fair & delicious".[8]
In 2012, the business was sold to Royal Wessanen.[9] Creative branding agencies continue to work with the brand.[8]
Clipper is the UK's sixth biggest tea brand[10] and their export sales represent 20% of the group turnover[citation needed] with products currently sold in over 50 countries.[10] 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.[11]
Clipper produces 95 varieties of tea with up to two million tea bags made per day.[6]
In Germany, Spain, Italy and Czech Republic the brand is called Cupper Tea because another tea brand had already registered the brand name "Clipper" in Germany.[citation needed]
Ethics
[edit]Clipper was founded as an ethical alternative to other teas, and advocates Fairtrade and organic tea.[11]
Clipper became involved with the Fairtrade Foundation in its earliest stages and policy development.[5]
All of Clipper's tea is purchased from estates where there is no exploitation of workers.[7]
In 1994, Clipper 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, about the history of tea production and the positive impact buying Fairtrade goods had on communities around the world. Clipper also became official advisors to the Fairtrade Foundation for tea.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Dyckhoff, Tom (12 October 2012). "Let's move to Beaminster, Dorset". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ Blowfield, Michael E.; Dolan, Catherine (2010). "Fairtrade Facts and Fancies: What Kenyan Fairtrade Tea Tells us About Business' Role as Development Agent". Journal of Business Ethics. 93: 148. doi:10.1007/s10551-010-0558-2. ISSN 0167-4544. JSTOR 27919163. S2CID 55328191.
- ^ a b Locke, Katherine (1 March 2011). "Lorraine Brehme". Marshwood Vale Magazine. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
- ^ "Wessanen Buys Clipper Tea". World Tea News. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "Our Story". Clipper Tea. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ a b "More tea vicar?". BBC News. 5 June 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ a b Harrington, Ben (20 December 2007). "Fleming family in Clipper purchase". The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Clipper Tea". big fish. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
- ^ "Wessanen Buys Clipper Tea". World Tea News. 8 March 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Clipper Teas' campaign to reach 12m people after becoming 6th biggest tea brand". Bridport and Lyme Regis News. 25 January 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ a b Marquette, James (30 August 2013). "Exports case study: Clipper Tea". Open to Export. Retrieved 21 May 2014.