Member Article

East London premium tea brand has been acquired by English Tea Shop

With the market for high-quality, premium teas exploding in the last few years, there has been many a trendy new brand looking to capitalise on the boom with all sorts of fancy infusions and exotic blends.

UK organic tea sales alone surged to £28m last year, an increase of 11% on the previous year, and now two London-based brands are joining forces to stake a claim for a bigger slice of the rapidly expanding pie.

Independent specialty tea company, English Tea Shop has announced it has acquired a major stake in East London brand Joe’s Tea Company for an undisclosed amount, building on a commercial and personal relationship behind both brands that stretches back eight years.

Headed up by the eponymous Joe Kinch, Joe’s Tea Company has been sourcing its Sri Lankan tea from English Tea Shop’s parent company, and will now look to forge direct links with tea farmers thanks to English Tea Shop’s industry links.

The deal will also open up new commercial opportunities and potential stockists for the brand, building upon arrangements that Joe has already developed with the likes of M&S, Selfridges and Gordon Ramsay restaurants.

Joe Kinch, Founder of Joe’s Tea Company commented: “We’ve always enjoyed a fantastic relationship with English Tea Shop and in our view, there’s no better business to work with.

“The new arrangement will allow us to consolidate our core business, but also to look at new options for sustainable growth. Joe’s Tea Company will continue to operate on its own terms, and offer the same – if not better – amazing quality taste and experience.”

Suranga Herath, CEO of English Tea Shop added: “We’re delighted to have further strengthened our relationship with Joe and his brilliant company. The organic speciality tea market is getting a lot of attention at the moment – and rightly so – and we, alongside Joe, are excited about what the future holds.”