Original Story Published by: Andrew Watt for Brits in Kenya
Photo Source: ©Ringtons
(Above) Tea buyer and blender Daniel Smith with tea farmer Washington and some of the KTDA team, in an area where Ringtons source teas from for their Kenyan Gold tea.
A Newcastle based family tea company have announced record turnover of £60 million, despite a drought in Kenya two years ago which resulted in tea shortages and increased prices.
Combined with a fall in the value of sterling, this reduced profit and Ringtons’ bottom line but turnover bucked the trend with a 3.1% rise.
The 112-year-old company imports and packs tea for a range of private customers while also selling its own wide of products in shops, online and through its fleet of traditional delivery vans.
In Kenya, the company works with Emrok Tea Factory, Kenya Tea Development Agency (from estates in Chebut, Gacharage, Gatunguru, Gitugi, Iriaini, Kangaita, Kanyenyaini, Kapkoros, Mokomboki, Michimikuru, Mungania, Nyamache, Olengurone, Rukuriri and Tirgaga) and Williamson Tea (from estates in Changoi, Kaimosi, Kapchorua and Tinderet)
Although the consumption of black tea has declined with a growing demand for newer tea and coffee trends, the business continued to see its turnover grow, with sales of £60.1m in the year ending June 29 2018, a 3.1% rise on the previous year’s £58.3m.
