Clipper Teas

Clipper Tea was started in 2004 by Lorraine and Mike Brehme, who wanted to start a company with ingredients that had been ethically sourced and naturally produced.

Mike Brehme said, "I was in [the tea business] already, and I realised there was child labor 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". Lorraine Brehme became aware of the Fairtrade Foundation and its work via a 'shopping with conscience book' stocked at the Body Shop. She didn't buy it, but copied the telephone number of the Fairtrade Foundation, and later approached them for advice.[2]

Clipper Tea started in the couple's 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] Their product approach was "always a pure, natural product – there isn't a single artificial ingredient in any of our products".[4]

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.[6]

In 2008, Perry Haydn Taylor's creative branding agency was approached to rebrand the business. They created new Clipper packaging and slogan: "Natural, fair & delicious".[7]

In 2012, the business was sold to Royal Wessanen.[3] Creative branding agencies continue to work with the brand.[7]

Clipper is the UK's sixth biggest tea-brand and their export sales represent 20% of the 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 produces 95 varieties of tea with up to two million tea bags made per day.[5]

In Germany, Spain, and Italy the brand is called "Cupper tea", because another tea-brand had already registered the brandname "Clipper" in Germany.

Clipper was founded to be an ethical business, and continues to be an advocate of Fairtrade and organic tea.[8]

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 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.[2]