Wiltshire tea company set to brew up £10m turnover

Wiltshire’s Birchall Tea is forecasting £10m turnover by 2026 as it continues to make major investments to power its growth.

The company has recently invested £5m into a state-of-the-art solar-powered factory and automated plant in Wiltshire, positioning itself for further growth and innovation in the tea industry.

Birchall’s credentials, including Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance certifications, are helping to solidify its place as a household name. The brand is already popular among high-end hospitality venues and retailers such as Ocado and Booths, and is pushing for wider market penetration.

Part of the five-generation family-owned Imporient (UK) group, Birchall has a heritage steeped in the tea trade. The company sources from key tea-producing regions in East Africa, working with producers in Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda.

“We’re on a mission to bring the world the best-tasting, sustainably produced tea at a fair price,” says Daniel Graham, Birchall’s managing director. “Our flagship breakfast blend, Great Rift, is the UK’s most awarded tea for taste.”

As the third-largest exporter of East African tea, Birchall currently ships 50 million kilos annually. Its vertically integrated supply chain, from direct relationships with farmers to its own packing facilities in the UK, allows the company to deliver some of the freshest teas on the market.

Birchall employs 30 staff in the UK. In addition to the recent Wiltshire investment, the company is planning a further £1m investment to drive growth.

Innovation is central to Birchall’s success -the company’s tea bags are made from biodegradable and compostable starch paper, aligning with consumer demand for sustainable products.

“For decades, tea in the UK has suffered from a price war that has compromised quality. We refuse to follow that path,” Graham said. “We taste over 5,000 teas a week, and only the top one per cent are deemed good enough for Birchall.”

Currently, 70% of Birchall’s clients are in the hospitality sector, with consumer sales—mainly targeting women aged 30 to 50—through retailers and direct online channels. Birchall is now eyeing partnerships with major retailers Waitrose and M&S, as well as export opportunities in the US and Australia.