Tea business started in Yorkshire launches its range in the Middle East
A Yorkshire start-up is capitalising on a health and wellbeing revolution in the Middle East by launching a range of vitamin-infused tea in Dubai.
James Dawson, 35, founder of Harrogate-based TEA PLUS, started his business with the help of a £25,000 Start Up Loan in 2016. His firm is expanding to the Middle East following an increase in online orders from the region.
Dawson, whose brand of healthy teas is already stocked in more than 2,000 UK stores, says his move to Dubai was in response to the region’s growing interest in healthy living.
His drinks will be stocked in 400 pharmacies, 300 health stores and other outlets in the first few months after launch. He will also invest in the country longer term by setting up social media, marketing and a sales teams in a central Dubai office.
The launch in Dubai marks a return to this location for Dawson, who quit his job in the region in 2015 to follow his dream of becoming his own boss.
He returned to the UK with his wife and, having kept a close eye on consumer trends throughout his career, identified a gap in the market for a product in the traditional supplement and tea market.
The products are now stocked in Holland & Barrett, Boots and SuperDrug, and are part of Sainsbury’s Taste of the Future range.
Dawson said: “Despite having no background in the food industry, witnessing a huge shift in trends and attitudes during my time in Dubai made me realise there was a gap in the market for a disruptive tea brand both in the Middle East and back home in the UK.
“I took a huge risk leaving a successful career and had faith in my idea, but never thought TEA PLUS would expand globally at such a rapid rate. The loan and support that I received from Start Up Loans made a huge difference to my business – I really wouldn’t be here without it.”
Richard Bearman, managing director of Start Up Loans, said: “It’s fantastic to have helped James follow his passion and set up such a successful business. UK small businesses are vital to the health of our economy and it’s our mission to help as many people as possible from across the UK who need financial support to get their business of the ground.”
The Start Up Loans programme provides fixed-interest loans of between £500 and £25,000 to aspiring business owners from across the UK, many of whom might be struggling to access other forms of finance.
Since 2012, the programme has lent more than £563m through 69,555 loans, of which over £50m went to business owners from Yorkshire and the Humber.
In addition to finance, Start Up Loan applicants receive support from an experienced business advisor to help them prepare a business plan and cash flow report.
