Van den Bergh Foods stirs up tea shop market

The latest branded refreshment phenomenon of tea is being brought to the boil with another competitor looking to enter the market.

Van den Bergh Foods, which manufactures Brooke Bond D and PG Tips, is believed to be planning a chain of tea cafés created by Design House. Neither the client nor consultancy would comment on the project.

The news comes the week Whittards opens its first T-bar on London’s Baker Street, designed by Carte Blanche.

Meanwhile, Tetley Group opened a café called Gaffers in Manchester’s Royal Exchange shopping centre in July. Based around Tetley Tea folk, the concept was developed in-house with independent designer Rob Davis-Desmond. There are no plans to turn Gaffers into a chain.

Cato Consulting has been researching the feasibility of tea shop chains. Managing director Emma Fric says: “All the big tea manufacturers are looking into this. It’s quite an exciting concept and it’s the future after coffee.”

The idea of tea chains is “in line with the trend for a holistic lifestyle”, Fric adds.