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Tea Processing in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Timilehin Atere Timilehin Atere London, United Kingdom Last Updated: February 2024 SIC C10.831

Revenue

£1.0bn

2024-25

£1.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XX.Xbn

Employees

2,456

Businesses

21

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Tea Processing in the UK industry analysis

Tea is a distinctly British beverage and according to The Grocer, approximately 50 billion cups of tea are consumed per year in the UK. A 2022 article from The Wire states that 59% of the population consumes tea, placing the country as the seventh-highest in terms of tea consumption per capita. Most of the tea consumed in the UK is black tea, made primarily from a blend of East African and South Asian tea leaves. Since very little tea is grown in the UK, the industry is highly dependent on global supplies, which are affected by the weather, currency fluctuations and political conditions.

Trends and Insights

  • Health consciousness boosts tea sales. As consumers have increasingly sought low-fat and low-sugar beverages for their diets, the demand for green and herbal teas has risen, benefitting tea producers.
  • Demand for black tea is declining. Consumers are increasingly switching to alternative beverages like herbal and green teas, causing a decline in black tea consumption over the past decade.
  • High-quality tea production thrives in South East. It houses largest proportion of establishments, largely due to major port access for industry inputs.
  • High start-up costs hinder new entrants. The expenses of equipment, facilities, and staff can be prohibitive, discouraging competition with established tea processors.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £1.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Climbing health consciousness drives green and herbal tea sales

  • In the past, Britons valued tea for its taste and caffeine. Nowadays, tea has become part of a wellness movement that values mindfulness and tea’s various health properties.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Tea Processing in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
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Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

The future of the tea industry hinges on mental and physical well-being trends

  • Since the pandemic, the British public has increasingly emphasised good physical and mental wellbeing, a trend that has remained prominent ever since.

Biggest companies in the Tea Processing in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (£m)
2024
R.Twining and Company Ltd
230.5
Ekaterra UK Ltd
152.3
Tata Consumer Products GB Ltd
116.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Tea Processing in the UK
Products & Services
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Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Blended black tea, Single-variety black tea and Flavoured and herbal teas. Blended black tea is the largest segment of the Tea Processing in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Black tea consumption is declining as consumers switch to alternative drinks

  • Black teas are the most popular variety in the world. They have the highest caffeine content and are the most widely used in iced and English tea.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry process and blend tea. They clean, dry, grade, blend and pack tea leaves to produce black, green, herbal and speciality teas.

What's included in this industry?

Blended black teaFlavoured and herbal teasGreen teasSingle variety black tea

Companies

R.Twining and Company LtdEkaterra UK LtdTata Consumer Products GB Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

OXIDATIONINFUSIONVERTICAL INTEGRATION

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 10.83/1 - Tea Processing in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Health consciousness boosts tea sales. As consumers have increasingly sought low-fat and low-sugar beverages for their diets, the demand for green and herbal teas has risen, ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Demand for black tea is declining. Consumers are increasingly switching to alternative beverages like herbal and green teas, causing a decline in black tea consumption over t...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

High-quality tea production thrives in South East. It houses largest proportion of establishments, largely due to major port access for industry inputs.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

High start-up costs hinder new entrants. The expenses of equipment, facilities, and staff can be prohibitive, discouraging competition with established tea processors.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Ekaterra has diverse offerings and a focus on luxury products. The company thrives by providing a wide range of tea brands, including premium products, which cater to changin...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of R.Twining and Company Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Ekaterra UK Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Tata Consumer Products GB Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for R.Twining and Company Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Ekaterra UK Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Tata Consumer Products GB Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Ensuring food safety is very important. Regulations demand food producers provide accurate information on allergens, origin, and nutrition, enhancing consumer confidence and ...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Rising retail prices boost profits. As tea producers increase the retail cost of their products, without equivalent increases in tea leaf prices, profit expands.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Tea Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Tea Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £1.0bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Tea Processing in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 21 businesses in the Tea Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Tea Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Tea Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Tea Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Tea Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Tea Processing in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Tea Processing market in United Kingdom are R.Twining and Company Ltd, Ekaterra UK Ltd and Tata Consumer Products GB Ltd

What does the Tea Processing in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Blended black tea and Flavoured and herbal teas are part of the Tea Processing in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Tea Processing in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is R.Twining and Company Ltd.

How competitive is the Tea Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Tea Processing in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Coffee Processing in the UK

Complementors

  • Chocolate & Confectionery Production in the UK
  • Condiments & Seasoning Manufacturing in the UK
  • Supermarkets in the UK

International industries

  • Tea Production in the US
  • Herbal Tea Production in the US
  • RTD Tea Production in the US
  • Coffee & Tea Production in Canada
  • Tea, Coffee and Other Food Manufacturing in Australia

View all industries in United Kingdom

Methodology

How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?

Alfabank-Adres has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

Alfabank-Adres relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do Alfabank-Adres analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, Alfabank-Adres’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?

Alfabank-Adres’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

Alfabank-Adres prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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