There is a new spirit of tea in the land. A once revered, refreshing and sustaining beverage is in the process of being reborn.
Until recently, tea was in danger of becoming a declining staple. The nature of a machine-manufactured product, with its demand for consistency above all, had deadened experimentation and flattened prices leaving growers, workers and retailers out of pocket. Consumers' only expectation was a strong astringent drink, requiring milk and sugar to soften the bitterness.
The increasingly discerning British palate was becoming bored with the coarseness of this uniform black brew. Consumers were demanding fresher, purer, higher-quality and greener foods. Coffee had reinvented itself as a sophisticated brew, mineral waters were now worth the money and soft drinks were refreshing. However, tea, which is still the biggest drinks sector by servings, was not leading the total market as it once did.
However, through the speciality sector, tea can offer exciting taste, quality, and health benefits.
In addition, with a mix of caffeine and naturally caffeine-free, teas can be drunk throughout the day to hydrate. For retailers, with a tiered pricing structure, these premium teas offer greater returns.
All we need is the support of retailers to help us meet developed and developing consumer needs.
Has the number of customer complaints about the price of goods increased recently?
