Premier Brands USA - Our Company History

Over time the British tea industry has witnessed a continuous cycle of consolidation and expansion. Premier Brands is a conglomeration of some of the most prestigious and well recognized names in the tea trade, including Typhoo, Melrose, Ridgway, Kardomah, Glengettie, Heath & Heather, and London Herb & Spice.

The following table highlights some of the important events that have occurred over the last two and one half centuries that have shaped the world's leading tea company: Premier Brands

Year	Event
1775	RM Holborn & Sons founded (absorbed by Typhoo in 1936.)
1795	James Mclaren & Sons founded. Later merged with Melroses.
Early 1800's	Thomas Ridgway begins trading in the bull ring in Birmingham England.
1812	Melroses Ltd, Leith founded by Andrew Melrose.
1833	Thomas Ridgway goes bankrupt. Topsail schooner Isabella commissioned by Andrew Melrose brings back 600 packages of fine China tea. The first to legally land in the United Kingdom, not under the control of the East Indies Co. monopoly.
1836	Thomas Ridgway begins trading tea again in London. Being a man of honor he pays back all previous creditors, though under no obligation to do so.
1840's	Ridgways becomes one of the first English tea companies to hygienically prepack tea so as to avoid adulteration.
1842	William Melrose sent to China to buy for Andrew Melrose.
1848	Vey Brothers start tea & coffee business named Liverpool Coffee and India Tea Company.
1850-1865	Vey brothers open retail shops throughout England and a landmark shop on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris.
1860's - 1900	Vey Brothers change brand name starting with 'Mikado' and ending with 'Kardomah'.
1863	William Sumner publishes "A Popular Treatise on Tea".
1870	William Sumner (founder of Typhoo) starts a pharmacy/grocery business in Birmingham, England.
1876	Queen Victoria commands House of Ridgways to create a blend for her own personal use. Her Majesty's Blend is born.
1905	Sister of John Sumner Jr. found that broken orange pekoe fannings aided her digestion. John Sumner Jr. invests in 30 chests and sets up as a tea packer using brand name Typhoo Tipps.
1914 - 1917	Typhoo exempted from the operation of pooling tea during WWI due to the backing of over 4000 doctors who supported it's health giving benefits.
1901 - 1950	Melrose, Ltd registers How-qua blend, the exclusive mixture of forty teas supplied to the royal table.
1968	Typhoo merged with Schweppes.
1969	Cadbury's joined with Typhoo Schweppes.
1971	Kardomah sold to Cadbury' Schweppes/Typhoo.
1986	Premier Brands formed.
1988	New tea factory built in Edinburgh, Scotland specializing in high quality specialty and herbal teas.
1980 - 1997	Melroses, Ridgways, Typhoo, Kardomah, Glengettie and London Herb & Spice Tea Companies combine to form Premier Brands, The World's leading tea company.