Typhoo facts for kids
Typhoo tea factory in Moreton, Merseyside
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| Owner | Zetland Capital |
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| Introduced | 1903 |
| Previous owners | Schweppes (1968) Cadbury Schweppes (1969–1986) Premier Brands (1986–1990) Premier Foods (1990–2005) Apeejay Surrendra Group (2005–2021) Zetland Capital (2021–) |
Typhoo (sometimes written as Ty•Phoo) is a well-known brand of tea in the United Kingdom. It was started in 1903 by John Sumner Jr. in Birmingham, England. Typhoo is one of the biggest tea suppliers in the UK, even providing tea for many supermarket own-brand labels.
Contents
The Story of Typhoo Tea
How It Began
The story of Typhoo tea began in 1870. That's when William Sumner and his son, John Sumner, opened a shop in Birmingham. They sold both medicines and groceries.
Starting a New Tea Brand
In the early 1900s, John Sumner Jr., William's grandson, took over the family business. His sister told him how calming tea "fannings" (small pieces of tea leaves) could be. This gave John Jr. an idea. In 1903, he decided to create a new kind of tea to sell in his shop.
He had clear rules for his new tea's name:
- It had to be special and different from other names.
- It needed to be easy to say.
- It had to be a name that could be officially protected.
He chose the name "Typhoo." This name comes from a Mandarin Chinese word (Chinese: 大夫; pinyin: dàifū) which means "doctor."
Growing and Changing
Typhoo started making tea bags in 1967. This made it much easier for people to make tea. In 1968, Typhoo joined with a company called Schweppes. The next year, this bigger company then joined with Cadbury to become Cadbury Schweppes.
In 1978, the tea production moved from Birmingham to a new factory in Moreton. This town is on the Wirral Peninsula in Merseyside.
Over the years, Typhoo changed owners several times. In 1986, Cadbury Schweppes sold Typhoo. It then became part of a new company called Premier Brands. Later, in 1990, it was bought by Premier Foods.
Typhoo Today
In 2005, an Indian company called Apeejay Surrendra Group bought Typhoo. They created The Typhoo Tea Company. The tea continued to be made at the Moreton factory.
The company faced some tough times in the 2010s, with rising costs. In 2021, a British investment company called Zetland Capital bought Typhoo. However, in March 2023, Typhoo announced that it would close its Moreton factory. The company plans to have its tea produced by other companies instead.
Team Sponsorships
In 2012, Typhoo became a main sponsor for the St. Helens Rugby league club. This team plays in the Super League.
Catchy Slogans
Typhoo is famous in Britain for its memorable TV commercials and jingles. Here are some of their well-known slogans:
- Putting 'T' back into Britain
- There's only one 'T' in Typhoo
- You only get an 'OO' with Typhoo
- For the tea that picks you up, pick up Typhoo
- Making good tea since 1903
- Typhoo Tea - two thumbs fresh
- Great British tea since 1903
