On-site Visit to Ringtons

Join us on a journey from past to present at Ringtons, one of the North East’s most iconic businesses. With a turnover of £70 million, this tea and coffee merchant has expanded from selling tea from a horse and cart in 1907 to a household name employing over 500 colleagues across the UK. Ringtons produce over 1.3 billion teabags a year for the Ringtons name as well as other well-known customers.

It remains a family-owned business today, and during this exclusive factory tour you will have the unique opportunity to hear the Ringtons story first hand from Directors Tom Smith, Elliot Smith, Nadia Johnson and Brigitte Keatings, Forum members and 5^th generation of the family.

Learn about how this family business is transitioning from 4^th to 5^th generation, how the new generation are expanding the business. As well as how their founding principles of quality, value and service still drive the business today. You’ll also have the opportunity to find out how they have built a robust and ethical supply chain through their commitment to establishing long-term relationships with suppliers. Their dedication to customer service has built up a loyal base of 220,000 retail customers in the UK alone. Gain insight into how a brand which is over 100 years old stays relevant in today’s modern world.

There’s plenty to discuss over a cup of tea (or coffee)!

The small print - Due to limited capacity on-site visits are exclusively for entrepreneurial members of the Forum and no guests or substitutions are allowed.