The Tales Behind Your Tea A Talk With Tetley Farmers

 

July 2012 

To support their commitment to Rainforest Alliance, Tetley has launched an innovative social media initiative, facilitated by popular social media site Facebook, to allow caterers (and consumers) in the UK to communicate directly with the very communities producing the tea they sell and consume. 

The Facebook site already has over 65,000 ’likes’ and receives daily updates from tea producers in South Africa and Malawi who give an insight into their daily lives, the communities in which they live and what is involved in achieving and maintaining their Rainforest Alliance Certified™ status. Both caterers and customers can pose questions; respond to the posts left by the farmers and view photos and videos of life in and around a tea estate. This innovative communication platform re-enforces Tetley’s commitment to the very people who help to grow and sustain the heart of their business. 

As a raw product, tea originates from areas all around the world and in doing so sustains the livelihoods of many hundreds of small communities and many thousands of farmers and their families.   

Dorothy Sieber, Marketing Director for Tetley explains how the communication plan has benefits for both the farmers and the caterer: 

“The process of producing tea is as diverse as the range of flavours the hot beverage is available in. Everything from the initial planting and growing through to the blending and packaging are carefully controlled to ensure only the best ingredients go into our finished teas. As a brand associated with a quality, reassuring taste, Tetley has large and loyal following of caterers and consumers and this initiative helps to open up dialogue between the tea producers, farmers and the caterers who sell our tea, rather than relying solely on communicating the sustainable, environmental message through the Rainforest Alliance message on the pack.” 

Aside from learning about the tea production process and communicating directly with the farmers, caterers have the ability to post pictures of customers enjoying a mug of tea, enter discussions with others in the UK and use games and competitions to win prizes including samples, packs and other tea related prizes. 

For further information about the Farmers First Hand please visit the Facebook site at www.facebook.com/TetleysFarmersfirsthand, or for information about other Tetley products please call 0845 6066328 or visit www.tetleyforcaterers.co.uk.