Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft Laurens Spethmann

Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft Laurens Spethmann GmbH & Co. KG (OTG) is a German tea manufacturer headquartered in Seevetal, Lower Saxony. Founded in 1907 in Leer by Paula and Laurens Janssen, the company is one of Germany's leading tea producers and the largest subsidiary of the Laurens Spethmann Holding. OTG's brand portfolio includes Meßmer, MILFORD and OnnO Behrends, and the company also produces private-label teas for major German retailers such as Lidl, Norma, Netto Marken-Discount and Aldi. With a history spanning more than 115 years, OTG describes itself as constantly reinventing tea while preserving tradition, under the guiding principle "Wir sehen mehr in Tee" ("We see more in tea"). The company operates internationally, with subsidiaries and acquisitions in Austria and France, and remains family-owned, now managed by the fourth generation of the Spethmann family.

The Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft (OTG) was founded in 1907 by Paula and Laurens Janssen in Leer, East Frisia, under the name Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft GmbH. In the mid-1950s, Laurens Spethmann, grandson of the founder, took over the management of the small tea trading company in Hamburg. Recognizing that the future of tea lay in tea bags alongside traditional loose tea, he transformed the business from a classic tea importer into a tea packer. This period marked the actual birth of the modern OTG, which grew from a small tea shop into an international group. In 1966, OTG became a branded goods producer with the creation of the MILFORD brand. Internationalization began in 1972 with the acquisition of Grosch Tee in Innsbruck, later Milford Tee Austria. In 1988, the East Frisian tea company OnnO Behrends in Norden became part of OTG. In 1989, the tea packer Ludwig Schwarz in Buchholz (later Milford Tea) was acquired. In 1990, Ed. Meßmer GmbH & Co. in Frankfurt am Main and Grettstadt, with the Meßmer brand, was acquired. In 1992, OTG acquired PAGÈS SA in France and founded OTG Lager- und Frachtkontor GmbH in Buchholz. In 1996, the Laurens Spethmann Holding was established, taking over all OTG holdings, and management passed to the fourth generation of the family, Jochen and Michael Spethmann. In 2000, the company began converting to knot technology for tea bags. Today, OTG is headquartered in Seevetal, Lower Saxony, and remains one of Germany's leading tea manufacturers, producing both branded and private-label teas for major retailers.

• 2000

  Start of conversion to knot technology for tea bags.

• 1996

  Establishment of Laurens Spethmann Holding, taking over all OTG holdings; management passes to fourth generation Jochen and Michael Spethmann.

• 1992

  Acquisition of PAGÈS SA in France and founding of OTG Lager- und Frachtkontor GmbH in Buchholz.

• 1990

  Acquisition of Ed. Meßmer GmbH & Co. in Frankfurt am Main and Grettstadt, including the Meßmer brand.

• 1989

  Acquisition of tea packer Ludwig Schwarz in Buchholz (later Milford Tea).

• 1988

  OnnO Behrends in Norden becomes part of OTG.

• 1972

  Acquisition of Grosch Tee in Innsbruck (later Milford Tee Austria) begins internationalization.

• 1966

  Creation of the MILFORD brand marks the transition to branded goods production.

• 1953

  Laurens Spethmann, grandson of the founder, takes over and transforms the company from tea importer to tea packer.

• 1907

  Laurens Janssen founds the Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft (OTG) in Leer.

Traditional yet innovative German tea manufacturer with a strong brand portfolio and private-label business.

• Meßmer tea

  Brand acquired in 1990, one of OTG's flagship tea brands.

• MILFORD tea

  Brand created in 1966, marking OTG's entry into branded goods.

• OnnO Behrends tea

  East Frisian tea company acquired in 1988, producing loose leaf tea.

• Private-label teas

  Tea produced for retailers such as Lidl, Norma, Netto Marken-Discount and Aldi.

1. 1OTG Webseite: OTGotg.de
2. 2Unsere Geschichte: OTGotg.de
3. 3Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft Laurens Spethmannwikidata.org
4. 4Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaftde.wikipedia.org