Twinings
A historic British tea and beverages brand founded in London in 1706 and now owned by Associated British Foods.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Twinings is a British tea and beverages brand whose origins date to 1706, when Thomas Twining opened a tea business at 216 Strand in London. The Strand premises remain associated with the brand and continue to operate as a Twinings location, linking the modern business to one of the earliest established names in British tea retail. Twinings is also associated with a distinctive corporate mark created in 1787, which is widely described as the oldest company logo in continuous use. The brand's historical identity was built around tea merchandising, blending and retailing rather than tea cultivation. Its portfolio has traditionally included black teas, green teas, herbal infusions and fruit-based products. It is particularly associated with English Breakfast and Earl Grey, while also offering a broad range of flavored and specialty blends. In addition to tea, Twinings has marketed other hot and cold beverages, including coffee, hot chocolate, malt drinks and cold infusions, depending on the market. Twinings became part of Associated British Foods in 1964. This ownership placed the brand within a large international food group while allowing Twinings to retain a distinct consumer identity rooted in British tea culture. The company holds a Royal Warrant, reflecting its long-standing association with the British royal household, although the precise scope and current status of individual warrants can vary over time. Manufacturing and sourcing have changed substantially as the business has pursued efficiency and adapted to international supply conditions. Twinings announced the closure of its Nambarrie plant in Belfast in 2008, and much of its production was subsequently transferred to facilities in China and Poland. The company retained an Andover, Hampshire factory with a smaller workforce. These changes illustrate the tension between the brand's British heritage and the globalized structure of contemporary tea production. Ethical sourcing is a significant part of Twinings' public positioning. Its Sourced with Care programme focuses on conditions and livelihoods in tea-growing communities, while the company has participated in the Ethical Tea Partnership and maintains an ethical code for suppliers and raw-material partners. In 2018, Twinings published information about its tea suppliers in India following public pressure from Traidcraft Exchange and wider scrutiny of labor conditions and modern slavery risks in agricultural supply chains. Twinings has also faced the ordinary commercial challenges of maintaining legacy products in a volatile commodity market. In 2023, it stopped producing its traditional Lapsang Souchong blend and introduced Distinctively Smoky as a replacement, citing difficulty sourcing the required tea and higher market prices. The change generated negative consumer commentary because Lapsang Souchong had been associated with the brand for centuries. Today, Twinings remains an internationally distributed, heritage-led tea brand operating within Associated British Foods, balancing historical authenticity, product innovation, supply-chain responsibility and mass-market distribution.
History
Twinings traces its origins to Thomas Twining, who opened a tea business at 216 Strand in London in 1706. The location became a long-term center of the company's activity and remains a visible symbol of its historical continuity. At a time when tea was becoming increasingly important in Britain, the business participated in the development of tea retailing and blending for an expanding urban consumer market. Twinings' legacy is therefore tied not only to individual products but also to the institutionalization of tea as a regular British beverage. A key element of the brand's heritage is its visual identity. Twinings introduced its recognizable wordmark in 1787. The mark's continued use has made it one of the most notable examples of long-running corporate branding and is commonly described as the world's oldest company logo in continuous use. This visual continuity supports Twinings' positioning as a traditional and authoritative tea house, even as its manufacturing and distribution systems have changed. The company developed a wide assortment of teas, including black, green, herbal and fruit-based blends. Earl Grey became one of the products most closely associated with Twinings, although the precise origins and historical importance of the company's connection with the blend are not completely clear. Twinings also acquired Jacksons of Piccadilly during the 1990s, bringing another tea name with a strong association with bergamot-flavored tea into its brand history. In 1964, Twinings was acquired by Associated British Foods. The transaction transformed the business from a largely independent historic tea company into a brand within a diversified food group. Twinings retained its separate name and heritage positioning while gaining access to the resources and international distribution capabilities of its parent organization. Its activities expanded beyond traditional tea to include other beverages such as coffee, hot chocolate and malt drinks, as well as newer formats including fruit-based cold infusions. The late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries brought major changes in production. In April 2008, Twinings announced plans to close its Nambarrie plant in Belfast, citing efficiency considerations. By late 2011, much of the relevant production had moved to China and Poland. The company kept its Andover factory, but with a smaller workforce. The restructuring reflected the cost pressures and international supply-chain practices affecting the tea industry, while also creating a visible contrast between Twinings' British origin story and its geographically distributed manufacturing model. Supply-chain ethics became increasingly prominent in the brand's public communications. Twinings' Sourced with Care programme aims to improve conditions and quality of life in tea-growing communities. The company is also identified with the Ethical Tea Partnership, an industry initiative focused on monitoring and improving conditions in tea-producing regions. Twinings has stated that it applies an ethical code of conduct to packaging and raw-material suppliers. In 2018, it disclosed its Indian tea suppliers after campaigning by Traidcraft Exchange for greater transparency among major tea companies. The disclosure was welcomed by the campaign group as a step that could encourage wider industry action. Product continuity has nevertheless remained difficult. In 2023, Twinings ceased making its long-established Lapsang Souchong blend and replaced it with Distinctively Smoky. The company explained that it had become difficult to obtain the necessary tea and that market prices had risen. The decision prompted unfavorable consumer reactions because Lapsang Souchong had been part of Twinings' range since the eighteenth century and had acquired strong cultural associations, including an often-noted connection with Winston Churchill. The episode illustrates the challenge of managing a heritage portfolio when raw-material availability and commercial conditions change. Twinings now operates as an active Associated British Foods brand with international distribution. Its identity combines a London origin, long-established packaging and blends, a broad modern beverage portfolio, and public commitments concerning ethical sourcing. The business continues to rely on heritage as a differentiator while adapting products, production arrangements and communication to contemporary retail and supply-chain conditions.
- 2023
Lapsang Souchong is replaced
[1]Twinings stopped producing Lapsang Souchong and introduced Distinctively Smoky, citing sourcing difficulties and higher market prices.
- 2018
Indian tea supplier list published
[1]Twinings published details of its Indian tea suppliers through its Sourced with Care materials in response to supply-chain transparency campaigning.
- 2011
Production is shifted to China and Poland
[1]By late 2011, much of Twinings' production had moved to China and Poland, while the Andover factory continued with a reduced workforce.
- 2008
Belfast plant closure announced
[1]Twinings announced the closure of its Nambarrie plant in Belfast as part of an efficiency drive.
- 1990
Jacksons of Piccadilly joins Twinings
[1]Twinings acquired Jacksons of Piccadilly during the 1990s, adding another historic tea name associated with bergamot blends.
- 1964
Acquisition by Associated British Foods
[1]Twinings became part of Associated British Foods, which remains its parent group.
- 1787
Twinings introduces its historic logo
[1]The company created the wordmark that is widely recognized as the world's oldest company logo still in continuous use.
- 1706
Thomas Twining opens the Strand tea business
[1]Thomas Twining opened a tea business at 216 Strand in London. The site remains associated with Twinings and is central to the brand's origin story.
Products and positioning
A heritage British tea brand positioned around blending expertise, recognizable classic varieties, broad international availability and an association with traditional English tea culture. Its modern proposition also emphasizes ethical sourcing and accessible premium quality.
Black tea
English Breakfast Tea
A traditional full-bodied black-tea style associated with British breakfast service. It is one of Twinings' best-known classic offerings and represents the brand's emphasis on familiar, highly accessible blends.
Flavored black tea
Earl Grey Tea
A black tea flavored with bergamot. Earl Grey is one of the blends most strongly associated with Twinings, although the exact historical development of the company's connection with the style is not fully established.
Flavored black tea
Lady Grey Tea
A lighter, citrus-oriented tea in Twinings' classic flavored-tea portfolio. It extends the brand's association with bergamot and traditional British tea styles while offering a gentler alternative to standard Earl Grey.
Smoked black tea · 1700
Lapsang Souchong
A strongly smoked black tea that had been part of Twinings' range since the eighteenth century. Twinings ceased production of this version in 2023, citing difficulty sourcing the blend and rising prices.
Smoked black tea · 2023
Distinctively Smoky
A smoky tea introduced as the replacement for Twinings' Lapsang Souchong. Its launch reflected changes in sourcing conditions, although some consumers regarded it as a less satisfactory successor to the discontinued blend.
Green tea
Green teas
Twinings' green-tea range broadens the brand beyond its traditional British black-tea identity. Depending on market, the category includes plain and flavored green teas designed for everyday consumption.
Herbal and fruit beverages
Herbal and fruit infusions
Caffeine-free or non-traditional infusions made from herbs, botanicals and fruit-oriented flavor profiles. These products support Twinings' expansion into wellness-adjacent and varied everyday beverage occasions.
Cold beverage infusion
Cold infusions
Fruit-based products intended to be infused in cold water. They represent a more contemporary usage format within Twinings' broader tea and infusion portfolio.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Indian supplier transparency initiative
India · United Kingdom
Twinings published a list of its tea suppliers in India after Traidcraft Exchange called on major tea brands to disclose plantation sourcing and address modern-slavery risks.
Outcome. Traidcraft Exchange welcomed the disclosure and said it could encourage other large tea brands to improve transparency.
- Sourced with Care
International tea-sourcing regions
Twinings' ethical sourcing programme focuses on improving quality of life and working conditions in communities connected to its tea supply. It forms part of the brand's response to labor, livelihood and supply-chain responsibility concerns.
Outcome. The programme became a central part of Twinings' ethical-sourcing communications and supported the publication of Indian supplier information in 2018.
Brand decisions
2023
Replace Lapsang Souchong with Distinctively SmokyProduct launchBackground
Twinings said that sourcing the traditional blend had become difficult and that market prices had increased.
Action taken
The company ended production of Lapsang Souchong and introduced Distinctively Smoky as its replacement.
Aftermath
The substitution attracted negative consumer reactions, with critics describing the replacement as inferior to the historic product.
2008
Restructure Belfast manufacturingStrategyBackground
Twinings cited efficiency requirements in announcing the closure of its Nambarrie plant in Belfast.
Action taken
The Belfast facility was closed and much of the production was subsequently moved to China and Poland, while Andover was retained at reduced scale.
Aftermath
The change reduced the company's manufacturing footprint in the United Kingdom and intensified the contrast between its British heritage and global production network.
1964
Join Associated British FoodsM&ABackground
Twinings was acquired by Associated British Foods, changing its ownership while preserving the separate consumer brand.
Action taken
The brand became part of the Associated British Foods group.
Aftermath
Twinings continued as a distinct international tea brand within a diversified food company.
Recent events
- 2023
Twinings replaces Lapsang Souchong with Distinctively Smoky[1]
Product generation · Product launch · Pricing
Twinings discontinued production of Lapsang Souchong and introduced Distinctively Smoky. The company attributed the decision to sourcing difficulties and rising market prices; some consumers criticized the replacement as inferior to the legacy blend.
- 2018
Twinings publishes Indian tea supplier information[1]
Regulation · Other
Twinings published a list of its tea suppliers in India through its Sourced with Care materials after Traidcraft Exchange and other campaigners called for greater supply-chain transparency and stronger action against modern slavery risks.
- 2008
Twinings announces closure of its Belfast Nambarrie plant[1]
Other
Twinings announced that it would close its Nambarrie tea plant in Belfast as part of an efficiency programme. Production was later moved substantially to China and Poland, while the Andover operation was retained with a reduced workforce.
Twinings remains within Associated British Foods' grocery portfolio[3]
Other
Twinings continues to operate as a brand within Associated British Foods rather than as a separately listed company.
Sources3 sources
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