Kenya TIST Tea Famers - Eunice (right) and farmers from Makomboki, photo courtesy of Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate
Taylors of Harrogate and its sister company Bettys Café Tea Rooms received a Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development on April 21 for their sustainable tea and coffee supply chain, according to a company press release. The Queen’s Award honors Bettys and Taylors' socially responsible sourcing of tea and coffee and the positive impact on communities for five continuous years.
The family-owned company has created a global tea and coffee supply chain in 24 countries encompassing more than 1 million farmers.
Kenya is one of the countries that has benefitted from Bettys and Taylors’ initiatives, which support clean water, education and the environment. The company collaborated with suppliers on the installation of water harvesting and filtration systems in community centers and schools so 27,000 people could have access to fresh water. They provided scholarships to high school students. Additionally, they are financially backing a 10-year project that involves parterning with the Kenyan Tea Development Agency and the International Small Group Tree Planting Program to help 4,000 farmers plant 1 million trees. The effort will support reforestation and offer additional income to the farmers, who will receive yearly payments for each tree planted, according to BettysandTaylors.co.uk.
“We have worked incredibly hard over the last few years with all our key growers to develop and roll out an innovative new approach to sustainable sourcing,” said Supply Director Keith Writer. “We have a reputation for quality and a deep commitment for doing things properly, be it in Yorkshire or globally through our value chain and networks. This award is a great honor and achievement that serves to inspire and drive us to do even more in developing a thriving sustainable future for all our tea and coffee growers.” The prime minister and her panel of judges adhere to strict judging criteria and advise the queen on whom to award. The competition is substantial. The queen presents the awards every year on April 21—her birthday.
This is the third time Bettys and Taylors has been honored with the Queen’s Award; the first time was in 2001 and the second in 2007. All total, 176 awards were given out in four categories: Sustainable Development, International Trade, Innovation and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility.
To learn more about Bettys and Taylors' international projects, visit http://explore.bettysandtaylors.co.uk.
