Tetley has launched ‘The Tea Report 2018’ – uncovering the complete landscape of the out of home tea market for 2018 and beyond.

Working in collaboration with CGA, data experts in the out of home food and drink market, the second installment of the Tea Report was created on the back of Tetley dedicated surveys. In this comprehensive research, 2,500 consumers were questioned on everything from dining experience and the role of technology in the market, to the quality of tea out of home and the channels in which they consume them. In this, the second annual tea report, Tetley explores the challenging perceptions around the quality of tea served out of home, identifying ways in which operators can attract custom with a standout offering, and deep dive into the key channels for the tea category in foodservice.

Kicking off with a review of the future for the foodservice industry following the EU referendum, the report explores the knock-on effects this decision may have for the tea category, as well as the hot beverages market as a whole. On the average weekday in the UK, 31.4 million cups of tea are consumed and while 75% choose black tea, 18.1% of tea served out of home is non-black with herbal teas growing by 9.6% YOY. Consequently, new tastes in tea, premiumisation and future trends are each explored, as is the importance of tapping into the booming breakfast occasion. The Tea Report 2018 also looks at the profit opportunities tea offers to four key channels – the workplace, the care sector, cafés and hotels. With 47% of us drinking tea every time we are in the workplace, care residents drinking on average 2-3 cups per day, café-goers no longer satisfied with a simple ‘builder’s brew’ and 52% of hotel guests stating ‘how tea is served’ as extremely important, one thing’s for sure – wherever it’s being drunk, enjoying a cup of tea is a staple part of most people’s day.

Marshall Kingston, senior brand manager – Out of Home, Tetley comments; “In Tetley’s 180th year, we have launched the most comprehensive review of the UK’s out of home tea market in the UK. For us the Tetley Tea report is a demonstration our commitment to the continuously evolving tea category and our duty to support operators in serving the perfect cuppa every time”.

“The value of tea in the UK foodservice market increased by an impressive 13.6% between 2015 and 2017 with one in five consumers admitting to drinking more tea than they did a year ago. Additionally, as the number of out of home coffee occasions continued to decline in the past year, the out of home tea occasions have grown in the same time period. This presents a key opportunity for channel operators to shake up their tea offering and listen to the needs of their customers”.

The Tea Report 2018 is available to download via the Tetley Tea Academy website, tetleyteaacademy.co.uk.