Tea blending for cafés and shops

Independent cafés, delis, farm shops, hotels, gift shops and businesses wanting their own branded tea.

Wholesale orders at set prices, repeat monthly orders from trade customers, and own-label runs with a minimum order. Retail sales at markets or online add margin.

• Blending and quality control
• Selling to business customers
• Stock, costing and pricing
• Organising production and deliveries

• Register your premises as a food business with your local council; expect an inspection and check what hygiene rules apply
• You will probably need a food safety management system (HACCP-based) and a recognised food hygiene qualification, so check what your council expects
• Labelling, allergen and traceability rules, including batch coding, which matter if you sell to other businesses
• Public liability, product liability and stock insurance; employers' liability if you hire
• Rent, minimum orders from suppliers and slow-paying trade customers can strain cash flow
• Check business rates and planning use for the unit before signing a lease

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £4,000 to £20,000, depending on your unit, equipment and the stock you buy. Rent, supplier minimum orders and slow-paying trade customers can strain cash flow, so budget for those too.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on how many trade customers you win and how much you sell through your own retail range. Check that payment terms with trade customers suit your cash flow.

Check registering your premises as a food business with your council, including inspection. Look at food safety management (HACCP-based) and hygiene qualification expectations, plus labelling, allergen and traceability rules such as batch coding.