In the late 1870s a severe trade depression rocked Britain and Brooke Bond suffered.

The Arthur Brooke’s company suffered from this situation even more then others. The reason was in Brooke’s principles.

It is known that Arthur Brooke bought tea only from businessmen whose employers dealt fairly with their work people. These progressive thoughts are very important nowadays, but at that time it caused a lot of difficulties for the entrepreneur and for the brand Brooke Bond.

At the lowest point of his fortunes Brooke considered to emigrate to New Zealand. His tide returned only when he realised the potential in supplying his tea in bulk at wholesale rates to retail grocers. It was a new phase in Brooke Bond’s developing. The orders flooded in. Arthur Brooke renovate all his business.

In 1892 Brooke Bond became a limited company with a share capital of l50 000 pounds and with Arthur Brooke as a Chairman and Managing Director. The company prospered being supported by unusual promo actions.

For example, in order to mark Queen Victoria's 80th birthday Brooke gave a free pound of Brooke Bond tea to every customer aged over eighty years. But his ideas were not abstract and thoughtless. He always asked himself: “Would this idea help me to sell a pound of tea?"



Brooke Bond history