Stratton Tea Limited, an ethical beverage and spice distributor in the Liverpool City Region, has significantly boosted its operations with a £100,000 NPIF-River Capital &GC Business Finance Microfinance investment, which River Capital manages in partnership with GC Business Finance as part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF)
The investment marks a pivotal moment in Stratton Tea’s journey towards embracing its future growth ambitions.
Established in 2022, Stratton Tea is poised for accelerated growth thanks to assistance from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund. The funds have bolstered equipment purchases and the creation of pivotal roles within the company, paving the way for an exciting expansion phase.
Drawing upon a family legacy spanning over 75 years in the tea industry, Mr Gholam Momen and Saif Servaia started the business in India. Razi Khan’s journey began in 2022 when he resigned from Typhoo after 12 years as his last role as director procurement manager and joined hands with Gholam and Saif to start Stratton Tea UK and become a global player.
At Typhoo, Razi cultivated an extensive network of suppliers, distributors, and retailers while honing his tea blending and brand marketing expertise. This diverse skillset has proven invaluable as he steers Stratton Tea toward new horizons.
Director Razi Khan and Stratton Tea UK is committed to sourcing, blending, and distributing teas and spices from around the world. Razi ‘s knowledge, unique blending skills and unwavering commitment to ethical sourcing are propelling the company to serve wholesalers across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
Razi has also brought his personal passion into the business and is dedicated to ethical practices within the industry. His tireless efforts include partnering with organisations like UNICEF to combat child labour, gender equality, women empowerment and slavery in India, and Africa ensuring that Stratton Tea’s sourcing remains ethically responsible.
Sue Chambers, Investment Manager at River Capital, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating:
“River Capital is delighted to support Razi and the Stratton Tea team in their mission to provide ethical distribution services worldwide. Razi’s wealth of industry experience and his extensive global network are already yielding impressive results in terms of orders and contracts. We have full confidence in the continued success of the business and eagerly anticipate Razi’s journey.”
Razi Khan commented:
“My vision to bring tea from bush to cup is to transform consumers into drinking high quality and responsibly sourced beverages. Our aim in the medium and longer term would be to have a manufacturing site in the North West with an aim to grow and hire locally. At Stratton Tea, we are looking to export products manufactured in the UK. In order to do so, we would thank all our partners like River Capital who have played an important role and trusted us with their support for the business so onwards and upwards responsibly.
Debbie Sorby, Senior Manager at the British Business Bank said:
“Stratton Tea is a global business that’s making an impact. It’s focus on bringing its consumers responsible tea from bush to cup and their commitment to sustainability and ethical practices sets a great example for the industry. We are proud to support Stratton Tea’s mission and look forward to seeing their continued success in the market, bolstered by its NPIF investment.”
The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank
About The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund
• The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund will invest in Microfinance, Business Loans and Equity Finance sub-funds which will offer financing ranging from £25,000 to £2m, specifically to help small and medium sized businesses secure the funding they need for growth and development.
• The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is operated by British Business Financial Services Limited, wholly owned by British Business Bank, the UK’s national economic development bank. Established in November 2014, its mission is to make finance markets for smaller businesses work more effectively, enabling those businesses to prosper, grow and build UK economic activity.
• The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is supported by the European Regional Development Fund, the European Investment Bank, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and British Business Finance Limited, a British Business Bank group company.
• The NPIF covers the following LEP areas: Tees Valley Combined Authority, Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Liverpool City Region, Lancashire, Hull and East Yorkshire, Leeds City Region, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, York & North Yorkshire
• The project is receiving up to £140,359,192 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding.
• The funds in which Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund invests are open to businesses with material operations, or planning to open material operations, in, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West and Tees Valley.