English Tea Shop produces and distributes artisan teas. Credit: Miti on Unsplash.

Speciality tea company English Tea Shop has secured funding from HSBC UK to support its growth strategy.

The company received a funding of £2.5m under HSBC UK’s £14m lending fund, which supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

It is for the second time that the tea company has received funding from the banking firm.

In 2018, the tea company secured funding of £1.45m from HSBC UK.

The speciality tea company use the money to enhance its import capabilities and grow business.

HSBC UK Cambridge, Essex and Suffolk business banking area director David Skipp said: “English Tea Shop has continued to have a genuine impact on the lives of those working across the supply chain in its industry.

“In 2017-2018 alone, it directly helped 1,352 organic farming families, and improved the lives of over 3,000 farming families in Sri Lanka and worldwide through an investment of over $186,000 across numerous initiatives and projects.

“Combined with the company’s commercial growth, its social impact is what stood out about English Tea Shop and highlighted its potential for even more success in the future. We’re delighted to play a part in enabling the company to continue to benefit communities – and increase our global footprint.”

English Tea Shop is engaged in the production and distribution of artisan teas in the country. It sources organic teas, herbs, flowers, fruits and spices from small organic farmers in Sri Lanka, as well as 20 other countries worldwide.

The company said that it will use the new funding to launch new products, as well as increase its footprint in the overseas market. It also intends to introduce new packaging design for its products.

English Tea Shop CEO Suranga Herath said: “Our journey to date is testament to the power of achieving growth by focusing on sustainable initiatives that simultaneously improve business performance. It’s fantastic to see this being recognised by HSBC UK.

“The bank’s funding has helped us to invest in more resource internationally and paved the way for major strategic milestones, such as the launch of our unique ESOP scheme earlier in the year and our rebrand which signifies a new chapter for English Tea Shop.”