A popular tea brand found on UK shelves for 120 years could disappear after the company filed for administrators. right BBCTyphoo Tea faced declining sales, increasing losses and mounting debt.

The company has filed a court notice that would allow it to appoint administrators, Typhoo chief executive Dave McNulty told the BBC. Typhoo has been struggling with problems for some time and saw more serious difficulties when its factory was robbed last year.

The criminals broke into the venue in Moreton, Merseyside. Mr McNulty said: “Given the sensitive nature of this we are not in a position to comment further.” The company intends to appoint EY to handle the administration process.

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Mr McNulty added: “That doesn’t mean we’re in administration.” Typhoo’s losses widened to £38m last year as sales fell to £25.3m from £33.7m.

There were exceptional costs of £24.1m last year – including the demolition of the former factory in Moreton. Typhoo said: “In August 2023, a group of organized criminals broke into the Moreton site and occupied it for several days.”

It said the offenders caused “extensive damage” and a lot of tea was made unusable. It failed to honor some customer orders.

Typhoo mainly offers black tea, usually used to make classic English tea blends. Over the years, Typhoo has expanded its offering to include decaffeinated tea, green tea and specialty teas.

Typhoo was created by John Summer, a grocer from Birmingham. The name “Typhoo” comes from the Chinese word for “doctor” (tāifú), reflecting the brand’s original, health-conscious marketing approach. John Summer started selling prepackaged tea at a time when tea was usually sold in bulk. This made Typhoo one of the first British brands to sell tea in ready-made packets, which was seen as a convenience and an assurance of quality.

His sister Summer allegedly suffered from indigestion, and he developed Typhoo tea to help relieve her symptoms. This health-focused origin helped establish the brand’s early reputation. Typhoo has become a household name through creative marketing. The brand was one of the first to offer free collectible gifts in tea packs.

The brand is now sold internationally and is considered a symbol of British tea culture. The brand’s iconic red packaging has been part of its identity for decades.