Sector:  Food Producers/Processors
No.of Employees:  151-200
Region: Yorkshire and Humber

Summary
For the last ten years, this small company has tackled forest degradation and resulting soil erosion by funding a massive tree-planting programme. Trees have been planted around the world with a particular focus on the developing countries from which Bettys and Taylors sources its tea products.

Background
Founded almost a century ago as two separate businesses, Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate is a well established commercial bakery and operator of five tea houses in the Yorkshire area.

Responsible business objectives 

• Develop customer loyalty.

• Enhance reputation in the community.

How they do it

• Donations to Oxfam. Each year, £100,000 of Bettys and Taylors profits are donated to Oxfam's work in tea and coffee growing countries such as India, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia.

• Cause Related Marketing. The Trees for Life on-pack promotions have a special tree planting appeal whereby customers collect tokens from promotional packs of Yorkshire Tea, for example, the 'Saving Britain's Ancient Woodland' promotion with The Woodland Trust. For every three tokens returned by customers, the company donates an additional £1 to the Woodland Trust's tree planting work on ten ancient woodland sites across the country.

What impact it has

• Over 3 million trees have been planted as a result of the programme since 1990.

• On a local level the company continues to work on projects with The Woodland Trust, The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust and Scottish Trees for Life

• Thanks to the latest promotion 10,000 trees have been planted across the UK with the Woodland Trust and 3000 schools have learnt about tree planting and conservation.

• Annual donation to Oxfam of £100,000

Business Benefits

• Increased customer loyalty
• Enhanced corporate reputation
• Demonstrated brand values
• Generated significant media coverage