So Spar so good for Lancashire tea entrepeneur

Adam Soliman, who founded specialist tea company Charbrew at home in 2009, has teamed up with Preston-based James Hall and Co, which supplies Spar stores.

Charbrew’s newest ready-to-drink iced tea range will now be carried in corner shops across the north of England.

Adam founded the company in Poulton-le-Fylde with help from Blackpool council’s Get Started scheme.

The deal follows others last year including entry level fruit teas for Waitrose, and a deal to supply Holland and Barrett.

Following a successful £150,000 crowdfunding drive last year to pay for expansion in the USA, Adam’s Manchester-based company now has listings in more than 3,000 stores and 20 retailers globally.

James Hall and Co is a major Preston-based family business which was founded in Southport in 1863.

Currently with more than 800 staff, it is now a wholesaler and distributer for SPAR, serving more than 540 northern stores.

Adam said: “Working with James Hall is a fantastic opportunity for my company; it is very encouraging to have the support of a business founded locally which has very entrepreneurial foundations.”

The drinks are made using real brewed tea, Charbrew’s Lemon Citrus and Orange Tropica contain no refined sugar, no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives as well as containing added B vitamins.

Adam founded his company, after discovering tea plantations in the Far East and Asia as well as researching fruit and herbal infusions in the European market.

He realised that tea companies were not pushing the boundaries like coffee firms when it came to making that special brew.

Adam founded with an ambitious aim to reinvigorate the UK tea market by working closely with manufacturers in Sri Lanka.

In 2014 Charbrew launched the UK’s first Ice tea which contained no refined sugars and essential B vitamins.