Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) is pleased to announce that Fortnum and Mason, which was founded in St James’s, London in 1707, is the latest company and one of a growing number of retailers to join the ETP.

Fortnum and Mason’s story began in the early part of the eighteenth century with Hugh Mason opening a small store with his tenant William Fortnum, a Footman in the Royal household of Queen Anne. Together, they had the inspired idea of selling the Queen’s half-used candle wax at a profit. The business has always prided itself on being an innovator and first to market with a range of goods and services.

Fortnum and Mason has just joined the Ethical Tea Partnership and together with their supplier and our existing members they will help us to broaden our improvements and our impact in a number of areas.

On news of Fortnum and Mason joining the partnership, Sarah Roberts, Executive Director, ETP said: “We are pleased to announce Fortnum and Mason as our latest member and we are looking forward to working with them and their teams on their social, labour and environmental principles to help them to broaden and strengthen their existing strategy."

"Fortnum & Mason is delighted to be a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership. Because tea is so important to Fortnum’s, so too are the people that make it," said Florence Holzapfel, Tea and Coffee Buyer, Fortnum and Mason.