John Sumner (tea merchant)
| Sir John Sumner | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 25, 1856 |
| Died | May 11, 1934 (aged 78) |
| Known for | Tea merchant who founded Typhoo Tipps |
Sir John Sumner Kt (25 February 1856–11 May 1934) was a British tea merchant who founded the "Typhoo Tipps" tea brand.[1][2]
Born the elder son of John Sumner, a Birmingham grocer, druggist and chemist, Sumner shared with his brother the business, taking over the grocery side in the 1890s.[1] In 1903, Sumner began to sell the previously-discarded fannings (tips) of tea leaves in packets, marketed as cures for indigestion and nervous disorders.[1] This grew significantly, with the brand available from over 40,000 retail outlets in the 1930s, making Typhoo one of the most widely-sold packet teas in Britain.[1]
Once his business was successful, Sumner focussed on philanthropy in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, founding the John Sumner Trust in 1927 and the Colehaven Trust in 1930.[2] Sumner was knighted in June 1932 in reward of his charitable and political services, and died in 1934.[1][2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "John Sumner". www.oxforddnb.com. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Sumner, Sir John. Who Was Who. 1920–2015 (April 2014 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 2015-02-14.