We’re a Yorkshire family business with a passion for making life’s everyday treats even better. We’re the company behind Yorkshire Tea, Taylors of Harrogate tea, coffee and infusions, and the famous Bettys Café Tea Rooms.
We're a family business with strong values – the Six Ps – which underpin the decisions we make and how we operate day-in, day-out.
It’s just over 100 years since Bettys first opened its doors and we’re still a family business, proud of our Yorkshire and Swiss roots, and still committed to quality, service and doing things properly. Our timeline shares some of the key moments and milestones from our 100-year history.
In 1907 a young Swiss baker and confectioner, Fritz Bützer, left his native Alps to travel to England with a dream of establishing his own business.
By now, Fritz has changed his name to Frederick Belmont and has made his dream a reality. In 1919 Bettys opened its doors for the very first time. Located on Cambridge Crescent, Harrogate, just opposite our current branch, the tea room was an immediate success.
The combination of continental confectionery, Yorkshire hospitality and elegant interiors proved irresistible. To meet demand, Frederick opened a purpose-built bakery. New branches of Bettys soon welcomed customers in other Yorkshire towns.
In 1962 Bettys purchased C.E. Taylor & Co – a Yorkshire-based café business and local tea and coffee merchant founded in 1886. The purchase of Taylors established the foundations for the business we are today.
Yorkshire Tea fills teapots for the very first time. With its launch comes the opportunity to take everything we stand for – quality and properness – further afield.
Now a third generation family business, our Family Constitution is created. This articulates the Family's vision for the business as “Working together to build a great Yorkshire Family Business, creating prosperity and pride by doing what we believe in.”
Our family business celebrated its centenary with customers, community and employees – and looks forward to remaining an independent values-led family business for the long-term future.
“It’s great to work for a business that genuinely cares about making a positive impact throughout our supply chain, as well as valuing and investing in its own people.”
“It’s great to work for a business that genuinely cares about making a positive impact throughout our supply chain, as well as valuing and investing in its own people.”
