Leslie Massey
Bushells is an Australian company that produces tea and coffee. It was founded by Alfred Thomas Bushell in 1883 when he opened a tea shop in Queensland. After his death in 1910, the company was registered as a public company. In 1978, the Bushell family sold their shares to their English relations, Brooke Bond, and the company changed hands several times over the following decades. Despite this, Bushells remains an iconic household brand name in Australia, with generations of families enjoying its products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1883 |
| Founder | Alfred Thomas Bushell |
| Place founded | Queensland, Australia |
| Current ownership of Bushells Coffee | FreshFood Services Pty Ltd |
| Current ownership of Bushells Tea | CVC Capital Partners |
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What You'll Learn
Bushells was founded by Alfred Thomas Bushell in 1883
Bushells, the Australian tea and coffee company, was founded by Alfred Thomas Bushell in 1883. Following the death of his wife Agnes in the early 1880s, Alfred travelled to Brisbane, where he opened a tea shop and began trading. Alfred was already familiar with the tea business, having worked for the English company Brooke Bond in his home country. He even married Agnes Brooke, the sister of Brooke Bond's founder.
In Brisbane, Alfred sold both tea and coffee, and in 1899, his sons moved the enterprise to Sydney, where they began selling tea commercially. They founded Australia's first commercial tea seller, trading as Bushell and Company – the Tea Men. In 1895, Alfred's son Walter established his own tea business in Sydney, opening a Victorian branch in 1899. Another son, Philip, initially became a taster at his father's company, but in 1903, he left to join Walter, focusing on the wholesale trade. This caused a rift in the family, only healed in 1908 when Alfred retired and gave the Queensland business to his sons.
Alfred died in 1910, and Bushells Ltd was registered as a public company. The company rapidly expanded, but this led to cash flow problems. The staff stepped in, contributing their own money to save the company and receiving shares in return. In 1920, land was purchased in an area of Sydney now known as 'The Rocks', where Bushells built its seven-story head office and incorporated new tea blending and packing methods for tea and coffee. This remained the company's head office and tea factory for the next 40 years.
For generations, Bushells has been a part of everyday Australian life and is considered an iconic household brand. The company remained under family control until 1978, when the Bushell family sold their shares to their English relations, Brooke Bond.
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Bushells Ltd was registered as a public company after Alfred's death in 1910
Bushells is an Australian company that produces tea and coffee. It was founded by Alfred Thomas Bushell in 1883 in Brisbane, Queensland, as a tea shop and grocery business. Alfred had previously worked for the tea company Brooke Bond in England and was married to Agnes Brooke, the sister of the company's founder. Following Agnes's death in the early 1880s, Alfred travelled to Brisbane with his three oldest sons, leaving his youngest son, Philip, to be raised by the Brooke family.
Alfred's sons moved the enterprise to Sydney in 1899 and began selling tea commercially, founding Australia's first commercial tea seller. In 1903, Philip Bushell joined the family business, and in 1908, Alfred retired and gave the Queensland business to his sons. Alfred Bushell died in 1910, and following his death, Bushells Ltd was registered as a public company.
The company expanded rapidly, but this led to financial difficulties with the bank being unwilling to assist with cash flow problems. The staff intervened to save the company, with many employees choosing to be paid back in shares rather than cash. In 1920, Bushells purchased land in an area of Sydney known as 'The Rocks', where they built their seven-story head office and incorporated new tea-blending and packing methods for both tea and coffee. This remained the company's head office and tea factory for the next 40 years.
Bushells remained under family control until 1978 when the Bushell family sold their shares to their English relations, Brooke Bond, then known as Brooke Bond Liebig Ltd. In 1988, Brooke Bond was bought by Unilever, and the Bushells coffee brand was sold to FreshFood Services in 1998, while Unilever retained ownership of Bushell's Tea. In 2022, Unilever divested its tea business, including Bushell's Tea, to CVC Capital Partners as Lipton Teas and Infusions.
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Bushell's Tea became Australia's top seller in the 1960s
Bushells Tea was founded by Alfred Thomas Bushell in Queensland, Australia, in 1883. Bushell was no stranger to the tea business, having previously worked for the tea company Brooke Bond in England. After the death of his wife, Agnes Brooke—sister of the founder of Brooke Bond—Bushell emigrated to Brisbane, where he opened a tea shop and began selling tea and coffee.
In 1899, Bushell's sons moved the enterprise to Sydney, where they began selling tea commercially, founding Australia's first commercial tea seller. Bushell's Tea quickly gained popularity, and by the early 1900s, the Bushell brothers were successfully promoting their tea in various newspapers, focusing on the freshness of their product, which was packaged in small paper packages.
Following Alfred's death in 1910, Bushells Ltd was registered as a public company, and the company expanded rapidly. In 1920, land was purchased in an area of Sydney known as 'The Rocks', where Bushells built its seven-story head office and incorporated new tea blending and packing methods. This served as the company's head office and tea factory for the next 40 years.
By the 1960s, Bushells Tea had become Australia's top-selling tea brand. The company remained under the control of the Bushell family until 1978, when the family sold their shares to their English relations, Brooke Bond. In 1988, Brooke Bond was acquired by Unilever, which retained ownership of Bushells Tea until 2022 when it was divested, along with most of Unilever's tea business, to CVC Capital Partners as Lipton Teas and Infusions. Despite changing hands over the years, Bushells Tea continues to be a well-known and trusted brand in Australia, with a rich history that dates back to the late 19th century.
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Bushell's was sold to English relations in 1978
Bushells is an Australian company that produces tea and coffee. It was founded by Alfred Thomas Bushell in 1883 when he opened a tea shop in Queensland. Bushells remained under the control of the Bushell family until the late 1970s.
In 1978, the Bushell family sold their shares to their English relations, Brooke Bond (then known as Brooke Bond Liebig Ltd). This marked the end of Australian ownership of the company, which had been a prominent part of Australia's coffee and tea industry for almost a century.
The sale to Brooke Bond was significant as it represented the passing of ownership from the Bushell family to an English company. Alfred Thomas Bushell had worked for Brooke Bond in England before emigrating to Australia and starting his own tea business. He was also connected to the company through his wife, Agnes Brooke, who was the sister of Brooke Bond's founder.
The Bushell family's decision to sell their shares to Brooke Bond may have been influenced by financial considerations or a desire to step away from the business. By the late 1970s, the company had already been through various transitions, including the death of its founder, Alfred, in 1910, and the establishment of Bushells Ltd as a public company.
Following the acquisition by Brooke Bond, the Bushells brand continued to evolve and diversify. In 1988, Brooke Bond was bought by Unilever, which also owned Lipton. This led to further changes in the ownership and structure of the Bushells business.
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Bushells Coffee is an iconic household brand in Australia
In the 1980s, Bushells diversified into coffee manufacturing, establishing the Bushells Coffee brand. This new venture solidified the company's place in the hearts and homes of Australians for generations to come. Bushells Coffee has become a trusted and well-loved part of everyday Australian life, with its locally roasted coffee enjoyed by people of all ages across the nation.
The brand's long-standing success can be attributed to its commitment to quality and innovation. Bushells was an early adopter of new tea blending and packing methods, ensuring the freshness of their products. The company also demonstrated a forward-thinking approach to business, with employees once investing their own money to save the company during financial difficulties, choosing to be repaid in shares.
Despite changes in ownership over the years, with the coffee brand being sold to FreshFood Services in 1998, Bushells Coffee remains an iconic symbol of Australia's coffee culture. The brand's enduring popularity is a testament to its rich heritage and the loyal support of Australian families who have made it a staple in their homes.
Today, Bushells Coffee continues to be a trusted and recognisable name in Australia, featured in PANDORA, Australia's Web Archive, celebrating the cultural and social significance of the brand in the lives of Australians. The legacy of Alfred Thomas Bushell and his family lives on through the generations of Australians who have grown up with Bushells Coffee as a beloved part of their daily rituals.
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Frequently asked questions
Bushells was founded by Alfred Thomas Bushell in Brisbane, Queensland in 1883. It was Australian-owned until 1978 when the Bushell family sold their shares to their English relatives, Brooke Bond, also known as Brooke Bond Liebig Ltd.
Brooke Bond was bought by Unilever in 1988. Ten years later, Unilever sold the Bushells Coffee brand to FreshFood Services while retaining ownership of Bushell's Tea.
In 2021, Unilever created a separate division called Ekaterra to offload most of its tea business, retaining only Lipton's Iced Tea and businesses in India and Indonesia. In 2022, Unilever sold Ekaterra to CVC Capital Partners, and Bushell's Tea was included in the sale.
Yes, Bushells is an iconic brand in Australia and has been a part of Australian families for generations. Bushells Coffee is one of Australia's most trusted and loved coffee brands.
