TEA company Ringtons is investing £3m in a fleet of vans to help expand its brand on the South Coast.

The North-East retailer, which has been in business for more than a century, saw sales and profits soar last year, and is now looking to expand into the South-East.

Its new fleet of vehicles, from motor group Benfield, will help with its expansion, and will operate from Ringtons’ 24 locations throughout the UK.

Ringtons operates more than 250 vans and cars which make door-to-door deliveries across the country.

Simon Smith, managing director of Ringtons, said: “There is a big population of our target market across the South Coast.

“I think our overall offering, which is targeted at people who are in the home during the day, will fit in well with the demographics of the South coast. After all, our staple offerings of tea and biscuits is still at the core of the British diet.

“We are aiming to operate some of our new vans in places that we have never been before in the next couple of years, so these are exciting times for us.”

Mark Squires, chief executive of Benfield Motor Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted to team up with Ringtons to and supply and manage their new-look fleet of Volkswagen vehicles.

“This prestigious contract is a fine example of two iconic North-East family businesses steeped in tradition working together for the benefit of the local economy and business.”