A NORTH-EAST firm renowned for its beverages has struck a tenyear deal that will see tea imported through Teesport.

Taylors of Harrogate has awarded PD Ports, in Middlesbrough, the contract to handle all its tea and coffee, creating about 20 jobs.

After a 12-month trial, the family- run firm will now import 14m kilos through Teesport, instead of Felixstowe, in Suffolk, saving about 100,000 road miles a year.

Founded in 1886, the fair trade firm famous for its Yorkshire Tea has a turnover of £100m.

It is the sister company to Bettys of Harrogate, which has six popular Cafe Tea Rooms across Yorkshire.

Keith Writer, head of commodities at Taylors, said the contract would help the expanding firm become more efficient and make cost savings.

“These are exciting times ahead,” he said. “We are enjoying some tremendous growth, despite the tough times. Tea and coffee sells because of its very nature – people turn to these comforts.

“The world seems a better place with your hands wrapped around a cup of tea. We are not suffering in that respect.”

PD Ports has invested more than £350,000 upgrading two warehouses to store the sensitive products, including installing specialist handling and dehumidification equipment.

The business has been nominated in the port operator of the year category in the Lloyd’s List 2010 Maritime Awards.

PD was nominated for maintaining the highest standards of business development and customer satisfaction.

Despite the difficult trading conditions, PD saw 62 per cent year-on-year growth in the first quarter of this year at Teesport, the fourth largest port in the UK.

By the end of the year, the terminal will have handled 600,000 containers and aims to increase this to 1.5m by 2020.

David Robinson, PD’s group chief executive, said that the “portcentric logistics” concept worked for a wide range of companies and products, including Tesco, Asda and General Motors.

“We have worked closely with Taylors to develop exactly the service they need and we are delighted to have secured this longterm contract.

“It demonstrates again that our decision to promote the portcentric logistics concept is a winning solution for further improving our customers’ supply chain.”