Yorkshire Tea and Harrogate Spring Water are the latest Yorkshire brands to boycott Russia in Support of Ukraine. The two Harrogate-based companies issued statements announcing the cease of trade with immediate effect.
The Russian invasion has already forced two million people out of their homes and claimed the lives of 13,000. Harrogate Spring Water spokesperson said: “Harrogate Spring Water has made the decision to stop all exports to Russia with immediate effect.”
Unbeknownst to most, Russia has been one of Harrogate Spring Water’s biggest exports in the past according to The Business Desk, which published an article in 2013 saying sales to Russia had increased 40% year-on-year.
Yorkshire Tea, which is owned by Taylors of Harrogate, has a distribution office in Moscos and also released a statement saying: “Like everyone, we’ve been deeply shocked and saddened by the invasion and our thoughts are with all those impacted.
“Our ethical trade and human rights policy states that our values guide how we work with suppliers, customers and distributors, including the provision that we will not trade with individuals, entities, regions or countries where UK sanctions have been applied.
While Russia has been an export market for some of our teas for several years, as a result of the invasion and the subsequent sanctions we’ve suspended trade.“
This means that all brands that are owned by Taylors of Harrogate will no longer be exported to Russia. These brands join others such as bar Group Arc Inspirations, which owns Box, Banyan and more, and others in boycotting Russian business in support of Ukraine.
