THERE is little surprise a Kendal coffee merchant has built up a strong reputation over 200 years of business.

John Farrier & Co, Tea & Coffee Merchants was founded in the same year as Queen Victoria’s birth in 1819 - making it the UK’s oldest coffee roastery.

On the anniversary of their 200th year, Her Majesty the Queen sent HRH Sophie The Duchess of Wessex to help get the festivities underway in fine style.

Located on 13 Stricklandgate, the business was founded by Liverpool based Tea Merchant John Farrer, after whom the business is still named.

John specialised in the wholesale of coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, and spices throughout Westmorland. He ran the family business until 1886 when he transferred it to his sons Joseph and Edward.

Due to the ongoing success of the company Farrer's required a larger premises and in 1989 the business moved to its present location on Shap Road where it continues to maintain its impressive reputation for crafting high quality multi-award-winning teas and coffees.

General manager Rob Baines said: “Farrer’s has been at the heart of the community for over 200 years. We started out as a small tea and coffee merchant serving the community in and around Kendal our hometown.

“We’ve grown a little since then but we are still very much at the heart of our community, supporting local small businesses and charities and by employing local people, nurturing them, and developing their skills. 

“Since our foundation we've pro-actively worked with a broad cross section of small businesses across the North West, from Cumbria to Cheshire and everything in between.

"Our customer base is diverse and includes retail, cafes, restaurants, hotels, specialist coffee shops, farm shops, and delis to name a few.

“The team at John Farrer & Co devote much of our time producing the highest quality product possible.

“We do this through our sourcing processes, locating the finest quality products available. Alongside this we use our vast experience and knowledge each and every time we roast.

"This is further supplemented by our use of a range of highly specialised tech that helps us ensure we achieve consistency each and every time.

“This mix guarantees that our products are a cut above, which is one reason why over 200 years later we're still in business and are steadily growing and developing in new directions whilst ensuring that we deliver the finest artisan roasted coffees and teas to our customers.

“We've introduced lots of new products in the last couple of years, including our range of fully recyclable pods, our signature coffee subscription which delivers 12 carefully sourced single origin coffees such as Batamba Geisha from the Central American country of Costa Rica.

“And we're busy looking at more as we speak - working alongside a range of local suppliers from designers to packing specialists and photographers to make sure we get everything right - but some things need to be kept under wraps for the time being.”