A recipe for purpose: Bettys & Taylors Group on building a business that gives back
It was a real pleasure to welcome Paul Cogan, Co-CEO of Bettys & Taylors, to speak to guests at our first Business Breakfast.
Bringing together 20 leaders from Yorkshire’s business and professional communities, the morning was filled with insightful conversations, valuable connections and plenty of food for thought, accompanied by Yorkshire Tea, Taylors coffee and Bettys’ famous Fat Rascals.
Paul shared the remarkable story of founder Frederick Belmont, whose challenging childhood in the Swiss Alps and subsequent move to Bradford, where he worked for a local confectioner, shaped the values and determination that led him to create the Bettys brand we know today.
From those beginnings, and the subsequent acquisition of C.E. Taylor & Co. in 1962, Bettys & Taylors has grown into one of Yorkshire’s most respected businesses, guided by its six principles of Planet, Process, Prosperity, People, Produce and Passion. These values underpin the company’s commitment to delighting customers, reducing environmental impact and building resilient communities.
One of the highlights of the morning was hearing the story behind Yorkshire Tea’s journey to becoming the UK’s number one tea brand, and how a clear sense of purpose, authenticity, and fun has shaped its success.
We also reflected on the long-standing partnership between Bettys & Taylors and Two Ridings, which began in 2018 with the Trees for Life Fund. Paul shared the wonderful story of how the idea originated from former Chairman Jonathan Wild’s children wanting to help protect the planet after seeing environmental issues highlighted on Blue Peter.
Since then, the partnership has grown significantly. Bettys & Taylors’ giving through Two Ridings focuses on creating opportunities for local people, helping them gain the skills and confidence needed for employment in communities surrounding each Bettys café tea room.
Paul spoke passionately about the importance of community investment to both the business and its employees, and about the value of working with Two Ridings to ensure that giving is thoughtful, effective and rooted in local need.
Since 2018, the Group has distributed more than £1 million through Two Ridings. That’s almost 300 grants, funding charities and community organisations across Yorkshire, supporting thousands of people. Alongside this, members of the Bettys family have their own charitable fund with Two Ridings.
The morning concluded with a lively discussion and questions from the floor. Most importantly, it sparked new ideas, meaningful connections and fresh conversations among people committed to creating positive change across Yorkshire.
A huge thank you to Paul for such an engaging presentation, and to everyone who joined us for helping make our first Business Breakfast such a success. We’re already looking forward to the next one.
