Our history

Successful for almost 120 years

In the mid-1950s, a young man in Hamburg, Laurens Spethmann, takes over the management of a small tea trading business. It is an era of new beginnings, change, and new ideas. He recognises that in addition to the traditional loose tea business, the future belongs to the tea bag and adjusts his business accordingly.

We were more creative. We were clearly the best sellers in the tea industry, and we were the most industrious“

explained Laurens Spethmann OTG’s success.

The birth of OTG

Although founded in 1907, OTG was really born in the 1950s. At that time, the small tea trading business became an international group which is now one of Europe’s leading companies in the tea industry.
Learn more about our journey.

1907

Laurens Janssen establishes Ostfriesische Tee Gesellschaft, OTG

1953

Laurens Spethmann, the company founder’s grandson, steers the company from being a classic tea importer to a tea distributor.

1966

As a private label producer, OTG also becomes a brand-name producer by creating the MILFORD brand.

1972

Internationalisation begins with the acquisition of Grosch Tee Österreich (later named Milford Tee Austria).

1988

The East Frisian tea company OnnO Behrends, located in Norden, Lower Saxony, becomes part of OTG.

1989

Acquisition of the tea distributor Ludwig Schwarz, located in Buchholz, Lower Saxony (later named Milford Tea).

1990

Meßmer, located in Frankfurt am Main and Grettstadt, Bavaria, becomes part of OTG.

1992

Acquisition of PAGÈS, France and the establishment of the warehousing company OTG Lager- und Frachtkontor GmbH, Buchholz.

1996

Establishment of Laurens Spethmann Holding and with that, the acquisition of all OTG holdings. The company management is handed over to the fourth family generation to Jochen and Michael Spethmann.

2000

Start of the transition to using a knotting technique and the gradual abandonment of metal staples on tea bags – fully completed in 2010.

2002

150th anniversary of the Meßmer brand.

2007

OTG celebrates its 100th anniversary.

2008

“Meßmer MOMENTUM” opens in Hamburg’s HafenCity, marking the arrival of one of Hamburg’s first brand environments.

2011

With MILFORD Kühl & Lecker (Cool & Delicious), OTG introduces the first tea bag for cold water onto the German market.

2012

125th anniversary of the OnnO Behrends brand.

2012

OTG becomes a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership.

2015

Meßmer is the first tea supplier to offer a complete product range made of sustainable raw ingredients.

2016

50th anniversary of the MILFORD brand.

2016

OTG publishes its first sustainability report.

2017

Establishment of OTG’s Sustainability Council.

2018

With Meßmer, OTG is the first supplier in Germany to bring organic herbal and fruit infusions from certified sustainable cultivation (UTZ) onto store shelves.

2018

OTG publishes its second sustainability report.

2020

: Introduction of Meßmer Cold Tea – the to-go concept for water bottles.

2021

With Meßmer Cold Tea Sparkling, OTG enters a new supermarket category by offering carbonated iced tea in a can – ready to drink.