Saatchi loses Twinings after winning Premier Beverages

Twinings, the speciality tea company, is moving its 650,000 ad account out of Saatchi & Saatchi.

The decision comes one month after Saatchi picked up most of the 4m account for Premier Beverages, which owns the Typhoo and London Herb & Spice Company tea brands.

Twinings marketing manager for UK retail Elizabeth Edwards says Saatchi will not be asked to repitch. “I accept that Premier Beverages will be the dominant player in terms of billings,” she says. She adds that she has not yet drawn up a shortlist of agencies for the business.

Meanwhile, the latest execution from Saatchi supporting specific tea variants will break in the December edition of women’s magazines.

Direct marketing for Twinings will remain with SJA Direct.

Last week, it emerged that Carlsberg-Tetley has called a review of its 5m Tetley Bitter account, also currently with Saatchi. The brewer was understood to be unhappy with the agency’s creative work.