About us
Our position in the supply chain
No middlemen. A place in the factory.
PaletXL is a co-owner of Ceyem Exports in Colombo. This means we're not on the trading side of the market but on the production side: we have a say in processing and packing, at the source of the tea. We also work with select co-packers in Sri Lanka.
We pack black tea, green tea and herbal tea in custom-made packaging formats. Tea bags without staples, with or without envelopes, or as pyramid sachets. What your product needs determines the form. Not the other way around.
In the Netherlands, we have our own production facility for loose tea. This way we keep the line from leaf to pallet in our own hands.
Leaf to cup
Three steps. One line.
Leaf to cup is not just a slogan for us but a route we travel ourselves. From selection in the country of origin to the moment your order leaves our door. We're there at every step.
1. Selection at the source
We source directly in the countries of origin and assess every batch for taste and quality. In Sri Lanka, leaves are hand-picked and processed. We evaluate each batch ourselves before anything is packed.
2. Packing at the garden
At Ceyem and our co-packers in Sri Lanka, tea goes garden fresh into packaging. A shorter route from leaf to cup, with fewer handovers along the way.
3. Filling in the Netherlands
We package loose tea at our own facility in the Netherlands. Small batches and direct control over what ends up in the box.
What you get out of it
Control over the chain is not a goal. It's your advantage.
Co-ownership sounds like a detail in an organizational chart. In practice, you notice it in three ways: the price, the quality, and how quickly we can arrange things for you.
Competitive pricing
Because we're part of production ourselves, one intermediary disappears. This allows us to offer tea products in the desired quality and packaging at highly competitive prices.
Quality that's fixed
We maintain control over the entire production chain and hold the necessary quality certifications. The sample locks in what we agree on, and that's what we work toward in production.
Short lines for changes
A different format, a revised blend, an extra run. We consult directly with production, not through a dealer who then has to make another call.
The assortment
More than 200 blends. Three brands.
Our assortment comprises more than 200 blends: black tea, green tea and herbal tea, divided across private label, Ceyem and Ashford. This isn't a catalog to flip through, but a starting point. You choose an existing blend and have it adapted to match your brand, or you have one developed from scratch.
We advise you on blends and market trends. Which flavors are emerging, which packaging format fits your shelf, where can you surprise the consumer. That knowledge is part of it, not a separate consulting service.
From now on, the same approach applies to herbs and spices. What we supply under private label in this category is listed on the private label page.
The tea master
Tasting is no formality for us.
Our own top brand Ashford is composed and selected by senior tea master Chrisantha Perera as top of the bill quality. A well-balanced blend is recognized by its taste. And by the refined aroma that adds another layer on top.
What is decided at the tasting table goes straight into production. Because we're part of the chain ourselves, an assessment of a batch doesn't have to go through three parties before anything happens with it. This makes tasting a decision instead of advice.
Our production facility
Packed in the Netherlands. By people who deserve a chance.
We pack our loose leaf teas at our own production facility in the Netherlands. We do this together with people facing barriers to the job market. They learn the work and they do the work. This gives them the chance to participate fully in society again.
For you, this means something very practical. Filling happens close by. Under our control. With short lines. Small batches are possible. Different labels are possible. And a rush order doesn't have to travel halfway around the world. Social responsibility and business success are not opposites here.
Partnership
We do what we promise.
We value a good and lasting relationship of trust with our business partners. That fits our tradition and our vision for the future. A first order is the start of a partnership with us, not a transaction.
We deliver on our commitments regarding quality, quantity and delivery. That is the foundation for mutual success. That is how a partnership should work. No more complicated than that, and certainly no less.
Taking things off your plate comes from the same thinking. We handle the entire chain from leaf to cup: sourcing, blending, packaging and delivery. You have more time for your brand and your market.
Contact
Where to find us.
Our office is in Den Bosch, at Pettelaarpark. Want to discuss a blend, request a sample or first talk through your range? Feel free to call or email. You will hear from us within two business days.
