OUR STORY

We are the tea and coffee experts our customers count on every day. This didn’t happen overnight – these relationships were developed over the years by meeting the ever-changing needs in tea and coffee. That means we never rest or settle as we deliver on our promises through:

QUALITY

What we do, we do well. And if we didn’t do it well, we’ll go back and do it again. We know that a lot of care and attention has gone into the tea leaf or the coffee bean long before it touches our hands, and it’s on us to see it through.

PASSION

For our people, products and customers. Our in-depth industry knowledge delivers. From our Master Roaster to our Insights Team, we’re always curious to learn more.

INSIGHTS

Is it a fad or a trend? We continuously monitor consumer and market trends to deliver data-driven strategic insights to drive growth for our customers that has staying power.

INNOVATION

We’ve proven time and time again that we turn ideas into solutions, whether it’s your idea or ours. Our teams lead the industry in sourcing, research and product development.

SUSTAINABILITY

We all want to do more good. With so many ways to do that, we’re committed to doing good for the planet, people and communities in which we operate.

SUPPLY CHAIN

Our scale ensures source of supply, the standards you expect and consistency in every cup. Through collaborative forecasting, our fill rates exceed industry standards.

OUR HISTORY

  • 1912

    Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee was founded.

  • 1930s

    Mother Parkers expanded from the original retail store to blending tea and coffee for other retailers and foodservice customers.

  • 1940s

    A brand-new blending and roasting facility was built.

  • 1960s

    A new coffee roasting facility was built in Mississauga, Ontario.

  • 1970s

    Mother Parkers expanded into instant coffee and quickly became one of the largest suppliers in Canada.

  • 1990s

    Mother Parkers expanded into the U.S.

  • 2000s

    A new coffee roasting facility and distribution center opened in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2001, Food Engineering magazine named the facility Food Manufacturing Plant of the Year.

    A speciality coffee roasting facility was opened to serve demand for premium coffee. It was our first certified-organic coffee facility.

  • 2010

    Mother Parkers became the 4th largest coffee roaster in North America.

  • 2012

    Mother Parkers celebrated its 100th anniversary! In celebration, $1,000,000 was raised through the Mother Parkers Remembers Campaign to help find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.

    Mother Parkers launched RealCup® capsules with Flavor Max™ filter technology.

  • 2014

    Innovation in the RealCup® brand technology made the single-serve format easier to separate and potentially recycle.

    The RealCup® format was innovated and the EcoCup® capsule was launched.

  • 2016

    Premium loose-leaf tea began shipping from our Ajax tea blending facility in pyramid sachets.

  • 2020

    The EcoCup® capsule evolved with an innovative new polypropylene single-serve pod with a tab lid for easier and cleaner recyclability*.

    *Cup and filter made of #5 plastic; not recycled in many communities

  • 2024

    Launch of Boardio® coffee packaging, with a focus on functionality and sustainability – recycleable*, paper-based and more efficiently transported.

    *Excludes freshness seal

  • 2026

    Our state-of-the-art, aseptic coffee extract facility opens, providing customers with an end-to-end solution in the fast-growing cold brew coffee and iced coffee categories.

Since 1912, we’ve helped change the way people experience their tea and coffee. Our passion for delivering a better beverage experience has helped us become the supplier of choice to some of the world’s largest retailers and foodservice operators.

What started as a small wholesale grocery distributor has grown into one of North America’s leading purveyors of tea and coffee.

As a fourth-generation family-owned, privately held company we continue to invest in growth and in our customer partnerships.

From the invention of the rectangular tea bag to the reimagining of single serve cups through the launch of our K-cup compatible EcoCup® pods, we’re proud of the innovations that have contributed to market growth.

OUR PEOPLE

Employee Spotlight

  • Cyndi Carey
    Key Account Manager, Healthcare & Senior Living

    With ever-changing resident and guest care, Cyndi works with healthcare and senior living customers across the country to provide the best branded coffee and tea solutions for their operations.

    Cyndi is also a member of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee where she helps with education and engagement initiatives to promote a welcoming and inclusive culture in all parts of the company.

    Cyndi appreciates the history of Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee as a fourth-generation family-owned company that’s home to many long-tenure employees.

  • Sheeja Kannan
    Inventory Control Supervisor

    Sheeja is an Inventory Control Supervisor and has been with Mother Parkers for over 5 years. In this role, Sheeja works closely with several other departments to maximize attainment on customer order fulfillment. She enjoys the problem-solving element of her role and is very passionate about upholding our commitment to a great customer service experience.

    Sheeja is proud to be a part of a dynamic and diverse company culture where employees are closely connected, motivated and eager to succeed with a lot of company pride.

  • Miken Modi
    Quality Assurance Coordinator

    Miken is a Quality Assurance Coordinator and has worked at Mother Parkers for over 4 years. Miken’s primary responsibilities include ensuring that our production facility complies with food safety standards, and that all products he oversees meet Mother Parkers’ high quality standards. Miken also plays a key role in implementing preventative measures and working on process improvements to enhance safety, quality, and efficiency.

    Miken appreciates that the leadership team at Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee genuinely cares about employees. He believes this shines through in the company’s commitment to employee safety and providing opportunities to learn and grow.

  • Sukhvir Pannu
    Processing Utility Operator

    Sukhvir is a longtime Mother Parkers team member, having been with the company for over 21 years!

    As a Processing Utility Operator, Sukhvir works in the control room of our Mississauga coffee facility, coordinating the inflow of green coffee beans and outflow of roasted coffee to our packaging lines. She works closely with our Commodities and Planning teams to manage the complex production schedules at this multi-roaster facility.

    Sukhvir has also recently undertaken a new development opportunity to learn more about production planning. This is one of her favorite things about Mother Parkers – that even after 21+ years, she continues to take on new challenges and learn something new each day.

  • Mike Rosa
    Procurement Manager

    Mike has worked at Mother Parkers for over 5 years and is a Procurement Manager in our Commodities Department.

    Buying coffee is a very dynamic and demanding role amidst the constantly fluctuating coffee markets. Mike gathers information from a variety of sources to inform his buying decisions, while also balancing customer needs, evolving industry expectations, and external environmental factors.

    Mike's favorite things about working at Mother Parkers include the engaging work environment and fun personalities of his coworkers – both of which come to life in the cross-functional projects he works on.

  • Crystal Ovenden
    Machine Operator

    Crystal has worked at Mother Parkers for over 17 years, and wears many “hats” as a Machine Operator, member of our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Social Committees, plus a certified First Aid provider.

    In her role as a machine operator, Crystal works diligently running as many as 5 machines at our tea manufacturing facility in Ajax. She consistently strives for improvement at work – whether it’s a more efficient way to operate our machines, or ways to help drive an inclusive and engaging culture.

    During her long tenure at Mother Parkers, Crystal has always appreciated the transparency among her team and being part of a family-owned and operated business with over 100 years of history.

  • Kristina McGee
    Indirect Sourcing Manager

    Kristina joined Mother Parkers in 2021 and works as an Indirect Sourcing Manager across many different categories of materials and services, including corporate services, operations, and supply chain.

    One key aspect of Kristina’s role is building relationships with both internal stakeholders and external partners – whether she’s negotiating with suppliers, building sourcing strategies, or leading projects.

    Kristina enjoys the welcoming environment at Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee and having a culture that promotes work-life balance.

  • Katie Walters
    Quality Assurance Supervisor

    Katie has worked at Mother Parkers’ Fort Worth (Texas) manufacturing facility since 2019. In her role as Quality Assurance Supervisor, Katie ensures that items produced in Fort Worth are manufactured safely and are held to our high quality standards. As opportunities arise, she also works with the broader organization to help bring new products to life.

    One of Katie’s favorite things about working at Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee is the opportunity to develop new skills and grow throughout her career.

  • Roy Dhritiman
    Production Supervisor

    Roy joined Mother Parkers in 2022 and works as a Production Supervisor in our EcoCup® manufacturing facility. In this role, Roy manages the production schedule and workflow among his team to optimize output and mitigate downtime. Roy has led various continuous improvement projects that increased equipment efficiency on multiple production lines and also ensures all safety and quality protocols are followed in accordance with Mother Parkers’ standards.

    Roy says his favorite things about working at Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee are the work culture and the people he gets to work with every day.

  • Michelle Sutton
    Machine Operator

    Michelle is a longstanding Mother Parkers Tea & Coffee team member and has been with us since 2006 as a Machine Operator at our tea manufacturing facility in Ajax, Ontario.

    In addition to her main role of operating and maintaining a variety of tea machines, Michelle is also a Co-Chair on our Joint Health & Safety Committee.

    Over her long career at Mother Parkers, Michelle has appreciated working alongside wonderful coworkers and takes pride in producing high-quality tea products.

  • James Morgan
    Specialty Tea Blender

    James has worked at Mother Parkers for over 5 years and is a Specialty Tea Blender at our tea manufacturing facility in Ajax, Ontario. James is also a member of our Joint Health & Safety and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees.

    James enjoys the variety in his role as he ensures different tea blends are produced according to the production priorities for each day. He has also made many great friendships with coworkers over the years at Mother Parkers. Coming from a British Jamaican family background, James says tea is a major part of his life both in, and outside of his work.

  • Tim Normand
    Plant Manager

    Tim has been with Mother Parkers for over a decade and manages our EcoCup® Capsules operations. A large component of Tim’s role is optimizing plant performance while prioritizing safety, product quality, and production efficiency.

    Tim appreciates the autonomy and trust that Mother Parkers gives employees. As a leader, Tim focuses on people engagement initiatives to enhance the productivity and satisfaction of approximately 150 hourly and salaried team members.

  • Stephen Leung
    Senior Director, Engineer and Technical Services

    Stephen has worked at Mother Parkers for over 11 years, and is now Senior Director of Engineering and Technical Services. In this role, Stephen leads a team that scopes, executes, and delivers on growth, infrastructure, and productivity projects. One of Stephen’s main priorities is to ensure the health and safety of all Mother Parkers manufacturing employees.

    Working for a fourth-generation, family owned company, Stephen appreciates that Mother Parkers owners and senior leaders genuinely value and care for their employees.

  • Tammy Baran
    Senior Product Developer

    Tammy has been with Mother Parkers for 16 years and leads our product development work on tea. Her creativity comes to life through the development of new tea and herbal blends from origins all over the world.

    “My role is all about growth and development so that we can provide tea solutions that work for our customers and consumers. But it’s working side-by-side with the great people at Mother Parkers that makes every day enjoyable!”

  • Daud Khan
    Master Roaster

    With over 20 years of experience in the coffee industry, Daud is a licensed Q Grader certified by the Coffee Quality Institute and sits on the Science Leadership Council of the National Coffee Association, focusing on monitoring and interpreting the science of coffee.

    As Master Roaster, Daud combines the art and science of coffee roasting, focused on optimizing sourcing, roasting, product development, quality, training & education of all things coffee. Beyond the experience Daud brings, his genuine passion for the coffee industry and our customers is evident in everything he does.

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  • Sheeja Kannan
  • Miken Modi
  • Sukhvir Pannu
  • Mike Rosa
  • Crystal Ovenden
  • Kristina McGee
  • Katie Walters
  • Roy Dhritiman
  • Michelle Sutton
  • James Morgan
  • Tim Normand
  • Stephen Leung
  • Tammy Baran
  • Danielle Barran
    President & Chief Executive Officer
  • Kim Cunningham
    Chief Commercial Officer
  • Susan McInnis
    Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Shared Services
  • Jennifer Park
    Chief Operations Officer
  • Heather Saranpaa
    Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary
  • Bree Ranieri
    Chief Human Resources Officer

NEWS AND EVENTS

A MESSAGE FROM THE HIGGINS FAMILY

Through four generations of our family, the commitment to customer satisfaction and success has guided every decision at Mother Parkers. The success of our customers is our measure of success and we take pride in ensuring that every beverage we manufacture is good for our customers and consumers.

There’s been tremendous change in the world since our family’s company was first established as a wholesale grocery distributor in 1912. Through all of that change, Mother Parkers has evolved, seizing new opportunities and adapting in order to supply new channels and offer new products to our customers. The company has experienced steady and consistent growth for many decades, but we’ve always remained nimble, efficient and responsive to the market and our customers.

Today, the next generation of the Higgins family is immersed in the business and learning everything there is to know about coffee and tea. They are part of our Mother Parkers team, a team that is at the forefront of product quality and innovation; a team that works with partners around the world to uncover new blends and brewing processes in the continuous pursuit of the perfect beverage, every time.

We look at our family’s business from the field to the cup and everything in between, because each step contributes to a better beverage experience. We hope that experience is one that keeps you coming back to Mother Parkers.

Michael Higgins Co-Chairman
Michael Higgins
Co-Chairman
Paul Higgins Jr. Co-Chairman
Paul Higgins Jr.
Co-Chairman

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