In 2003 Axel & Sophie Steenberg had the vision to create Steenbergs, a sustainable spice company committed to the environment, people and the planet. 20 years on, having pioneered the UK’s first Fairtrade spices and added organic teas and baking extracts to their portfolio, they are now a carbon neutral, plastic free, B-Corp business with a continued dedication to ‘saving the planet one meal at a time’.
“Although we had thought long and hard about opening a herb and spice business,” says Sophie, “our key core ethos of organic and Fairtrade didn't even get a mention in discussions. It was just agreed and assumed by us both that that's what we were going to do.”
Further significant achievements include the establishment of 2 factories (one for tea and one for spices) in North Yorkshire with green sedum roofs, solar power and rainwater harvesting; the purchase of Old Hamlet Wine & Spice company in 2017 and accreditations and certifications for organic, Kosher and vegan products.
The past 20 years have also seen a huge amount of change for the Steenbergs. “Politically and economically the world has thrown a lot at us,” comments Axel, “a financial crisis in 2009, Brexit, covid and lockdowns, a King, and more conflicts around the world than we'd like to think about and mention. On a personal level our two very small children have grown up and (mostly) left home.”
The one constant has been Axel & Sophie’s dedication to improving the environment and they have recently bought a 50-acre wood in Wales which will sequester over 18,000 tonnes of carbon. With 35,000 new trees planted, to grow, develop and make space for nature alongside the 20,000 established trees, they are now marking their 20th anniversary with the planting of 20 more native trees, firmly rooting themselves in the natural landscape and sowing the seeds for the next generation.