Hurricane Destroys Factory

A devastating storm has destroyed the Asheville Tea Company's factory in North Carolina, but the business has been kept alive by a Canadian friend, Alexandra Sangster, who owns Sarjesa in Calgary, Canada. The two companies had a prior agreement to support each other in case of an emergency, which was made when Jessie Dean and Alexandra Sangster met in the summer of 2024.

Asheville Tea Company, founded by Jessie Dean and her sister Melissa in 2016, was located near the Swannanoa River in North Carolina. However, the river rose more than 20ft above its normal level during Hurricane Helene in September 2024, completely washing away the factory building.

Despite the distance of more than 2,300 miles between the two companies, Sarjesa's factory in Calgary took over the production of Asheville Tea Company's tea products within a month of the hurricane. This ensured that the business could continue to operate, even in the face of such a significant setback.

The support from Sarjesa has been crucial for Asheville Tea Company, allowing it to continue supplying its customers with tea products. The two companies' prior agreement has proven to be a lifeline for Asheville Tea Company, and their partnership has helped to mitigate the impact of the storm.

## What happens next Asheville Tea Company will open a new facility in Asheville in the fall, finally transferring the manufacturing of its tea products back to North Carolina. This will mark a new chapter for the company, which has been able to survive and even thrive thanks to the support of its Canadian partner.

The story of Asheville Tea Company and Sarjesa is a testament to the power of business partnerships and the importance of having a support network in place. The two companies' agreement to support each other in case of an emergency has proven to be a wise decision, and their partnership will likely continue to be an important part of their businesses for years to come.