Chronicle of the tea trading company Dethlefsen & Balk GmbH, Hamburg

Tea culture since 1836...

1836 Gustav C.H.J. Bal(c)k founds the company in the historical centre of Hamburg to import “miscellaneous spices and tea”. A retail store for Tea and Spices opens in the Admiralitätsstraße 39.

1846 The business concentrates on tea imports from China

1870 The enterprise is handed over to Gustav Balk and Amandus Dethlefsen enters the company. Enrolment into the Commercial Register under the name Dethlefsen & Balk „Theehandlung en gros“

1878 First stock exchange spot at “Pfeiler 14”

1892 Relocation to the “Hamburger Speicherstadt”, Holländischer Brook 22

1893 Amandus Dethlefsen retires. The company is handed over to Heinrich R.G. Balk

1904 Member of the „Versammlung eines Ehrbaren Kaufmanns zu Hamburg e.V“ (Assembly of respectable merchants in Hamburg)

1950 Trade relations undergo a restructuring process under Curt Schmoller after difficult years of war. The new address of the company: Sandtorkai 2/3 in the Hamburger Speicherstadt

1970 The enterprise becomes a limited liabilities company

1975 Expansion of the product range to include flavoured teas and trading with tea accessories begins

1978 Relocation to Wandalenweg 26 with a larger warehouse for the accessories

1986 150 years D&B – the company specialises in the delivery of tea and accessories to specialty
teashops. The first catalogue with standardised tea and accessories appears

1998 Jens Meier and Marcus Clausen take over the post of managing directors

1999 Introduction of a modern EDP merchandise information system

2000 Hamburg, the “gateway to the world” – the company’s internationalisation

2002 Expansion and relocation to Hermann-Wüsthof-Ring in Hamburg

2003 Market leader for tea accessories

2004 Digitisation: D&B goes online. The first B2B Web shop is installed and a subsidiary is founded in the USA. The product range is further enriched by exclusive confectionery items and Premium coffee from the in-house roastery

2006 Modernisation of the EDP storage system by making use of a „Pick-by-Voice“ solution and rental of larger warehouse premises

2008 Modernisation of the tea production facility

2010 Expansion of the coffee roastery to two roasting plants

2012 D&B employs over 100 people for the first time in its history

2016 Modernisation of the tea and coffee production facilities, extension of the delivery warehouse and the administrative offices

The tea trading company Dethlefsen & Balk Inc., Chicago, Illinois

past and present...

2004 - Dethlefsen & Balk Inc. - a subsidiary of the traditional Tea Wholesaler from Hamburg, Germany, is founded in the USA

Dethlefsen & Balk Inc. started its business in 2004 in Aurora, IL, USA as the American branch of Dethlefsen & Balk GmbH, established 1836 in the port city of Hamburg, Germany.

2020 - Dethlefsen & Balk Inc. - Headquarter moves to Chicago

On March 2, 2020, Dethlefsen & Balk, Inc. started operating business from our new office in downtown Chicago. The warehouse and logistical operations are maintained in Aurora. This is an exciting new chapter in D&B history, and we anticipate a bright future in one of America’s finest cities. Come join us for a cup of tea in the Windy City!

nowadays - Dethlefsen & Balk Inc. - our success story

"Today Dethlefsen & Balk is recognized not only as one of the leading specialty tea companies in Germany, but also enjoys a great reputation throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia and around the globe. In short, we are an importer, blender and wholesaler of outstanding specialty teas and accessories. We service retailers like tea specialty stores, tearooms, coffee chains, health food stores, fine food retailers, gift service companies and other specialty tea distributors. The secret of our success is truly understanding your needs, providing a highly professional team that values your business and always delivers exclusive, high quality products. In our US warehouse we stock over 300 tea varieties and more than 400 accessories for our customers. We look forward to working with you and celebrating our mutual success!”

Silvia Rettore
(President)