Ahmad Tea was presented with the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development by HRH Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh, recognising the company’s four-decade commitment to charity work and sustainability.
The family-owned company, active in more than 90 international markets, supports worldwide initiatives such as providing clean water in Niger with Oxfam and building a cancer hospital in Sri Lanka.
At Ahmad Tea headquarters on 13 November, His Royal Highness – together with His Majesty The King’s representative, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire – celebrated Ahmad Tea’s contributions to sustainable development.
Ahmad Tea Head of Sustainability Zahra Afshar said: “Making a positive impact is at the heart of what we do, so being recognised like this feels amazing.
“We work hard to make a difference in every community where we source, pack and sell our tea, and we’re so grateful to everyone in our supply chain for their support.
“This award is really for our team and partners who work tirelessly to make our projects happen. None of this would be possible without their passion and commitment to making a real difference.”
HRH Prince Edward, the youngest brother of King Charles III, was presented with a custom ‘Royal Ceylon’ tea blend created for the occasion.
Ahmad Tea is one of 29 companies across the UK to be recognised with a King’s Award for Sustainability this year. The company has been dedicated to supporting charitable causes, notably donating up to 20% of its profits to a range of local and global initiatives.
It supports the Southampton General Hospital, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Macmillan Cancer Support in the UK. Ahmad Tea also funds nutrition and health programmes for women in tea-growing regions in Assam (India) and Kenya.
The company is also an active member of the Ethical Tea Partnership and continues to support and co-fund charitable projects with its international partners. ✈
Ahmad Tea Director Dr Ali Afshar, in a recent conversation with The Moodie Davitt Report Associate Editor Colleen Morgan, delved into the company’s commitment to sustainability and charitable projects. Click here to read the full interview.
