Operations
Traceability
Now consumers are looking beyond the cup before making decisions. Double B founder Anna Tsfasman explains: “Everything becomes important. Where and how it was grown to the way in which it was processed. Is it still fresh or an outdated crop? Was it stored according to professional recommendations or just the way one considered convenient? Finally, how was it brewed? Was the temperature and time in harmony with the tea? Was the water-tea ratio accurate? Was the cup suitable? To make all of these things perfect takes a lot of effort, but it is worth it, for sure.”
Cost
A major challenge facing the tea industry is adapting to climate change and irregular rainfall patterns. Jafferjee Brothers director Mufaddal Jafferjee elaborated: “Three of the major black tea producers — Sri Lanka, Kenya and India — have experienced unusually dry weather in the past two years which resulted in a sizeable crop shortages and resultant price escalations. Such events have made it challenging for premium brands to secure consistent quality and control tea costs.”
Sustainability
Bearing the “Made in UAE” label, Unilever’s Lipton Jebel Ali factory is now counted amongst the top tier manufacturing plants in the world and has established the UAE at the forefront of its journey towards sustainable economic growth. The LJA factory is currently the largest tea manufacturing facility in Unilever producing more than 50 million tea cups per day and nearly 20 billion tea cups a year, while exporting to 63 countries including Eastern Europe and Canada, from the UAE.
“Our commitment to sustainability and manufacturing excellence enables us to make tangible contributions towards the UAE Vision 2021 and the next stage in the roadmap as laid out by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Achieving WCM certification places the Lipton Jebel Ali factory in the league of premiere manufacturing facilities in the world and demonstrates our commitment to being at the forefront of sustainable solutions, excellence in manufacturing and innovative technology,” said Unilever MENA, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus executive vice president Sanjiv Kakkar.
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