TEA
Heladiv Teas marks twenty years
Tea has been considered a traditional beverage produced, exported and
consumed by people around the world. Tea takes pride of place as the
‘Green Gold’ of Sri Lanka, ranking among the top most export income
earners in the country.
The HVA Group was formed in 1990 as an offshore arm of the Dutch
Trading Company Hans Veering Amsterdam or the Trading Company of
Amsterdam and was established primarily to export tea from Sri Lanka.
Inside the Heladiv tea packing plant |
Although the company was keen to capitalize on its growth potential
while continuing with its traditional core operations in the tea
industry, there was one man who saw ‘Tea in a whole new dimension’.
He vehemently believed that tea was not a mere beverage but a symbol
of an upwardly mobile and dynamic lifestyle. He passionately believed
that the real business opportunity lay in this non-conventional thinking
and thus laid the foundation for the creation of the company’s flagship
brand and its unique aura.
Under the stewardship and hands-on operation of Rohan Fernando, the
veteran tea personality, the company began to take off - initially
focusing on consolidating its bulk business and shipping ‘pure Ceylon
tea’ to large tea drinking countries like the Middle East and CIS.
Although exporting to these traditional markets proved to be fruitful,
there was always a yearning to explore new ground. The birth of the
company’s flagship brand ‘Heladiv’ was the result of this lacuna and the
need for Fernando to drive his vision to deliver innovation in tea,
hitherto considered being a traditional beverage in Sri Lanka.
Heladiv - poetically spun from the word Heladiva (our land) with an
European phonetic lilt was expected to carve out its unique niche in the
world tea markets, as a premium quality brand of teas from the renowned
tea gardens of Sri Lanka.
This brand was expected to carry the goodness and richness of a
commodity deeply ingrained in tradition, culture and superior taste
quality. The response from the world markets was stupendous and Heladiv
began its journey as a truly global brand originating from Sri Lanka.
Over time, as markets grew so did the product portfolio. Each time,
adding on just that little something extra to the already endowed
collection of teas - comprising of flavoured teas, black teas, golden
and silver tips and of course the specialty gift packs.
The milestone achievement of the company was winning ‘The Exporter of
the Year Award’ in 1998 and being recognized for the great contribution
the brand was making to the industry and the nation.
The Heladiv team looked at this achievement as a realization of their
vision - now a fulfilled dream.
The cornerstone of the company’s success stemmed from the commitment
towards Research and Development. Establishing the industry’s first
standardized laboratory and development centre titled - The Heladiv
Concept Centre, newer and out-of-the-box innovations based on the raw
material tea and its by-products were created under the brand Heladiv
and patented for introduction into the global markets at an opportune
time.
Some of these inventions won both local and international recognition
for product novelty, packaging designs and new-age thinking.
Heladiv Ice Tea was launched into the local market as a pioneer
product in 2000 and has since made great strides not only in introducing
a new facet to traditional tea drinking but setting a new standard for
innovation in tea, in the industry.
A firm favourite with the young and old alike, Heladiv Ice Tea is
consumed as a lifestyle beverage for its health offering, energy
boosting promise and as the refreshing non-carbonated beverage option.
Registered in over 42 countries, Heladiv Teas took a new dimension when
the brand entered the Chinese market. With a strategic partnership,
Heladiv has now opened close to 10 exclusive tea boutiques cum parlours
in Beijing and the Fujian Province.
These high profile tea parlours under the ‘Infini-T’ banner, serve
the best quality tea from Sri Lanka and hope to expand its chain of
parlours to 100 by the end of 2011. Heladiv is the first and only tea
brand from Sri Lanka to have its branded chain of tea parlours in China,
the super power of Asia.
Reminiscing about the company’s 20 year’s journey, its founder
shareholder and Chairman Rohan Fernando said ‘HVA is built on a family
concept. Everyone is energized with a powerful spirit to work as one to
conquer the world.
Through the many triumphs and tribulations, this team has forged
strong bonds - bonds that form the bedrock of this company. We believe
in hard work and integrity.
These are the two most vital ingredients that have made us strong
today. As we celebrate a colossal milestone in the history of the
company, we renew our energies and set our course on the path of the
future - for there are many new challenges to face and with that there
will be many new successes to savour’.
As HVA and its valued brand celebrate 20 years of success and team
work, the company gears up for the new opportunities that await in the
near future. |