Mlesna to venture into new markets

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Workers busy at Mlesna factory

Mlesna Tea will enter new markets with speciality gift tea boxes manufactured by the company. All these boxes are top end fancy items which could be retained as ornaments after using the tea inside.

Mlesna Ceylon Managing Director Anselm Perera said that the markets in Italy and Europe have improved a lot and there is a new trend for tea bags of different flavours and kinds. Despite the crisis period the overall exports of Mlesna Tea performed well. Meanwhile, most of the local outlets including the recently opened outlet at Kandy City Centre has done well with the increase of tourist arrivals.

However, St Claire's in Talawakele has done well but expected to be 100 percent better once the road development work between Hatton and Nuwara Eliya is completed. The company will participate at the ISM Fair which will be held in Germany early next year. ISM Fair is known for 50 percent confectionary and 50 percent tea. Perera said the overall tea industry in the country is doing well, mainly the private sector, but the plantation companies faced difficulties due to trade unions demanding higher wages without delivering the expected productivity levels.