Ahmad Tea Handed the King’s Award for Sustainable Development by HRH Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh
Royal visit as Ahmad Tea is handed the King’s Award for Sustainable Development by HRH Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh presents the King’s Award to Ahmad Tea Head of Sustainability Zahra Afshar.
Ahmad Tea, the UK international tea company, has been formally presented with its King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development by HRH Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh – recognising the company’s nearly four-decade commitment to charity work and sustainable impact.
The family-owned company with a presence in over 90 international markets, has supported charitable initiatives around the world—from providing clean water access in Niger in partnership with Oxfam to building a cancer hospital in Sri Lanka.
At a special event at Ahmad Tea’s headquarters, His Royal Highness, together with His Majesty The King’s representative, the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, celebrated Ahmad Tea’s exceptional contributions to sustainable development and its ongoing commitment to improving the lives of communities around the world.
Ahmad Tea’s 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 our 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, who is the youngest brother of King Charles III, was himself presented with a custom ‘Royal Ceylon’ tea blend created specifically for the occasion, underscoring Ahmad Tea’s dedication to heritage and quality.
Ebraham Afshar & Tracey Wakelin from Ahmad Tea presented HRH The Duke of Edinburgh with ‘Royal Ceylon’, blended especially for HM The King.
As one of only 29 companies across the UK to be recognised with a King’s Award for Sustainability in 2024, Ahmad Tea has been dedicated to supporting charitable causes, frequently donating up to 20% of its profits to a range of local and global initiatives.
From supporting UK causes like Southampton General Hospital, Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, and Macmillan Cancer Support in the UK to funding nutrition and health programmes for women in tea-growing regions Assam and Kenya, Ahmad Tea has shown a strong commitment to making a positive difference.
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, extending the reach of its philanthropy even further.
Ahmad Tea is a renowned British tea brand known for its high-quality tea blends. Established in 1986, the company has gained global recognition for its extensive range of teas that cater to different tastes. It is one of the UK’s largest tea producers, and one of the world’s largest independent tea companies. Its unequivocal commitment to quality, innovation, sustainability and charitable giving has been instrumental to its success.
Ahmad Tea is an independent, family-owned and run business based in Hampshire. It is predominantly an export business and last year it exported more than 65 countries.
One of Ahmad Tea’s core values is humanity and sharing the fruits of its success with those in need.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, were renamed last year to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses. The Award programme, now in its 58th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.
