June 21, 2014 (LBT) – For the first time a Sri Lankan, Joseph Sinniah, Director, of Akbar Brothers was conferred with the award by the prestigious French International magazine, “THE MAGAZINE”

Some of the criteria for the selection of the award are; Promoting and creating quality tea, track record of tea blenders who understand world tea from plantations to factories, and blending tea to consumers’ taste, contribution of the tea blender to the tea community and reputation and integrity.

This award is presented only once in 10 years. With the previous winner Williamson &Magor tea blenders (Malcolm Ferris Lay and his team-it was in 2004).

Joseph Sinniah joined Akbar Brothers from its inception 45 years ago. He says, he owes his success to his chairmen, Abbas Akbarally, under whom he learnt the alphabet of tea.

Akbar Brothers are the No.1 exporters of tea for the past 23 years. In 2013,the company exported 50 million kgs resulting in over the 32 billion in foreign exchange inflow into the country.74% of the exports was in value added consumer packs, in the form of tea bags and tea packets. It is pleasing to note that 22 million kgs of tea were in consumer packs marketed under the company Sri Lankan owned brands.

Joseph Sinniah is an old boy of St.Peters’ College, Colombo