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| Sunday, 8 February 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Empowerment of estate managers pays dividends to bpl The new management structure at the estates managed by the Bogawantalawa Plantations Ltd (BPL) has already paid rich dividends in product quality, customer satisfaction, increased tea prices and enhanced employee morale. Under this new management structure, all estate managers were empowered to be more accountable and responsible in managing estates focusing on the entire value chain from growing to marketing of value added Bogawantalawa tea. Bogawantalawa Valley (literally meaning the valley of the saints) often called by tea connoisseurs as the golden Valley for Ceylon tea is the prized region for supreme quality tea. It is blessed with various microclimatic conditions, which contributes immensely in producing some of the unique and rare blend of flavours. Estate managers could now devote more time and resources to harness these unique attributes, which is fundamental in successfully marketing value added tea internationally. Eleven (11) out of fourteen (14) estates of BPL are in the up-country and the remaining three (3) are situated in the Deraniyagala District, known to produce one of the top low-grown teas in the country. Under the new system, all 14 estates of BPL are now managed as separate entities and estate managers are directly liaising with the Operational and Marketing team in Colombo. Sarath Fernando, Chief Executive Officer, BP L said, "The new system has narrowed the gap between the Colombo top management and managerial level at Estate level with delegation of power. With this, Estate Managers can pay personal attention to total product quality as perceived by the end customers in the global market place, which is the single most important aspect in the whole industry". In addition, the company expects to resolve problems at the grass roots level, which is healthy for the industry". Another advantage is more career opportunities for junior estate executives. The new structure enables them to acquire wider managerial experience, which comes with added responsibilities. BPL has already developed and promoted the concept of single estate tea, where tea harvested from one estate would be processed and marketed without any form of blending. Due to its mysterious microclimatic conditions, Bogawantalawa estates' teas have its unique flavours with a pungent aroma and a briskness and liveliness that is unparalleled. With the new management approach, estate managers are now in a position to further enhance these unique characters inherited to individual Garden Marks. Hence, more value addition to each garden mark. Explaining further their winning strategies, Director, Strategic Planning & Marketing, Bogawantalawa says that all estate managers now work closely with BPL marketing team and a number of brainstorming sessions have already been held. This is to bring manufacturing and marketing together. The outcome is a better synchronization of marketing and product strategies. |
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