|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 20 June 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Business |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Crompton bags Sri Lankan tea-bag market by Elmo Leonard J R Crompton Manchester, UK considers Sri Lanka its main Asia market for tea- bag paper; Crompton holds 58 percent of local tea bag paper market share. Crompton claims that with 42-45 percent of global marketshare, it is the world leader in supplies of hot beverage paper. Bentota was last week the venue for Crompton, Asian regional conference for long fibre paper, used in the beverage industry and attended by buyers from India, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia, most of whom are tea producer nations. Among Crompton's local customers are the MJF group, Akbar Bros, Jafferjees, Stassen, etc. "Tea-bagging adds value to tea exports" chairman and CEO of Crompton said, stating the obvious. But, being revealed, is that Crompton are introducing to the world, other types of tea bagging paper, which would enable the packer obtain further added value. Tea bag paper could be printed with the brand name of the tea on it, packs, or, it could be embossed printed. Some types of printing would make the print transparent when boiling water is added and the consumer could see the tea inside the bag. The types of paper used for packing beverages are many. Basically, the fibres have to be long, and Crompton claims it produces the longest fibres to give best results. There is heat seal paper and non-heat seal types, and those which will not split, if boiled indefinitely. Paper used in coffee-bagging has to keep air out; coffee being oxidised easily, Crompton Asian regional manager, Chris Walshe said. Crompton is introducing coloured tea bags for the first time. Lemon tea could be in yellow tea bags, or green, as the buyer prefers. Strawberry flavoured tea could be packed in red tea bags, and the like. There is tea paper for green tea, herbal teas and tea bags in pyramid shapes, to present a grater surface area to water, and the value-adding game goes on. It was Ashby, who in five-and-a half-years doubled Crompton business, from third place in the world market, to No 1. Crompton has two worthy competitors, in Germany and USA. Crompton won the 2003, Most Innovative Company in the Manchester Business Awards. The company has ploughed its profits into the business, swallowing up other tea bagging industries in the UK, and with its latest buy, can increase its capacity by 30 percent, Ashby said. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
