Dilmah’s Three Innovations Selected for SIAL Paris 2026 as Company Named a Top Five SIAL For Change Finalist
AI-generated illustration for this article. No authentic product or event photograph has been embedded.
Ahead of SIAL Paris 2026, Sri Lankan tea company Dilmah has received two forms of recognition: three of its innovations have been named to the SIAL Innovation Paris 2026 Selection, and the company has been confirmed as one of five global finalists in the Large Companies category of SIAL For Change.
The selections and finalist status were announced on 14 October, before the international food industry event opens at Paris Nord Villepinte from 17 to 21 October. The awards have not yet been announced: winners of both competitions are scheduled to be revealed at SIAL’s official ceremonies on 17 and 18 October.
For Sri Lankan readers at home and abroad who follow the country’s food and beverage industry, the announcement places Ceylon tea innovation and sustainability among the subjects being considered on a significant international platform. It is a recognition, not a win, and the results remain to be seen.
Three innovations selected
The three selected innovations span sparkling tea, a non-alcoholic sparkling tea range and tea packaging. The categories in which they have been recognised are different, reflecting the varied nature of the products and their innovations.
- Dilmah Sparkling Iced Tea Collection, selected in the Consumer Goods category.
- Elevrie Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Tea Collection in White, Red and Rosé, also selected in the Consumer Goods category.
- Windsor Forest Luxury Tea and Herb Collection, selected in the Equipment & Technology category for its home-compostable cotton tea bag.
The SIAL Innovation selection is awarded by an independent jury of international food industry experts, who assess originality, technical innovation and sustainability impact. Products selected for the programme are showcased in a dedicated SIAL Innovation Area during the event.
AI-generated illustration of a tea-inspired product display at an international exhibition; it does not depict the SIAL venue or Dilmah products.
The selection brings different aspects of product development into view. The sparkling tea collections represent tea in a contemporary beverage format, while the Windsor Forest recognition draws attention to a packaging component: its home-compostable cotton tea bag. As the selections are based on a jury’s evaluation, the announcement reflects the criteria and decisions of the SIAL Innovation programme, rather than an award result.
Sustainability and social responsibility finalist
Separately, Dilmah has been named one of five finalists worldwide in the Large Companies category of SIAL For Change, a new 2026 competition recognising sustainability and social responsibility across the agri-food industry.
The competition received 226 entries worldwide. Following an assessment that narrowed the entries to 122 eligible applications, five large companies and 15 small and medium-sized enterprises were selected as finalists. Dilmah’s place among the five large-company finalists therefore represents finalist status in a competitive international field; the final outcome is still pending.
According to the company’s announcement, the recognition reflects the model behind the MJF Charitable Foundation, established in 2002, and Dilmah Conservation, established in 2007. The company states that 15 per cent of its pre-tax profit is channelled into community welfare and environmental protection through this model.
AI-generated illustration connecting Ceylon tea with environmental care. It does not show a specific Dilmah plantation or product.
The two organisations provide a social and environmental context for the finalist recognition. Their work, as described in the announcement, links business activity with community welfare and conservation. SIAL For Change’s emphasis on sustainability and social responsibility makes that model relevant to the competition’s stated purpose, while the finalist designation does not by itself imply that the company has won.
A philosophy linked to Ceylon tea
Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman of Dilmah, said: “This recognition from SIAL, one of the world’s most respected food and sustainability platforms, reflects a philosophy my father built more than four decades ago, that genuine innovation and genuine sustainability are the same pursuit, and that a business should exist to serve people and protect nature, not merely to profit from them. Being named among just five large companies worldwide, out of 226 entries, alongside the selection of three of our products for their innovation, is recognition of that pursuit across every part of our business.”
The statement connects the company’s SIAL recognition to a business philosophy formed over decades. For Sri Lanka, where Ceylon tea is an established part of the country’s international identity, recognition of tea-based products and a sustainability model at a global food event contributes to the visibility of local industry and enterprise.
The implications should be understood carefully. The selections and finalist listing offer a platform for the products and the company’s approach to be presented at SIAL; they do not, on their own, quantify export growth or determine future commercial performance. Nevertheless, international recognition of product design and sustainability can help strengthen the profile of Sri Lankan businesses operating in competitive global markets.
AI-generated illustration of tea and compostable packaging; it is not an authentic product photograph.
Recognition ahead of the results
SIAL Paris 2026 runs from 17 to 21 October at Paris Nord Villepinte. The official award ceremonies for the two competitions are scheduled for 17 and 18 October, when winners are due to be announced. Until then, Dilmah’s three products remain selections in the SIAL Innovation programme, and the company remains a finalist in SIAL For Change’s Large Companies category.
eLanka has previously published coverage related to Ceylon tea and Dilmah; this article focuses specifically on the company’s SIAL Innovation selections and SIAL For Change finalist status. Together, the two recognitions provide a timely snapshot of Sri Lankan food and beverage innovation being considered at an international event, while the final awards remain ahead.
Sources
- Source: PR Newswire
- Source: Dilmah Family newsroom
- Source: Daily FT
This article was written based on the sources above: PR Newswire, Dilmah Family newsroom and Daily FT, kindly email us at info@eLanka.com.au if any information needs to be corrected.
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