Merrill J. Fernando: Founder of Dilmah Tea Passes Away Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – August 2023 Merrill J. Fernando – the founder and former CEO of Sri Lanka’s largest and most global tea brand ‘Dilmah Tea’ – passed away on 20 July. The iconic businessperson was aged 93 at the time of his demise. Born in 1930 in Negombo, Fernando received his primary education from Maris Stella College and his secondary education from St. Joseph’s College in Colombo. In 1954, at a time when the island’s tea trade was still under the control of the British, Fernando began working as a tea assistant with Arthur Frederick Jones and his son Dennis Jones at AF Jones & Co. Fernando was amongst the first group of Ceylonese to be permitted to learn tea tasting. Four years later, Fernando was appointed the company’s Managing Director. However, in 1962, he ...
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Merrill Joseph Fernando: The ‘tea maker’ who left behind a remarkable legacy-by KKS Perera Drawing upon over decades of tea expertise Merrill J.Fernando, at the time of his passing away, was regarded as the most proficient tea maker globally. Source:Dailymirror Merrill’s greatest achievement lay in establishing a brand that not only overcame the exploitation of Sri Lanka’s tea industry, but also endeared it to tea enthusiasts globally Dilmah also extended its altruistic efforts to the environment through Dilmah Conservation Merrill Joseph Fernando, the visionary founder and CEO of Dilmah Tea, the world renowned Sri Lankan tea brand, passed away on July 20, 2023, at the age of 93. Born on May 6, 1930, in Negombo, Sri Lanka, he came from a modest background. Merrill’s initial ambition was to pursue a career in law, but he shifted his focus to the tea industry when he saw an opportunity as a tea ...
Dilmah Tea threatens to quit Australian supermarkets in cost dispute with major retailers Source:FT The Australian: One of the world’s biggest tea companies, Dilmah Tea, has threatened to pull its products from Australian supermarket shelves unless the major retail chains agree to pay more for its handcrafted brands of Ceylon teas and cease their demands for discounts. Leading Sri Lankan businessman and Dilmah Tea Chief Executive Dilhan Fernando, said the company had been losing money in Australia for more than a decade and its market share continued to fall as it refused to compromise its commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. Dilmah, Sri Lanka’s biggest global brand, is sold in over 100 different countries around the world and is among the top 10 tea brands globally. However Fernando revealed Dilmah would be prepared to pull out of mainstream retail and become a super-premium brand for sales just through hospitality venues ...
Apr 2, 2023
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Tagged COVID 19 pandemic, Dilhan Fernando, Dilmah Tea, tea leaves
Ceylon Tea named as Official Tea Supplier for Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Source:Dailymirror Ceylon Tea, widely considered by many as the finest in the world and with a rich history dating back more than a century and a half, has been named as the Official Tea Supplier for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The Sri Lanka Tea Board has officially engaged in an agreement with the Games’ organising committee to provide Ceylon Tea for the athletes, officials, ancillary providers and guests at the Birmingham 2022 Athlete Villages. To facilitate the arrangement, the leading suppliers of the Ceylon Tea brand to the global market – namely Dilmah Tea and English Tea Shop, have come forward to offer their finest blends to those involved in Birmingham 2022 throughout the Games. ...
Pirate Life and Dilmah partners to produce alcoholic beverages Photo Source: Dilmah Pressroom Pirate Life Brewing and Dilmah Tea will work work closely together to produce a series of alcoholic beverages for the Australian market. The ‘Tea and Biccies Brown Ale’, which is the combination of fresh beer and Sri Lankan Black Tea is a Australian-first collaboration. ...
Sep 29, 2020
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Tagged Dilhan C. Fernando, Dilmah Tea, Michael Cameron, Pirate Life
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Aussie Brewer Joins With Dilmah To Launch Tea-Infused Ale Source:B&T Magazine Two of Australia’s most beloved rituals have been combined in one ground-breaking beer thanks to Port Adelaide’s Pirate Life Brewing and family tea company Dilmah. The Australian-first collaboration has produced Tea and Biccies Brown Ale, combining the deliciousness of fresh beer with the refreshing taste and natural goodness of Sri Lankan black tea. ...
Sep 24, 2020
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Tagged Dilmah Tea, Merrill J Fernando, tea company Dilmah
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The grand old man of tea – Merrill J Fernando With two celebrations falling this month, turning 90 and marking 70 years in the tea trade, ‘Mr. Dilmah’, Merrill J. Fernando talks to Kumudini Hettiarachchi Ninety years old……..while those of his vintage have long left the boardroom, maybe 30 years before, the ‘brand’ of Dilmah Tea who is Merrill J. Fernando is in his office in the Peliyagoda complex before 8.30 in the morning. Source: Sunday Times The new coronavirus which has brought about a strict lockdown and curfew in Colombo has put paid to his daily work schedule. Nonetheless, he is on the job at home, looking closely at a new deal with a well-known company in Australia which usually promotes only its own brand but recently has been in negotiations with Dilmah to take up this brand as well. Conference calls are the order of the day with ...
May 26, 2020
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Tagged Dilhan Fernando, Dilmah, Dilmah Tea, Merrill J Fernando, MJF Centre, Sithijaya Centre
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