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On this episode of Worldchefs’ webcast series Sustainability Around the World, Feed the Planet’s Chris Koetke talks with Dilhan C. Fernando, CEO of Dilmah Tea on his family company’s principle – Business as a matter of human service.
Mirroring his father’s devotion to tea, Dilhan’s commitment was to resist the commoditization that devastated a tea industry that was previously characterized by small, and passionate family enterprises. The Fernando family sought to bring quality and authenticity back to tea, and secondly, whilst doing so, to share the success of that business with the underprivileged.
The MJF Charitable Foundation www.mjffoundation.org and Dilmah Conservation www.dilmahconservation.org utilise revenue from the global sales of Dilmah in implementing humanitarian and conservation projects in Sri Lanka. The MJF Foundation is one of the largest charitable foundations in Sri Lanka and has changed the lives of thousands of underprivileged people, working in the tea sector and in the wider community. Dilmah Conservation operates on a similar principle, using revenue from Dilmah to implement conservation, environmental education, habitat restoration projects and promote sustainability.
Discover how Dilhan and his team at Dilmah Tea use their success to support the local community and the planet.
About the Guest
Dilhan C. Fernando is the CEO of Dilmah Tea, Director of Dilmah School of Tea, Chairman of the Biodiversity Sri Lanka Platform and United Nations Global Compact in Sri Lanka. He is described by Herve Fleury, Director of the Institute Paul Bocuse as, “a man who is passionate, totally supple in his expertise, simple and delicate in his approach and his words. In the very image of tea.”
