Hampshire tea company recognised for sustainability by Duke of Edinburgh
Ahmad Tea, in Chandler's Ford, is one of 29 organisations to be recognised with the honour this year
The Duke of Edinburgh has presented a Hampshire tea company with the King's Award in Sustainable Development for its work helping to improve lives of people around the world.
Ahmad Tea, based in Chandler's Ford, is one of 29 organisations around the country to be recognised with the honour in 2024.
During his visit to the company's headquarters, Prince Edward, who was accompanied by Countess Mountbatten of Burma and the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, was presented with a box of tea called Royal Ceylon which had been blended especially for the King.
The British family-owned company which supplies teas to 65 countries worldwide, was presented with the award in recognition of its sustainability projects, philanthropic initiatives and ethical practices.
A spokeswoman for the firm said that it donates up to 20% of its profits to local and global initiatives ranging from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to funding a cancer hospital in Sri Lanka as well as health programmes for women in tea-growing regions of Assam and Kenya.
The company is also a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership and has worked with Oxfam to provide clean water to rural communities in Niger, a country heavily affected by drought and climate change.
Zahra Afshar, head of sustainability for Ahmad Tea, said: "Making a positive impact is at the heart of what we do, so being recognised like this feels amazing.
"We work hard to make a difference in every community where we source, pack and sell our tea, and we're so grateful to everyone in our supply chain for their support.
"This award is really for our team and our partners who work tirelessly to make our projects happen. None of this would be possible without their passion and commitment to making a real difference."