A Brand Beyond Tea.
A truly family run business - Akbar Brothers (Pvt) Ltd is internationally renowned as one of Sri Lanka's foremost exporters of high-quality Ceylon Tea. In addition to its vast tea enterprise, the company has successfully diversified into a range of other industries through strategic reinvention and expansion.
With structured diversification and planning the group is now involved in Tea, Sustainable power generation, Healthcare, Packaging, Property Development and Environmental services – all of which are operated in accordance with a quality of products and services standard and ethical and responsible treatment of all stakeholders.
With an eye to the future and focused on moving further into sustainable solutions, the group credits its growth and success to its commitment to integrity and its dedication to providing the best products and services to business partners and clientele worldwide.
Shaikh Hebtulabhoy migrated from India to Sri Lanka, establishing a food import/export company. He was the first ancestor of the Akbarallys in Ceylon.
After the great blight destroyed the Ceylon coffee industry, planters switched to tea. Shaikh Hebtulabhoy and his sons began trading in tea, which had rapidly become the islands leading export.
Tyeabally Shaikh Hebtulabhoy established the tea company, M. S. Hebtulabhoy & Company Limited. Hebtulabhoy & Co began shipping tea overseas.
Akbar Brothers (Pvt) Limited was formed.
Shaikh Akbarally Tyeabally, father of the three founding directors, joined Akbar Brothers.
Systematic diversification begins into Tourism and Warehousing. The Welisara purchasing complex commences operations.
Quick Tea (PVT) Ltd was formed to undertake the processing and export of tea bags.
Falcon Trading is established. Akbar Brothers Exports established to handle the group’s exports of packeted tea.
Akbar Brothers becomes Sri Lanka's largest tea exporter; exporting over 21 million kilograms of tea. Tea House was established to market specialty tea packs. Wattala warehousing complex was set up.
Kelaniya Warehousing Complex established.
Akbar Brothers remains Sri Lanka's largest tea exporter, achieves volume of over 31 million kilograms for the first time - an all time national record.
Akbar Brothers Chairman, Mr. Abbas Akbarally, celebrates 50 years in the tea trade. Group receives five awards from the National Chamber of Exporters including “The best Sri Lankan Brand” for ALGHAZALEEN tea.
Akbar Brothers celebrates its tenth consecutive year as Sri Lanka's largest exporter of tea, shipping a value of 38.5 million kilos.
Group diversifies into hydro power with acquisition of Situgala hydro power plant.
First vehicle emissions tests in Sri Lanka performed by group subsidiary, Drivegreen.
Akbar Brothers receives Presidential Export Award for the 32nd time.
Akbar Brothers diversifies further into the renewable energy sector through joint ventures in wind power with Segavintivu, & Vidatmunai Wind Power (Pvt) Ltd.
Lina Manufacturing, an Akbar Brothers subsidiary in the pharmaceuticals manufacturer sector acquires the Lina Research lab, set up in collaboration with the University of Sri Jayawardenepura.
Akbar Group invests in sustainable aquaculture with Oceanpick (PVT) Ltd.
The Group purchases Flinth Commercial Park. After more than thirty years of expansion and diversification.
Award for Best Sri Lankan Brand Exporter by the EDB - Presidential Export Awards.
Award for Best Sri Lankan Export Brand by the EDB - Presidential Export Awards.
Award for Highest Foreign Exchange - Tea Sector by the EDB - Presidential Export Awards.
Award for Best Sri Lankan Export Brand by the EDB - Presidential Export Awards
Quick tea was certified as the first Carbon-Inset ® Company in Asia in 2019 by The Sustainable Future Group (SFG).
Akbar Brothers celebrated its 50th Anniversary in grandeur and rewarded their employees for their years of service.
Akbar Brothers won the 35th Presidential Awards for "Best Exporter - Tea sector", "Most Globally Outreached Sri Lankan Brand" and "Sri Lankan Export Brand"
Akbar Brothers was the 1st Tea company in the world to be awarded ‘Covid-19 Control Environment’ Certification by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution( SLSI).