Sri Lanka’s Island Tea opens its first branch at home

Oct 24, 2019Updated Jun 4, 20251 min read

Sri Lankan retail tea chain Island Tea has opened for the first time in its home territory with its first branch in Ella.

The Ceylanka Trading-owned chain has blossomed in the Philippines over the past two years with more than 35 branches selling specialty Ceylon teas and fusion blends. The brand offers a range of popular drinks, including a variety of milk teas as well as fruit teas & green teas.

Following the signing of franchise agreements in Columbo between ITC’s marketing director for the Philippines, India and Qatar Minodh de Sylva and Wild Holidays Limited chairman Vijith Welikala, the brand plans to expand in key Sri Lankan cities with an offering that is distinct from other local tea houses.

As well as Sri Lanka, the firm also plans to further expand in the Philippines, India and Qatar this year.

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Mei Ling Tan

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Mei Ling Tan is the Editor of Retail News Asia, where she leads the editorial team in delivering in-depth coverage of Asia’s dynamic retail landscape. With over a decade of experience in business journalism, Mei Ling is known for her sharp analysis, deep industry insights, and commitment to uncovering the stories behind Asia’s most innovative retail brands. Before joining Retail News Asia, Mei Ling held senior reporting roles at regional business publications, covering everything from consumer trends to digital transformation in retail. A graduate of the National University of Singapore with a degree in Communications and New Media, she combines journalistic integrity with a strong understanding of evolving market forces. Outside the newsroom, Mei Ling is a frequent speaker at industry panels and a mentor for young journalists.

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