- GTTA turns 50, charts modernisation roadmap for Gujarat’s tea-trading ecosystem
- 600-plus active members across packaging, wholesale, retail and commission agency sectors
- Industry leaders call for premium teas, innovation and stronger consumer connect
- Association seeks to prepare younger generation for challenges of global tea trade
- Four Vice-Presidents, four Joint Secretaries appointed to strengthen regional representation
NE BUSINESS BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, OCT 5
From a five-decade-old trade association to a platform seeking to reshape Gujarat’s tea business for the next generation, the Gujarat Tea Traders Association (GTTA) is brewing an ambitious new chapter — with quality, premiumisation, innovation, technology and stronger market connectivity emerging as the key ingredients for growth.
The association marked its 50th Golden Jubilee with a grand celebration and Annual General Meeting at Salabatpura in Surat, bringing together tea traders, entrepreneurs, wholesalers, retailers, packers, commission agents and industry representatives to review the sector’s journey and chart its future.
The milestone marks the completion of 50 years of GTTA’s organisational journey from 1976 to 2026, with the association now representing the interests of more than 600 active members connected with packaging, wholesale, retail and commission agency activities.
The celebrations also brought together prominent figures from the national tea industry, including Prabhat Bezboruah, former Chairman, Tea Board of India and Tea Research Association (TRA); Paras Desai, Chairman, Federation of All India Tea Traders Associations (FAITTA); and Sanjay Chaudhary, Vice-President, J. Thomas & Co. Representatives from major tea-producing regions, including Kolkata, Assam and South India, also participated.
The Golden Jubilee event received the presence and blessings of Acharya Rakeshprasadji Maharajshri, Peethadhipati, Shri Lakshminarayan Dev Gadi, Vadtal.
From legacy to the next generation
In his opening address, GTTA President Manish Patel traced the association’s 50-year journey and highlighted its evolution into a strong trade organisation representing the interests of more than 600 active members.
Patel called for collective efforts to take Gujarat’s tea-trading community to the next level, drawing inspiration from the principles of Mahatma Gandhi. He also underlined the importance of mentoring the younger generation and equipping young entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and tackle the challenges of global trade.
The message assumes particular significance at a time when consumer preferences, product innovation and changing market dynamics are reshaping the tea business.
Quality, premiumisation become the new brew
Association Secretary Ratnalaal Sharma outlined the need to make Gujarat’s tea-trading industry stronger, modern and more organised.
He stressed the importance of continuous improvement in tea quality, introduction of premium varieties to expand demand and development of modern flavours and innovative products capable of attracting a new generation of consumers.
The emphasis signals a move beyond conventional trading towards greater value addition, differentiated products and a sharper understanding of changing consumer preferences.
Industry looks beyond the next cup of tea
The Golden Jubilee deliberations also focused on the long-term modernisation of the tea industry and the future direction of the market.
Industry leaders and experts discussed key issues concerning the sustained and long-term development of the sector, with the association stressing the importance of adapting to emerging market realities while strengthening the foundations of Gujarat’s tea-trading ecosystem.
For the state’s tea-trading community, the Golden Jubilee thus became more than a celebration of the past — it emerged as a platform to identify opportunities, address challenges and prepare the industry for the next phase of growth.
GTTA strengthens its organisational architecture
The association also moved to strengthen its organisational framework with an emphasis on balanced representation and effective regional administration across Gujarat.
Under the leadership of Manish Patel, President, and Ratnalaal Sharma, Honorary Secretary, four Vice-Presidents and four Joint Secretaries have been appointed to ensure appropriate representation of different regions of Gujarat.
Chandrakant Prajapati, Vice-President, has additionally been entrusted with responsibility for social-media-related activities.
The 50th Golden Jubilee celebration at Salabatpura, Surat, therefore marked a significant milestone for GTTA — combining a celebration of its five-decade legacy with a forward-looking agenda centred on modernisation, quality, premiumisation, innovation, youth mentoring and stronger regional representation.