Beverage Division
The division consists of a tea blending and packaging plant, as well as a distribution warehouse in Mutare. Packed tea from this factory is sold and distributed through distribution depots in Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, and Mutare. Depots handle product in a first in first out method. Packed tea is also exported into various regional markets. Major company brands include, Tanganda, Stella, Silver, Joko, Tanganda Special Blend, Tanganda Tips, Fresh Leaves, Tanganda Healthi Green, Nella Rooibos bags and Natra Fresh Rooibos (leaf and bags), and High Country Coffee.
Just over 20% of the tea that is manufactured at the estates is brought to the factory for packing into the various brands. We pack the tea in 3 formats these being loose leaf tea, tagless tea bags, and tagged tea bags.
On the loose leaf brands, we pack Tanganda Tea, Tips Tea, Stella Tea, Fresh Leaves Tea, and Silver Tea. On the tagless tea bags range, we pack Tanganda, Tips, Stella, Healthi Green, and Moringa. On tagged tea bags we have Tanganda Special Blend, and Tanganda Catering tea bags, as well as Special Blend, Healthi Green, and Moringa in envelope tea bags for that personal touch ideal for hotels and airlines.
In addition to black tea, we also pack rooibos and this comes in 2 brand names, Nella and Natra in both tagless and tagged bags format.
The tea comes from four Tanganda Tea estates in Chipinge in its various grades in bulk form. The different grades which are mainly BP, BP1, PF1, PD, BM, D3, F2, and F3 are then blended using special recipes known by the blending team to come up with the brands mentioned above. The blending process is both a science and an art as it involves particle size analysis, sensory evaluation, moisture content analysis, density measurement, cup colour appearance, etc to come up with consistent brands at all times. Each blend is allocated a code for traceability. This code can be traced back to the various grades that make up the blend, the estate/s that supplied the teas used, the gardens on the estate/s where the tea was grown, the date of manufacture, etc. The blending floor is located above the packaging factory and the tea flows by gravity into the individual packing machine where it meets with packaging material and the result is the packed unit.
Packing materials come in various forms depending on the packing machine and the nature of the product. There is laminated foil, filter paper, boxes, envelope paper, aluminium staple wire, thread, tags, glue, plastic sheeting, etc. Wherever possible, the factory purchases these materials from local suppliers but can source globally depending on quality and pricing conditions.
Most of the packaging is done on technologically advanced machinery acquired from Germany and Italy, with the latest machinery being installed in late 2021. Over 100 dedicated men and women are involved in the packing processes. Most of the machines are operated remotely from a user interface such that there is no handling of product and materials ensuring fully hygienical packaging. Such remote machine operations also reduce the probability of injuries to workers as people do not come into contact with moving machine parts.
The factory is certified to ISO 9001:2015 (QMS) and ISO 22000 (FSMS). Checking of product for correct weight, correct sealing, correct presentation is a continuous process at every stage of the production process. In line with the ISO certification, it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure conformity to standards the final goal being customer satisfaction.
