T2 TEA
“ The biggest single problem with tea is the long lead times – it ’ s an agricultural product ”
GABRIEL EYTAN HEAD OF SUPPLY CHAIN , T2 TEA
Since then , T2 “ has massively improved our service ”, says Eytan . “ We haven ’ t really meaningfully increased our inventory holding but we ’ ve improved our service levels considerably , as well as reducing the amount of wastage .”
Tea is perishable , adding supply complexity Mention of wastage references another problem with tea : its perishability .
“ The other complexity with tea is it ’ s a perishable product ,” points out Eytan . “ You ’ ve got only so many months before you need to sell it , meaning that once you have it you need to make sure it goes quickly .”
The alternative , he explains , is that you need to “ make sure you ’ re not sitting on too much because apart from the cost of this there will be a high level of write-off at the end ”.
Although tea does not need cold-chain technology Eytan says it requires “ specialty packaging and fine temperature and moisture control ”. sustainabilitymag . com 233