UAE - The East India Company, in collaboration with local UAE partner Binhendi, is pleased to announce the launch of its store at Avenue at Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi; the first store in the UAE and the third in the Middle East.
Located in Podium One of the Capital's most prestigious shopping destination, The East India Company carries an expertly curated selection of fine teas and coffees; artisan sweet and savoury biscuits; an exquisite chocolate range; and flavourful jams and marmalades. The extensive range also includes The Company's exclusive hand-crafted Bone China and Porcelain for tea and coffee. Unique in appearance and rich in history, each piece is painted by master craftsmen using mineral paints and 18 carat Gold.
To mark the holy month, The East India Company is offering a range of bespoke hampers, each offering a thoughtful selection of handpicked delicacies chosen to create beautiful memories and spread festive cheer during the shared journey of Ramadan and Eid. Designed to be enjoyed with close family or with friends at gatherings, each represents an elegant simplicity, such as the Tea Selection, featuring a selection of premium teas from around the world, including fine Darjeeling from India and jasmine blossom from China.
Since its creation in 1600 by The Royal Charter granted by Queen Elizabeth I, the influence of The East India Company has been great. It influenced Britain's dining tables through the introduction of exotic ingredients and flavours, but more fundamentally, it changed the world's tastes, its thinking, and its people. Today, The Company has marked its foundation with a spirit of Remarkable Connections from The Company's rich heritage. It continues to explore the world to surprise and delight customers with inspirational tastes crafted from the finest ingredients the world has to offer - it remains a quintessentially British brand with influences from diverse cultures.
The Company offers products that have been crafted by artisans and specialists from around the world using ingredients that have been carefully sourced for their quality and have a well-known provenance. Each tea in the range is personally selected by The East India Company's Tea Master ensuring only the finest quality teas are available. A direct relationship with the tea estates enables The Company to stock some of the freshest teas available as they arrive in-store within 28 days after
the leaves have been picked on the tea estates.
Mr Binhendi said: "It is our pleasure to bring the East India Company to the UAE, one of the world's finest purveyors of tea and coffees and exquisite edible items. Our collaboration with this remarkable English brand represents our commitment to identifying partners that will bring quality and a real sense of heritage to the UAE, catering to the region's growing numbers of connoisseurs and food enthusiasts. We are confident that the first store at Avenue at Etihad Towers will offer a blueprint for future success."
Sanjiv Mehta, Chairman of The East India Company added: "The UAE was a natural destination for us to choose for our next store. The Emirates are fast becoming recognised as a global retail leader, and we are truly delighted to be here. We look forward to sharing our rich stories with customers who we know will appreciate our gourmet foods and unparalleled heritage."
The East India Company, Abu Dhabi
Podium One, Avenue at Etihad Towers
T: +971 2681 0813
E: eastindia@binhendi.ae
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About The East India Company
The East India Company has long been acknowledged as the world first truly global brand. At one point it had the largest merchant navy in the world and conducted over 50% of the World's trade. The Wall Street Journal recently called The Company 'the Google of its time'.
The Company had a profound impact on the development of international trade as merchants and explorers would set sail from London on their way to The East - Burma, Malaya, Java, Indo-China and onwards. On their return, they would bring back delicacies of every kind.
In August 2010, the re-born and revived East India Company launched its flagship Fine Foods store in the heart of London's Mayfair. Within 3 years The Company opened two more doors in the UK with a store in Bluewater mall, Kent and a pop-up store in Covent Gardens, London. The operations have also grown with distribution in several key retailers including Harrods and Selfridges in London and internationally in France (Galleries Lafayette), Netherlands (Bijenkorf), Australia (David Jones), South
Korea (Shinsaegae) and Japan (Takashimaya, Queen's Isetan, Seijo Ishii, Mitsukoshi and Meida-ya). The Company opened its first franchise store in Kuwait last year and is now opening another one in Qatar with plans for more franchisee openings across the Middle East (UAE and Saudi Arabia) later this year. There is also a major focus on further expansion in the Far East, particularly in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan.
For further information please contact:
Sandi Woodcock | Charles Madsen
TOH Public Relations
E: firstname@tohpr.com
T: +971 4382 8900
© Press Release 2014
