Global Tea is majority (86%) owned by the founder Mr. Nadeem Ahmed and his family who started the Group in the United Kingdom in 1992.

The Project involves up to US$8 million senior secured loan, consisting of up to US$4 million from IFC’s own account and up to US$4 million from IFC acting in its capacity as implementing entity for GAFSP.

This proposed investment is expected to have limited environmental and social impacts which are expected to be site-specific, temporary and none are expected to be significant. Those impacts can be avoided or mitigated by adhering to recognized performance standards, procedures, guidelines and design criteria as described in the following sections. Thus, this is a Category B. project in accordance with IFC's Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy. This categorization is in accordance with other similar type of projects within the sector. The project is designed to avoid, minimize and manage environmental and social risks and impacts of the company's operations in compliance with applicable IFC's Performance Standards and the WBG General and relevant sector-specific EHS Guidelines.

Key E&S issues applicable for this investment are: i) the company's E&S management system - specifically organizational structure, capacity, policies and procedures to manage E&S risks; ii) adherence to Kenya and Malawian Labor Laws, working conditions, and occupational health and safety risk prevention and management, including the company's employees, contractors and nearby communities; iii) wastewater, solid waste and hazardous material generation, disposal and management; iv) resource (water and energy) usage/efficiency and improvement measures; v) potential impacts of company activities on the health and safety of surrounding local communities including food safety, transportation risk and security risks; vi) stakeholder engagement including operation of a robust grievance management system; and vii) the company's management of third-party contractors if relevant.