Story of Society Tea: From 1924 Tea Traders to Iconic Indian Brand | Paisa Vaisa | IVM | Anupam Gupta

In this episode of Paisa Vaisa, Anupam Gupta sits down with Karan Shah, Director of Society Tea, to decode the century-long journey of one of India's most beloved brands. Starting as tea traders in 1924 under the name Hasmukhrai & Co., the family successfully transitioned into the packaged tea market in the late 1980s. Karan discusses how they avoid the "third-generation curse" by maintaining a lean, agile family structure and a relentless focus on quality over complacency. We dive deep into their vertical integration strategy—including building their own state-of-the-art milk factory—to ensure their "One Minute Tea" remains true to the authentic Indian palate. Whether you are a business enthusiast or a chai lover, this conversation offers a masterclass in brand longevity and fighting off multinational competition

TAKEAWAYS-

• Legacy Meets Agility: Society Tea blends a 100-year heritage with agile, family-led leadership to outperform global multinational competition.

• Gut-Driven Brand Identity: Their iconic blue packaging was a "gut feel" decision that successfully defied negative market research and surveys.

• Control Through Integration: The company built a dedicated milk factory to ensure their "One Minute Tea" premix remains true to authentic chai.

• Convenience Without Compromise: Their innovation focuses on delivering speed without sacrificing quality by using real ingredients like hand-crushed cardamom.

• The Sensory Comeback: Society is expanding physical "Tea Terminals" to revive the traditional, sensory ceremony of chai for modern consumers.
  
  
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