Ahmedabad: The Indian tea industry has lost one of its most respected veteran figures with the passing of Shri Piyushbhai Desai, Chairman of the Wagh Bakri Tea Group, on 15th September 2026. He was associated with the tea trade for over six decades and made an enduring contribution to the industry and the Wagh Bakri legacy.
A respected tea taster, connoisseur and industry leader, Shri Piyushbhai Desai played a significant role in taking Wagh Bakri Tea Group beyond its Gujarat roots and building its presence across multiple states. His approach to business was shaped by the principles of quality, integrity, long-term relationships and collective growth.
Shri Piyushbhai Desai believed that business carried a responsibility towards society and its stakeholders. His vision extended beyond business growth to the holistic development of the entire tea ecosystem—where growers, producers, workers, traders, employees and consumers could all progress and benefit together.
Shri Piyushbhai Desai’s contribution extended well beyond business, leaving a legacy in the tea industry and the wider community. He was a founding member of the Gujarat Tea Traders Association (GTTA), Western India Tea Dealers Association (WITDA) and Federation of All India Tea Traders Associations (FAITTA), and served as the first president of GTTA, working to strengthen the Gujarat tea fraternity. His expertise as a tea maestro was recognised earlier this year when the Northeastern Tea Association honoured him with its Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the Indian tea industry.
Deeply influenced by Gandhian philosophy, Shri Piyushbhai Desai worked closely with and contributed to Gujarat Vidhyapith. During that time, Shri Naranbhai Desai (Son of Shri Mahadevbhai Desai, PA to Gandhi ji) was the Chancellor of the Gujarat Vidhyapith. He also served and contributed as the President of Blind People’s Association (India) for approximately two years and was a Trustee of Sadvichar Parivar, where he actively contributed to its initiatives and activities. He lived by the principle of “Giving Back to Society,” a cherished value deeply rooted in the Desai family’s ethos and passed down through generations.
These associations reflected the values he carried throughout his life: a commitment to education, community welfare, service and social responsibility. His legacy lies not only in the institutions he helped build and the industry he served, but also in the values he passed on to the next generation and the many lives he touched along the way.
Shri Piyushbhai remained actively involved with the business for several decades and was closely associated with its affairs until 2020. He played the role of a mentor, guiding the next generation and passing on the values that had defined his approach to business. The strong foundation he created and the values he instilled became the bedrock for the next generation, under whose leadership Wagh Bakri Tea Group has witnessed significant growth and evolved into a household name amongst tea lovers, not only across India but in more than 66 countries worldwide.
For an industry that knew him both as a tea maestro and an institution builder, his passing away marks the end of an era. His legacy will endure through the business he helped shape, the institutions he helped build, and the values of quality, integrity and collective growth he championed.
