Piyushbhai Desai, Wagh Bakri Tea Group Chairman, passes away

Piyushbhai Desai, Chairman of the Wagh Bakri Tea Group, passed away on September 15, 2026, at the age of 86. A veteran of the Indian tea industry for over sixty years, Desai was instrumental in expanding the Wagh Bakri brand from its Gujarat origins to a presence across multiple states.

Desai was a respected tea taster and a founding member of several industry organizations, including the Gujarat Tea Traders Association (GTTA), the Western India Tea Dealers Association (WITDA), and the Federation of All India Tea Traders Associations (FAITTA). He served as the first president of the GTTA.

Deeply influenced by Gandhian philosophy, Desai integrated social responsibility into his business model. He was closely associated with Gujarat Vidyapith and served as President of the Blind People’s Association (India). His commitment to the principle of “Giving Back to Society” was reflected in his work across education and community welfare. Earlier this year, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northeastern Tea Association.