"QTrade prides itself in tea transparency," says Eng. "We believe our buyers should know as much about a product as possible. It is a value we have adopted and embraced. Thus, the greatest challenge of my role is to negotiate a series of product specifications that both meets the needs of suppliers/clients and anticipates the changes at the regulatory level. In our view, operating with integrity is the only way to do business."
 
Eng, who has extensive scientific background with an advanced degree in microbiology, brings 10 years of experience as a tea retailer. He is founder of Kopius Teas, a wholesale specialty tea distributor established in 2008, acquired by QTrade in November 2012. His responsibilities extend from origin through transport and include monitoring the quality of ingredients in the production blends through packaging and distribution. Eng's new role involves working closely with vendors to understand and meet client specifications and negotiate to guarantee satisfaction.
 
"Ron's passion for specialty tea and stellar work experience, combined with a scientific background, make him the ideal choice to build a long-term and sustainable food safety program at QTrade," notes Manjiv Jayakumar, president, QTrade. "Ron is leading our efforts to comply with Safe Quality Food (SQF) and the Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI), and he has a significant and relevant prior history in the pharmaceuticals industry. He's also respected in the tea industry, serving on technical committees of the Tea Association of the USA and the American Herbal Products Association."