Tata Tea has acquired Polish tea brands Vitax and Flosana from Krakow-based Premium Foods SA, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition has been made through Tata Tea’s subsidiary, Tetley Group. With this, Tetley moves to second position in the Polish tea market with a 10.5 per cent value share and a turnover of $36 million. The combined turnover of Vitax and Flosana is $23 million.
Garry Nield, managing director (Europe and Emerging Markets) of Tetley Group, said, “Tetley already has a strong business in Poland built on black and Earl Grey teas. There is significant potential to grow the fruit and herbal market in Poland, and it makes sense for us to acquire an established and successful range of fruit and herbal products, rather than start afresh with a new Tetley range.” Premium Foods currently distributes the Tetley brand in Poland along with Vitax and Flosana.
For the record, in February 2000 Tata Tea first made an entry in the speciality tea space by acquiring UK’s Tetley Group, at a consideration of £271 million. Next, the company acquired US-based Good Earth in October 2005 and Czech Republic-based Jemca in May 2006.
