Guwahati: Gatoonga Assam Tea was launched in the retail market segment on Saturday at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre (GTAC) tea lounge by the B&A brand.
Meanwhile, B and A Limited, known for its black tea, has acquired Moheema Tea Estate in Golaghat District Assam, marking its first acquisition in over six decades. The acquisition aligns with the group's Rs 50 crore capex plan for pan India growth strategy, which includes a foray into the retail tea market with its leading Gatoonga brand of black tea.
B&A Limited, descended from Barasil Tea Company Limited, was founded in 1915 and grew under the stewardship of Padma Shri awardee Hemendra Prasad Barooah, an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and art collector. At present, the company owns 11 tea estates, including its latest acquisitions in Jorhat, Sibsagar, and Golaghat. "With the acquisition of Moheena Tea Estate, the tea production is expected to reach 6 million metric tonnes per annum", the company said in a statement, adding that it plans to invest around Rs 50 crore in the next seven years as part of its growth and expansion strategy.
The B&A Group has four verticals: tea manufacturing, processing, packaging, tea tourism, and Tea broking under Assam Tea Brokers Private Limited. Now, retail branding will be the group's fifth vertical. The retail foray has officially launched with the Gatoonga brand of black tea.
B&A Limited sold over 3 million kg of tea through auctions during the last fiscal, while selling 2.5 million kg directly. Gatoonga Tea Estate ranked as number 1, followed by Mokrung Tea Estate at number 3 and Salkathoni Tea Estate at number 6 in the All India Batting Order in terms of price for CTC teas in auctions.
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