Hot Cuppas by Millions

India-based Mcleod Russel, along with its subsidiaries, is into the tea plantation business which involves cultivation, processing and sale of tea. The company has been manufacturing tea since 1869 and is the largest tea producing company in the world. Originally named as Williamson Magor & Co, it went through several partnerships and mergers until 2004 when it started operating as Mcleod Russel as a separate entity. Industry overview India is the largest black tea producer in the world. In 2011, it produced around 988 million killograms of tea that represented 38 per cent of the global black tea production. Other countries that make the list are Kenya (377 million kg), Sri Lanka (328 million kg), Vietnam (145 million kg), Indonesia (57 million kg) and Bangladesh (59 million kg). Although China tops the ranks amongst the tea producing nations but its focus is mainly on green tea. Strengths Operating for more than 100 years now, Mcleod Russel accounts for 8 per cent of India’s and 2 per cent of the world’s tea production. The company had a total production of 80 million kg in FY12. • Mcleod has been through a number of acquisitions which have helped strengthen its position in the industry. Since 2004, it has acquired 35 high quality plantations in the North Indian belt as well as abroad. In 2008, it acquired 100 per cent stake in Phu Ben Company in Vietnam that has a capacity of 4.5 million kg. In 2010, it took over Rhwenzori Tea Investments in Uganda having

This article was originally published on December 11, 2012.