Goodricke to gradually focus on branded teas

Goodricke Group Limited, a part of UK-based Camellia Plc, will gradually shift its focus on branded teas, a company official said today.
"We will now gradually shift our focus to branded teas as this business gives a steady flow of income, though the returns are not high", MD and CEO of Goodricke A N Singh said.
Competition in the branded tea segment was huge, he said adding big investments were required to create and sustain brands.
The company was selling around 7.5 million kg of branded teas in packs. "We will increase the sale of branded teas by 0.5 million kg each year," he told reporters after the company's AGM here today.

In terms of revenue, the branded tea segment was contributing to 20 per cent of overall sales if the company.
Goodricke, which was having 12 gardens in West Bengal and Assam, produced 22 million kilos.
Out of the 12, four of them were certified by Rainforest Alliance. "Our endeavour will be to extend the certification to all the gardens," he said.
The company exported four million kilos in 2014, which had tripled over the last five years.