Goodricke parent Camellia becomes the world's largest private tea producer

In a bid to pare debt, Brij Mohan Khaitan’s McLeod Russel India has lost its crown as the world's largest private tea producer, to Camellia Plc, the holding company of the Goodricke Group.

Over the past year, McLeod sold 21 gardens in India, reducing almost 32 million kg in production. Its exit from Rwanda further trimmed around 5 million kg, taking its global output to around 80 million kg. In 2017-18, it had produced 118 million kg of tea. 

A McLeod official said only one of the agreements for sale was pending a conclusion. In contrast, Camellia saw its highest-ever production levels