NEW DELHI: Tata Group on Thursday said it is in talks with various parties, including Bisleri International Private Limited, for “growth and expansion of its consumer business”. This official admission by Tata comes after veteran industrialist Ramesh Chauhan said that he is scouting for a buyer for his packaged water business -- Bisleri International -- and is in talks with several players, including Tata Consumer Product (TCPL).
“TCPL evaluates various strategic opportunities for growth and expansion of the business of the Company, on an ongoing basis. TCPL remains in discussions with various parties, including Bisleri International,” said the Tata Group company in a statement.
Earlier in the day Chauhan, 84, Chairman of Bisleri, said someone has to handle and look into the company as his daughter Jayanti is not interested in handling the business. He, however, denied reports which said that a 7,000 crore deal has been finalised with TCPL. Later in a media statement, Bisleri Spokesperson said: “We are currently in discussion and cannot disclose further.”
Three decades ago, the Chauhans had sold their soft drinks business to the US beverage major The Coca-Cola Company. He transferred brands such as Thums Up, Gold Spot, Citra, Maaza and Limca in 1993 to Coca-Cola. Of these brands, Thums Up has already become a billion-dollar brand and Coca-Cola expects fruit drinks brand Maaza also to be a billion-dollar brand by 2024.
If Tata manages to grab Bisleri, it will make the Tata group the market leader in the fast-growing bottled water segment, giving a boost to its overall consumer business. At present, Bisleri’s business has four verticals: Bisleri mineral water, Vedica- Himalyan Spring Water, Fizzy Drinks and Hand Purifiers. TCPL is already present in the packaged bottled water segment with its brand Himalayan. It is also present in the hydration segment with Tata Copper Plus Water and Tata Gluco.