Kolkata, April 13 (Inditop.com) Tea plantation company Goodricke expects its tea production to grow at 7 percent to 21 million kilograms in 2010 (January-December) from its 2009 level of 19.5 million kgs, a senior official said here Tuesday.
It sees exports to rise 30 percent to about 2 million kgs, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director A.N. Singh said.
He said revival of demand in Germany and other European markets and focus on the Japanese market would lead to higher exports.
“Our export of instant tea would grow to about 300 tonne this year from 200 tonne in 2009,” Singh said on the sidelines of the company’s annual general meeting.
The tea plantation company owned by Camellia Plc of Britain has an instant tea making plant which in 2009 produced 600 tonne of tea.
The company plans to commercially launch iced tea powder by December, Singh said.
“The iced tea powder is currently being test marketed through company-owned outlets in West Bengal and we plan to launch it as an FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) brand,” Singh said.
Goodricke is present in packet tea market. Singh expects to raise sale of branded tea to a level of 10 million kgs by 2012, up from 6 million kgs in 2009.
“Some new brands were launched while some existing brands were redesigned during 2009,” chairman P.J. Field told shareholders during the meeting.
