Unique Organics Ltd, a spices and animal feed exporter, plans to set up a herbal tea processing facility in West Bengal. The company plans to export a part of herbal tea output.
According to J. P. Kanodia, Managing Director, Unique Organics, the company will invest Rs 500 crore in the next three years, for setting up a herbal tea processing facility and opening retail outlets for sales of tea.
“We are currently identifying land in North Bengal for setting up the facility. The facility is expected to be operational by October, 2014,” Kanodia said. The facility would entail an estimated investment of Rs 150 crore, excluding the land cost, he added.
Plans are also afoot to open nearly 100 kiosks for selling ready-to-drink and packaged herbal teas. Of the total, 10-12 kiosks would be opened in Kolkata, Kanodia said.
The company has two rice bran extraction processing plants at Arambagh (in Burdwan district) and Kolkata. Rice bran extraction is used as animal feed.
Apart from investing in tea industry, the company is exploring opportunities to set up oil seeds and millets processing facilities in Bengal.