According to veteran industrialist Ramesh Chauhan, Bisleri International is up for sale and is in talks with several players, including Tata Consumer Products Limited (TCPL).
It is being speculated that TPCL is all set to acquire Bisleri for a whopping Rs 7,000 crore. However, Bisleri Chairman Ramesh Chauhan said that he has been scouting for a buyer for his packaged water business and denied that the deal with Tata Group has been finalized. He also added that the group is in discussions with several prospective buyers.
On the deal with the Tata Group firm, Chauhan, Chairman of Bisleri International, said that they are still discussing. Meanwhile, TCPL also said it will make appropriate announcements in compliance with the guidelines as and when any such requirement arises. In a regulatory filing, the Tata Group firm also said that it is in discussion with Bisleri International for growth and expansion of the company’s business.
Ramesh Chauhan’s Bisleri has been a market leader in the packaged water segment for many years. Several companies, including Coca-Cola India through its brand Kinley, PepsiCo’s Aquafina, Bailley from Parle Agro, and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)’s Rail Neer, compete in the segment, but they all trail Bisleri. The firm also has a presence in fizzy drinks with brands like Spicy, Limonata, Fonzo, and PinaColada.
Chauhan has also created various super brands such as ThumsUp, Gold Spot, Maaza, and Limca, which were acquired by the Coca-Cola Company in 1993 when the Atlanta-headquartered company re-entered the Indian market. Meanwhile, TCPL, which was formed after merging the consumer products businesses of Tata Chemicals and Tata Global Beverages, aspires to be a formidable player in the FMCG category.