- Business
- Warren Tea Limited (WARRENTEA.BO), founded in 1850 and headquartered in Kolkata, India, owns and operates tea plantations primarily in the Upper Assam region, including districts of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia; it produces mainly CTC tea varieties accounting for about 95% of output alongside orthodox teas from estates covering approximately 4,115 hectares; additional operations encompass manufacturing tea processing machinery, warehousing, shipping, exporting teas to over 50 countries such as Germany, the UK, USA, and the Middle East, and providing plantation services including fruit and industrial plantations. The company traces its origins to James Warren's pioneering tea estate near Dibrugarh, with formal incorporation on May 31, 1977, as a vehicle for Indianising UK-based Sterling Companies' tea assets, which included 12 estates totaling around 6,078 hectares at the time. Warren Tea markets its premium teas under the Warren quality brand, targeting both domestic consumers in India and international connoisseurs, while maintaining a debt-free capital structure that supports stable operations under Executive Chairman Vinay K. Goenka. In recent developments, the board approved a Scheme of Arrangement for amalgamation with Maple Hotels & Resorts Limited on June 17, 2025, subject to regulatory approvals, alongside follow-up outcomes on June 30, 2025; the company has also pursued investments such as a 24% equity stake in Vegepro Foods & Feeds through associates and reported fluctuating net sales including a sharp 79.86% year-over-year decline to Rs 1.17 crore in March 2023 amid broader revenue challenges.