12 Jan 2024
Capital Foods owns Ching’s Secret, FabIndia-backed Organic India, and Smith & Jones brands.
Tata Consumer Products had been in negotiation rounds with Capital Foods for months. The talks seem to have come to a close as the conglomerate plans to acquire a 75% stake in Capital Foods for ₹5,100 crore. The existing investors, the European firm Invus Group and the American Private Equity group General Atlantic, will divest their 40% and 35% shares, respectively.
Capital Foods Founder-Chairman Ajay Gupta will retain his 25% stake for now. Although Tata may buy him out in the future. Tata Consumer is also acquiring a 40% stake in Organic India, the tea and herbal supplements brand, for ₹1,800 crore. Tata Consumer owns brands like Soulfull, Himalayan Water, Tata Tea and Salt, and Tata Starbucks' joint venture.
The move is expected to help Tata compete with Nestle’s market-leading brand Maggi and other players like Wai Wai, Top Ramen, and Patanjali noodles.