It is understood that a joint team drawn from Watawala in Sri Lanka, India and in the UK, has been formed to frame strategies for increased exports. The company is also experimenting with various forms and flavours of tea for both the Indian and overseas markets. According to Mr. Krishna Kumar, managing director of the company, it is also contemplating introducing new forms and brands in the domestic market as well. The tea major is likely to use south Indian teas to source its Tetley brand instead of the lower priced Malawi teas which are used for blending purposes. For this, it is putting in place better operation lines and technology.
Packaging is another key area being studied seriously.
The company is working on various packaging formats currently. The appointment has been made under the approval granted to the company by its board which cleared the appointment of two international consultants to advise the company on the acquisition deal. The company has also finalised divestment of 10 per cent equity to strategic foreign investors, with the aim at upgrading WAP development and m-commerce centre at Bangalore and Delhi besides proposed setting up of facilities in Europe and Australia. The deal reported to be the second largest in the Indian infotech sector, envisages transfer or alignment of entire of Zap Infotech to Sun Infoways as per the memorandum of understanding. The company has further claimed that the deal has strengthened the position of Sun Infoways as a dominant player in the wireless telecommunications solutions market leading to convergence.