Tata Consumer in acquisition talks with at least five consumer brands

Tata group will likely face stiff competition in the sector from existing global giants such as Unilever, as well as Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd

Tata Consumer Products Ltd., the food and beverage arm of the $103 billion Indian conglomerate, wants to go on an acquisition spree to bolster its position in the country's competitive consumer goods sector, and is in discussions to buy up to five brands.

A “significant amount” of the Mumbai-based firm's future growth will come from inorganic expansion, Tata Consumer Products' Chief Executive Officer Sunil D'Souza said in an interview. The firm, which sells Tetley tea and Eight O'Clock coffee, is “engaging seriously” with a number of companies where it sees decent valuations, he said, declining to identify potential targets.

“We