Tata Global Beverages in talks with 'Paper Boat' Hector for a buyout

The move is said to be part of the larger strategy being steered by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran to lead TGBL into categories other than tea and coffee and enter fast-growing segments

Tata Global Beverages Ltd (TGBL), the Tata group company that owns Tata Tea and Tata Tetley brands, is in talks with Hector Beverages, the Bengaluru-based maker of ethnic juice brand Paper Boat, according to people aware of the matter.

Founded by former Coca-Cola executives Neeraj Kakkar and Neeraj Biyani in 2010, Paper Boat sells Indian ethnic drinks like aamras, jaljeera and aam panna. Kakkar didn’t immediately respond to an email sent Monday morning, while a TGBL spokesperson said the company would not respond to “market speculation”.

The move, said one of the people quoted earlier, is part of the larger strategy being