Luxmi Tea Co. acquires Rwanda’s Sorwathe Ltd
RWANDA – Luxmi Tea Co. Pvt. Ltd, a global leader in the tea industry, has announced the acquisition of Sorwathe Ltd, one of Rwanda’s oldest and most prominent tea companies.
The acquisition marks the beginning of a new era for Sorwathe, renowned for its 50 years of pioneering contributions to Rwanda’s tea sector under the leadership of the Wertheim family.
The amount of the transaction was not disclosed.
Sorwathe Ltd, which operates across 2,130 hectares in partnership with smallholder farmers, is celebrated for producing some of Rwanda’s finest teas.
Luxmi Tea Co. Pvt. Ltd, led by the Chatterjee family, brings over a century of experience and a heritage of sustainability and quality that aligns with Sorwathe’s values.
Dipankar Chatterjee, Chairman of Luxmi Tea Co., expressed his vision for elevating Sorwathe’s reputation to new heights. He highlighted the global shortage of high-quality tea, positioning Sorwathe as a key player in addressing this demand.
Chatterjee reaffirmed Luxmi’s commitment to producing world-class teas while building on Sorwathe’s legacy.
Andrew Wertheim, Chairman of Tea Importers Inc. and former Chairman of Sorwathe, described the sale of his controlling stake as a strategic move aimed at benefiting the local community.
“The sale will bring synergies for Luxmi customers buying Sorwathe teas produced in factories in Gisovu, Pfunda, and Rugabano,” he noted.
Rudra Chatterjee, Managing Director of Luxmi Group, emphasized plans to enhance the work initiated by the Wertheim family, including improving quality and bettering opportunities for smallholder farmers.
Luxmi currently operates 25 tea estates globally and has a strong presence in Rwanda.
In 2019, Luxmi invested US$30 million in expanding the Rugabano Tea Factory in Rwanda’s Karongi District.
The factory, which cultivates 438 hectares and processes green leaf from 4,000 hectares of smallholder farms, is set to reach a processing capacity of 4,000 metric tons annually by 2029.
Rwanda’s tea industry continues to play a pivotal role in the country’s economy, contributing significantly to rural development.
According to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), the sector has supported over 659 community projects since 2005.
With 2,400 workers, Sorwathe is poised to further enhance its impact under Luxmi’s stewardship.
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