Lipton Teas and Infusions has sold two factories in Türkiye to local tea business Öz-Gür Çay.

The Netherlands-based group said the deal was in line with its efforts to focus “on our core strengths”.

The factories, which dry and cut locally grown tea, are based in Rize in north-east Türkiye. Financial terms have not been disclosed. The deal remains subject to the approval of Türkiye’s competition authority.

Istanbul-based Öz-Gür Çay markets a range of teas under the Öz-Gür brand. Just Drinks has asked the company for comment.

In a statement, Lipton said: “We have reached an agreement to transfer ownership of these factories to an existing experienced partner Öz-Gür Çay. This is in line with our global approach of focusing on our core strengths: selecting, blending and selling the best tea.

“We have recently invested €30m ($35m) into a new blending and packaging facility in the west of the country which is the heart of our ongoing operations in Türkiye, where we continue to proudly operate after 39 years.”

Earlier this year, Lipton opened a blending and packing site in Sakarya, a city in western Türkiye. Tea from the factories in Rize will continue to be sent to the facility in Sakarya for blending and packing.

In May, JDE Peet’s sold its tea business in Turkey to Efor Holding as part of the group’s efforts to “optimise resource allocation” and “simplify” its operations.

Last week, former Heineken executive Marc Busain officially took the helm at Lipton as CEO.

Busain’s appointment, announced last month, saw Pierre Laubies will return to the group’s supervisory board.

Laubies was named interim CEO last year after the departure of Nathalie Roos.