Tata Coffee, controlled by Tata Global Beverages, is looking for suitable companies in Europe to expand instant coffee business through inorganic route by the end of 2013.
Tata Coffee sells instant coffee as well as roasted and raw coffee beans in India, Russia, the US, Japan and Africa countries.
The company, which owns the Eight O’Clock coffee brand in the US, is looking to improve margins by pushing faster into instant coffee.
The move is in line with the company’s aim to emerge as a INR10bn ($171m) company by 2015.
Tata Coffee managing director Hameed Huq was quoted Business Standard as saying that the company has increased its instant coffee capacity by 33% to 8,500 tons with INR800m ($13.7m) at Theni in Tamil Nadu.
“We are now looking at further expansion through an acquisition, mainly in Europe, which is nearer to our customers,” Huq added.
“To achieve Rs 1,000 crore turnover it is essential for us to acquire a company in Europe and we have time till 2015 to achieve this target.”
At the same time, the Indian coffee giant mulls to invest INR4bn ($69m) to establish a greenfield instant coffee processing unit in Europe with a capacity of 4,500 tons.
source: http://www.processtechnology.drinks-business-review.com / DBR / DBR Home> Process Technology News / by DBR Staff Writer / June 18th, 2013
Coffee
Coffee Board of India Post Graduate Diploma in Coffee Quality Management (PGDCQM) admissions 2013
Coffee Board of India invites applications for Post Graduate Diploma in Coffee Quality Management (PGDCQM) for 2013 session.
Eligibility: Candidates must hold a Bachelors degree with at least one of the subjects namely Botany, Zoology, Chemistry, Biotechnology, Bioscience, Food Technology, Food Science, Environmental science or a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural sciences. Preference given to candidates sponsored by export/Curing establishments/coffee plantations.
Selection by committee based on academic record, personal interview and sensory evaluation test.
Application forms can be downloaded from our website or collected personally from Coffee Board, Bangalore. – http://www.indiacoffee.org/userfiles/pgdcqm13-14(1).pdf
Filled in application form along with a demand draft for Rs.200/- payable to “Coffee Board General Fund Non Plan Account” and a self-addressed envelope (9″ x 6″) should reach Head (Quality Control Division), Coffee Board, No.1, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore-560001 by 15th July 2013.
Date of Interview and selection: 31st July 2013
source: http://www.hosuronline.com / Hosur Online / Home / by A Soosai Prakash / Friday – June 14th, 2013
Donating blood helps in the growth of an individal, said District surgeon Dr Muthappa.
Speaking at world blood donors day organised by the district health and family welfare department, Rotary Misti Hills, district Aids Control Society, Blood Bank held at Rotary Hall in Madikeri on Friday, he said there was no substitute for blood. Only blood can replace blood.
Madikeri district hospital blood bank officer Dr Shanthi Jyothi said any healthy individual between the age group of 18 and 60 can donate blood. Men can donate blood once in three months and women can donate blood once in four months. The donors should be above 45 kg. The donor’s body replenishes the fluid lost from donation within 24 hours.
Blood donation checks heart attacks and enhances production of red blood cells. District health and family welfare officer Dr H S Shivakumar, Rotary Misti Hills President D M Tilak spoke.
Blood donors N J Vinu and P L Ponnappa were felicitated. In an elocution competition on the need for blood donation, Pavan Kumar won first place, Kavya (II) and Nithya (III). About 25 volunteers donated their blood.
Chikmagalur
The district requires 4,000 to 5,000 units of blood per year, said district blood bank doctor Shivadath.
He was speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of Blood Donation Day programme at the district hospital in Chikmagalur on Friday. About 3,000 units of blood has been given to the needy this year. Over 8,000 people have donated blood voluntarily and the collected blood has be utilised within 35 days of collection. If the blood collection in the district reaches 5,000 units, a proposal can be sent for setting up of a component separation cell for separating red blood, plasma and platelets.
Stressing on the need for blood donation, he said the health department has organised several awareness programmes in schools and colleges to motivate students to voluntarily come forward to donate blood.
The students too are showing enthusiasm for blood donation through formation of youth red cross and red ribbon clubs. 101 units of blood was collected in the blood donation camp organised by Aldur Lions Club.
Five blood donors who have donated blood highest number of times during last two years and five organisations were felicitated on the occasion. As many as 15 members donated blood on the occasion.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Madikeri-Chikmagalur / DHNS / June 14th, 2013
Upgradation of district hospital in Madikeri is going on full swing. The state government has sanctioned Rs 3 crores for the various development works.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Speed News / by Manu Aiyappa, Bangalore / June 12th, 2013
The Coffee Board announced establishing the Coffee Entrepreneurship Centre in Bangalore in order to sustain the coffee cafe culture in India. The Chairman of Coffee Board, Jawaid Akhtar explained that the idea came up because of rapid growth of coffee cafes as well as parlours in India, especially in the non-traditional (non-coffee growing States) areas. However, there is a dearth of manpower in these areas.
The primary objective of the Coffee Entrepreneurship Centre is to create the manpower base. This base would be created by facilitating training to people scientifically and providing them the knowledge about specialty coffees.
Also the objective is creation of the manpower in various levels of coffee business such as setting of roast and ground (R&G) outlets as well as coffee retailing. This will also assist the entrepreneurs in establishing as well as operating the cafes with the formal training.
In order to facilitate the educational support, the Coffee Board also roped in Indian Institute of Plantation Management (IIPM). The Coffee Entrepreneurship Centre is infact housed in the IIPM campus of Bangalore.
The Centre will provide lab-scale experience to people in making espresso coffee, traditional brewing, grinding coffee as well as roasting. The Board will make use of the faculty at IIPM in order to run the courses. At present, there are approximately 2200 coffee cafes in India which are operated by the big companies like Barista, Costa and Café Coffee Day.
The Coffee Entrepreneurship Centre will have one-month courses on How to start coffee businesses as well as How to make different coffees.
Coffee Board gave grant of 30 lakh Rupees in order to set up this centre.
source: http://www.jagranjosh.com / Jagran Josh / Home> English / June 13th, 2013
Folk arts in Kodagu district are on the verge of losing its identity. There is a need to conserve it. All of us have a responsibility to conserve folk culture, said Karnataka Janapada Parishat president T Thimme Gowda.
Speaking at a meeting organised by Janapada Parishat, he said that Kodagu was known for its rich legacy of folklores. “However, we are facing threat of losing it. Awareness on folk culture should be created among youth who are aping western culture. There is a need to document folk culture. The Parishat has plans to collect information on folklores,” he said.
To protect the culture and lifestyle of Kodava and Arebhashe traditional dwellers in Kodagu district, the parishat district unit will be set up.
Lecturer Dr Sridhar Hegde said that there was a need to document dialects of different languages, to help the future generation.
Dr J Somanna said that folk teams should be trained.
Ramanagara Janapada Trust Managing Trustee Indira Balakrishna said that folk was not only an art form. “There is a need to make an in-depth study on the lifestyle and food habits of the people of the region.”
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Madkikeri – DHNS / June 09th, 2013
Actors Upendra and Priyanka take a bow with kids from Smile Foundation Smile Foundation, a national level development organisation, along with fashion guru Prasad Bidapa put up the 4th edition of Ramp For Champs recently .
The event started with a special performance by the students of William Joseph International Academy for Performing Arts on one of its kind classical guitar orchestra .
Throwing light on the show, Bidapa said, “This show was conceptualised with an aim to reach out to more and more privileged people for a cause. I am glad that so many eminent personalities are associated with us. I would like to thank all the people who took time out from their tight schedules and came to support us.”
Speaking on the occasion, the chief guest for the evening, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament, said “Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world is what Nelson Mandela said. So, education is the weapon that girl children and women need to change the still widely held, restrictive view on opportunities for them. I am happy to be a part of Ramp for Champ initiative.”
He further added, “Education is every child’s right and through the funds raised today, we intend to send 1000 children to school. However, we still believe there are thousands more who need similar support and encouragement. ”
Celebrities like, Sudha Murty-author, Vani Ganapathi- classical dancer, choreographer and designer, Priyanka Upendera- actress, Tara – actress, Nisha Millet – national level swimmer, Ashley Williams – chairman of William Joseph Music Foundation and director and conductor of Indian National Symphony Orchestra , Ramesh Arvind – actor, Aviva Bidapa – super model, Rubi Chakravarti – entertainment professional, Nadira Iqbal – fashion designer and entrepreneur also supported the cause.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bangalore / Express Features – Bangalore / June 10th, 2013
Hameed Huq of Tata Coffee told CNBC-TV18 that he expected an increase in their production of Arabica crop by 30 percent. However, he anticipated a flat growth in its Robusta crop.
Hameed Huq , Managing Director, Tata Coffee
Tata Coffee expects its Arabica crop production to increase 30 percent this year, while it aims to maintain Robusta production at last year’s levels in FY14.
Robusta variety of coffee accounts for 70 percent of the company’s total production, while Arabica accounts for 30 percent, Hameed Huq, managing director, told CNBC-TV18.
In company’s standalone accounts, 20 percent revenues are from plantations while 55-60 percent is from instant coffee production.
Since a majority of its revenues are from instant coffee production, Huq said that the fall in raw coffee prices would only benefit the company.
Also read: How industries fared in April 2013: CARE Research
Below is the edited transcript of his interview to CNBC-TV18.
Q: Reports indicate that coffee output in India could suffer due to inconsistent rains at the start of the year. Could you throw some light on the coffee output for the entire seasons? What will the prices be?
A: On coffee output, we harvest Arabica first and then go on to Robusta. We are looking at almost 30 percent increase in Arabica production over the previous year.
Last year, there was an acute drought across most of Karnataka which impacted the crop. We are not seeing that. On Robusta growth, we are looking at maintaining last year’s levels. We had a very large crop last year which again is reflective of the general industry.
The crop will not be lower next year. In fact, it definitely should be higher than harvest in the season that ended.
Q: You are dependent on 70 percent of your raw material needs on Robusta. Have the prospects for that improved with the rates?
A: I will cover that in two things. In Tata Coffee , 70 percent of our plantation is Robusta and 30 percent is Arabica. We had a very good Arabica crop last year. The Robusta prices have not slid as much as Arabica.
If you look at Tata Coffee’s standalone accounts, plantation coffee constitutes less that 20 percent of our turnover. Over 56-60 percent of our turnover actually comes from instant coffee.
To that extent, whether coffee prices are moving slightly, easing up, doesn’t really impact Tata Coffee anymore because it is not totally a coffee plantation company.
However, overall also the coffee plantation is doing well, but there has been easing of prices. Q: What is the percentage of your expenses accounted by raw materials?
A: If you look at our consolidated accounts, 83-85 percent of our turnover is based on green coffee being purchased out.
If there is any easing in prices, it adds to the business and its margins. Within the space of instant coffee, anything between 65-70 percent cost is related to green coffee.
So, when you see this easing of prices, generally it is favourable to Tata Coffee, not the other way round.
Q: You closed FY13 with a margin improvement due to benign raw material prices. How are you expecting margins to pan out in FY14? Can we expect some further improvement? Any guidance or target that you could help us with?
A: We don’t give guidance. But if you look at the basic fundamentals, we are largely driven on two of our major businesses by green coffee prices. Both of them have softened.
We have just commissioned an expansion program at Theni where our instant coffee plant exists and the capacity is going up by 30 percent. The plantation has gone on stream for the same.
source: http://www.moneycontrol.com / Moneycontrol> News> Business / CNBC TV18 / June 10th, 2013
The long pending project, would help many, when completed The work on underpass which will provide connectivity to district hospital and women and children’s ward of the hospital is in full swing.
The hospital is situated on one side of the road and the women and children’s wing of the hospital is situated on another side of the state highway near General Thimmaiah Circle.
Hundreds of vehicles ply on Mysore road between district hospital and women and childrens’ ward.
The patients and the public were finding it difficult in crossing the road between the hospital and the ward. With the completion of the underpass, the public can cross without any problem.
The public were demanding an underpass for the past several years. About 80 per cent of the work has been completed.
When the work on widening of Mysore-Madikeri-Sampje road was taken up, the KRDCL had submitted a proposal to construct an underpass two years ago.
The work on underpass has been taken up by the Karnataka State Road Development Corporation.
The KRDCL had completed the work on underpass. The remaining work is being taken up at a cost of Rs 92 lakh by the health department. The government has already released Rs 68 lakh to complete the work.
The pending work will be completed and the underpass will be inaugurated at the earliest, said health department engineering division chief engineer Prabhakar.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by Srikanth Kallammanavar, DHNS / June 09th, 2013
From being an underdog to Indian team vice-captain, Raghunath has come a long way. Getty Images
Most sportspersons would tell you that any sport – even if it is one of the most physical – eventually has a lot to do with the mind. India’s dragflick specialist, VR Raghunath, is no exception.
Despite being part of the illustrious list of hockey players from Coorg in Karnataka, Raghunath has had his fair share of struggles early on in his career, failing to find a regular place in the senior national team. That was until Michael Nobbs took him under his wings. Raghunath then became part of the 2012 London Olympics, and is now the vice-captain of the team.
So how did it all change for 24-year-old? “I wasn’t mentally confident about myself before. Nobbs worked on my mental strength and brought my inner game out,” Raghunath told dna before the squad departed to The Netherlands for the FIH Men’s World League Round 3 (semifinals) starting on June 13.
“Thus, I’ve also been given a leadership role to support Sardar (Singh). I’m enjoying the responsibility and hope to motivate the juniors that come in.”
Talking of juniors, India fielded a young side for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup earlier this year, and the team going for the World League also has a lot of young faces like Mandeep Singh and Manpreet Singh. Raghunath believes that the current crop of youngsters is the best India ever had.
“It’s a transformation period after the 2012 London Olympics. And because of the Hockey India League, we’re getting a lot of good talent. I think our present junior team is one of the best we’ve had over the past few years,” he said.
Raghunath is equally elated with the comeback of ace dragflicker Sandeep Singh. “Sandeep is one of the most experienced players and he knows how to play in high-intensity games. So it’s great that we can rotate our three dragflickers and have at least two penalty corner specialists on the field at a time,” he added.
Raghunath hopes the team rises to the occasion during this key tournament, which is a qualification for the FIH Men’s World Cup in 2014.
“We had a good three-week camp in Bangalore, so our preparation has been great. I prefer to take it one match at a time, and going all out in that. We hope to start well and if we do, I’m sure we can end it well,” he said.
source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> Sports> Report / by Rutvick Mehta / Place:Mumbai, Agency:DNA / Thursday – June 06th, 2013
WELCOME. If you like what you see "SUBSCRIBE via EMAIL" to receive FREE regular UPDATES.
Read More »
