Tata Coffee is looking to transform itself into a premium specialty coffee company from a commodity player with an aim to tap the growing specialty coffee market. The company has been consistently moving up the value chain in both its plantations business as well as its instant coffee business.
The company has 19 coffee estates spread over 18,224 acres situated in the Western Ghat at different altitudes that have highly conducive micro-climates.
Tata Coffee, a subsidiary of Tata Global Beverages, is a fully integrated coffee company with its own coffee plantations, coffee curing factories, roasted and ground (R&G) coffee facility and instant coffee production plants.
source: http://www.money.livemint.com / Live Mint / Home> Company News / E-paper / Mumbai – August 03rd, 2015
Coorg is synonymous with quaint coffee estates, lush falls and serene greenery. But did you know that it also houses a mini-chocolate factory, handled completely by a woman? Ever since the quiet town of Coorg started seeing the abundance of homestays, many women started to see themselves in a new light – as entrepreneurs. One such woman is Ketolira Fancy Ganapathy from the tiny village of Yavakapadi near Kakkabbe in Kodagu district.
What initially started as a hobby has now become a full-fledged business for this confident woman. Right from her childhood, Fancy had the desire to make delicious chocolates. She first learnt the art of making chocolates in high school. When she sent over pickles to her friends in Chennai, she got lessons in chocolate making as a return gift. Soon, she started making them for small-time functions and social gatherings in and around Kodagu. When the coffee market in the district started to fluctuate, she resigned from her lecturer’s post and turned her hobby into a full-time business.
Her chemical-free chocolates are widely loved for their delicious taste and have found many regular takers over the past three years. She has a farm where she grows pineapple, orange and passion fruit which she utilises as ingredients for chocolate. She sources dry fruits and fruits like mulberry from outside. She sells chocolates at Rs 1200 per kg while her input costs are around Rs 800-900 per kg. She is helped by her family and friends in this arduous task.
Most of the times, her produce is exhausted by consumers within her locality. In fact, a nearby resort buys products worth Rs 5,000 from her every week. Based on the orders received, Fancy also ships her chocolates to Bengaluru and Chennai. “Everyday, we prepare eight kg of chocolates. It’s a lengthy and exhaustive process. We have some assistants for paper cutting, labelling and have got an affiliation from the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysuru, thanks to our excellent quality standards,”
explains Fancy.
Through Nalaknadu Flowers and Foliages Association, Fancy is encouraging women in rural areas to produce goods right in the comfort of their homes. She aspires to start an organic co-operative society that markets locally produced chocolates, pickles, and wine.
What more, she is also the only chocolate manufacturer in Karnataka who has tied up with the postal department to market her produce. In order to enjoy her goodies, all you have to do is to place a call to the postal department and you will get her home-made goodies delivered to your doorstep. This service is presently active in Mysuru, Bengaluru and Mangaluru postal departments. What more, you can also enjoy fresh coffee powder supplied from the Coffee Planters Club through this service.
“We prepare a large variety of chocolates and they are in good demand locally. Thanks to this arrangement, we are now supplying our produce to select cities, reaching out to thousands,” says Fancy.
“Fancy Ganapathy makes flavoured chocolates which are very tasty. She enriches the glory of coffee, cardamom, pepper and ginger which grows in coorg,” says planter Suresh Chengappa of Honey Valley Estate. Every week, he buys 5-6 kg of her chocolates for the visitors who stay in his resort.
Fancy is also working on a chocolate exhibition in her estate, which is nearing completion. She is also planning to organise a chocolate tour for the tourists and has converted her vintage bungalow into a chocolate showroom, where her visitors can learn how to make chocolate.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Supplements> Spectrum / by C S Suresh / August 04th, 2015
Joshna Chinappa today upstaged second seed Line Hansen in straight games to win the USD 15,000 Victorian Open squash competition for her 10th WSA title.
Third seed Joshna beat the Dane 11-5, 11-4, 11-9 in the final of the WSA event. It was only last week that Joshanalost to Line in Kooyong.
The Indian’s last triumph had come in the Richmond Open in April last year.
Known for mixing strokes and accuracy in the placements, the Joshna held the upper-hand right through, though she admitted, it was a “hard game” particularly after Line fought and brought the score to nine-all in the third game.
Coming as it did soon after her recent success in the National Championship, she was happy with her current form.
With the Australian Open to start in a few days and the venue being the same, the Joshna is looking forward to more success.
“I am so happy it will be at the same centre,” she said.
The title in the men’s section went to Australian Ryan Cuskelly who beat Greg Lobban of Scotland 12-10, 13-11, 11-9.
Meanwhile, India went down 0-2 to top ranked and title-favourite Egypt in the quarterfinals of the girls’ event of the WSF-world junior squash championship in Eindhoven.
Debutant Nikita Joshi, who played first, tried her best but Salma Hany Ibrahim was far superior. The Egyptian won 11-5 11-6 11-2 to give Egypt the lead.
Adya Advani was pitted against the top player Habiba Mohamed and it proved a tough task for the Indian. Habiba won easily 11-3 11-5 11-3 to give Egypt the win and a place in the semi-final.
India now will play for the 5th to 8th place matches
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Sport / by PTI / August 02nd, 2015
The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include India’s women’s badminton doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa in the ambitious Target Olympics Podium (TOP) scheme under the National Sports Development Fund for providing necessary support to the potential medal winners for the Rio Olympics to be held in August 2016 in Brazil.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Siddaramaiah said, “Badminton is one of the disciplines identified under TOP Scheme.
The Indian shuttlers, including the doubles specialists, are among the top–ranked potential medal winners at the 2016 Olympics.
However, it is unfortunate that the top-ranked doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, who won the Canada Open Women’s Doubles title recently, is not part of the TOP Scheme.
“It’s unfortunate that the doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa, who won the Canada Open title recently, is not part of the TOP Scheme,” the CM wrote.
“On the basis of their recent form and their Badminton World Federation (BWF) Rankings, the doubles pair of Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa has the potential to earn medals at the Rio Olympics. Hence, I request you to direct the concerned to include Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa under the TOP scheme”.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhara Rao has also written a similar letter to the Prime Minister Modi requesting him to include both Gutta and Ponnappa in TOP scheme.
TRS MP from Nizamabad and KCR’s daughter K Kavitha has initiated the demand for inclusion of the doubles pair. Speaking to media, she said, “Jwala and Ashwini are capable of earning a medal for India at the Rio Olympics and I want the PM to personally intervene in this matter.”
Karnataka chief minister’s staff member KV Prabhakara said that Siddaramaiah is personally following it up with the Prime Minister.
Here’s the letter sent by the Karnataka CM to the Prime Minister’s Office:
source: http://www.ibnlive.com /IBN Live / Home> Sports / by IBN Live Sports / July 17th, 2015
Kind Coffee’s staff includes, from left, Lily Tomasula-Martin, Lea Rodderick, owner Amy Hamerick, Megan Davis and Margery Dunkle. (Debbie Holmes / Estes Park Trail-Gazette)
by Debbie Holmes / Trail-Gazette
One of Estes Park’s best kept secrets is Kind Coffee, which is independently owned by Amy Hamrick. She started her coffee house journey 17 years ago.
“I like to think that many of the worlds problems are being solved right here in Kind Coffee,” said Amy. “It’s so wonderful to see friends, and even high school kids, here supporting my business. I’m proud to have established a place where locals want to come.”
Amy’s journey started in 1998 as the Estes Park Coffee Company, which was located in Ed’s Cantina. Amy was instrumental in starting, running and building the roasting business in that location before Ed’s went through ownership and remodeling changes, which opened up the opportunity for Amy to move into the current location where Kind Coffee has stood since 2004.
Even though Kind Coffee doesn’t roast its own coffee beans anymore, the recipes are the shop’s own, and it continues to use only organic, fair trade coffee beans.
“We continue to live up to our name. It’s important to me that my business is environmentally and socially responsible,” Amy said.
Kind Coffee’s philosophies also have morphed into being community-oriented and supportive. Amy enjoys developing various flavors of coffee for organizations and community needs. Following the 2013 flood, Kind coffee produced “Flood Mud” coffee which continues to raise money for flood recovery.
“Being able to do things for the community is so important to me,” Amy added.
She says that building her business hasn’t been as hard as she had thought, “when it’s from the heart, decisions are easy. It’s been fantastic to have opportunities. All opportunities, good and bad.”
Amy mentioned that she has always had the most amazing staff to help her along this journey.
“I was so thankful for the support of her staff, friends and community members during those tough months after the 2013 flood. There were probably 100 people here helping us during the flood and for months after,” Amy said. “It really touched me when I saw people out in the community and they’d ask me when we were going to open, because they missed us so much.”
Being an independent coffee shop has its draw backs at times.
“It’s important that all independent coffee shops continue to provide and be the best so that our industry stays strong and visitors don’t walk past us to visit one of the big-chain coffee shops,” explained Amy. “It makes us have to step up, work hard and always do the best that we can.”
Amy is proud of what Kind Coffee has become and enjoys going to work every day. Kind Coffee, 470 Elkhorn E. Ave., is open every day at 6:30 a.m. During the summer it closes around 8 p.m. The shop will close at 6 p.m. in the winter and spring.
Along with their delicious coffee and full menu of drinks and food items, Kind also has other fair trade items for sale. Check out the shop’s website at www.kindcoffee.com for more information.
source: http://www.eptrail.com / Estee Park Trail Gazette / Home> Story / by Debbie Homes, Trial-Gazette / July 29th, 2015
Infosys co-founder and former CEO SD Shibulal is joining the board of The Tamara, the hospitality venture set up by his daughter Shruti, as its chairman at a time when the company is planning at least one fresh acquisition in the German speaking region of Western Europe
Since he retired from Infosys last year, Shibulal has been making investments through his family office Innovations Investment Management.
Since he retired from Infosys last year, Shibulal has been making investments through his family office Innovations Investment Management, most notably in real estate and hospitality sectors.
“He (Shibulal) plans to use his years of experience on a professionally run board to bring the foremost standards of corporate governance to The Tamara,” said Senthil Kumar N, director and chief executive of The Tamara.
The Tamara, which operates under the umbrella of Shibulal’s family office, also helps manage properties owned by the Shibulal family across the world.
Real estate makes up over half the portfolio of Shibulal’s family office, which has several resorts and projects in India.
The company’s flagship property and brand is the Tamara Coorg – a pet project of Shruti Shibulal, who is currently spearheading the venture’s Thiruvananthapuram project as well as the acquisition being pursued in Europe.
Shruti, who holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School and started her career with Merrill Lynch, has also been actively building the family’s real estate portfolio. She also runs several finedining restaurants, including Caperberry and Fava in Bengaluru’s upmarket UB City mall.
“Each one of our platforms (such as The Tamara) has a professional management and governance structure in place from the beginning. They develop their own medium and long-term plans based on various factors. For example, our decision to consider acquiring a hotel property in the German speaking part of Western Europe is part of our long-term strategy,” said Kumar, an IIM-Bangalore and BITS-Pilani graduate who joined the Shibulal family office in 2005.
The company has started construction for its upcoming projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kodai projects. It has also begun operating two new properties – Lilac in Bengaluru and Palma Laguna on the Kerala backwaters, Kumar said.
Shibulal’s family office currently manages the entire wealth of the family including any new funds added through dividends and share sales, and also helps build the philanthropic and business platforms which the family is interested in, Kumar said.
Since his retirement, Shibulal has also become an active investor in the startup ecosystem and even set up a venture capital and accelerator program called Axilor under the purview of his family office, roping in fellow Infosys co-founder S Gopalakrishnan as an investor.
ET had reported last year that Shibulal and his family own several hundreds of apartments and properties across the world. Shibulal and his family currently have about 1.97% of shareholding in Infosys, worth nearly $1 billion (about Rs 6,400 crore).
source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / ET Home> Tech> ITes / by Anirban Sen, ET Bureau / July 29th, 2015
With rains drenching the hilly, wooded landscape of the Kodavas, it is time to visit the Kodagu district in Karnataka, the birthplace of the mighty Cauvery.
Originating at Talacauvery, the Cauvery gently flows from the Western Ghats and in the process, traces a long journey of 800 kilometers in the South-Eastern direction and empties in the Bay of Bengal. With monsoon gaining vigour once again, the coffee land especially during the months of July and August, is at its best. It is a sublime experience to visit Madikeri and surrounding areas that are home to many a waterfall.
As these are located in dense jungles, one has to trek and walk a few kilometers to take a peek at silver cascades in both the Brahmagiri and Pushpagiri hill ranges. Both these hill ranges are home to many waterfalls but the Mallali Falls near Somwarpete and Irupu near Virajpete, attract many tourists before, during and after the monsoons.
A fresh water cascade, the Irupu comes to life during the heavy downpour that is so common in these hilly ranges. This (also called the Lakshman Tirtha Falls) is situated on the highway to Nagarhole and just 20 kilometers away from the National Park. One has to walk at least half a mile to reach this place which is in the midst of a forest and far away from the cacophony of urban life.
Enjoying the sounds of the serene hill ranges and the gushing foamy waters, one can relax and forget all about urban stress. The roaring sound of the falls can be heard from a distance as one walks on the rocky twisting pathway with the chirping birds and the lush forests for company.
The pristine scenery resonates with the chirping of birds one has never heard before. The falls criss-crossing the hills and the forests tumble down from a height of just 150-200 feet while the spray of the gushing waters during monsoons is so intense that one can get easily wet. However, it is not safe to venture into the waters as the currents are strong. If you planned a visit before the monsoons, you can stand literally below the falls and get a soothing shower.
But do not miss visiting during the monsoons as Irupa falls from a cliff in all its mesmerising glory. If you are interested in visiting the nearby temple, you can take a peek as legends associate it with the visit of Ram and Lakshman when they were searching for Sita.
There are good spots to relax and enjoy, clean, wholesome vegetarian food but make it a point to place your orders in advance if you are visiting this place in a group. If you are carrying food and drinks, do not litter the place with plastic debris as it is a fragile ecology and home to many birds and animals.
Just two to three hours drive from Madikeri, one has to take the Virajpete route to reach this breathtaking place where the waterfall plunges from the Brahmagiri peaks in all its beauty and finally joins the Lakshman Teertha River. Since it is a very popular tourist spot, the place is easily accessible via tarred roads, concrete steps, viewing seats and affordable lodging and boarding facilities in and around the densely wooded ranges.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Meera Bharadwaj / July 30th, 2015
Kachampuli, a vinegar of a kind prepared out of Panapuli fruit (Garcinia gummi-gutta) juice, is an indispensable kitchen ingredient in Kodagu homes, specially for ‘Pandikari’
A bunch of raw Panapuli fruit Napoklu (Kodagu) :
Kodagu, which is known the world over for its rich and aromatic coffee, is also home to Panapuli fruit and the ‘ethnic’ Kachampuli vinegar produced from it.
Come monsoon, many people in Kodagu, especially the farmers, are busy harvesting the Panapuli fruit as there is a great demand for its dark syrup, also known as Coorg Vinegar, which is used as a souring agent in Kodava cooking.
This thick black vinegar is the concentrated juice of Garcinia gummi-gutta, the tropical fruit that is also used in dried form for cooking by some.
Panapuli fruit trees are found in some coffee estates and forest areas in Kodagu. The tree starts flowering during March-April and the fruits get ripened by June-July by which the fruit colour would have changed to yellow. The pulpy Panapuli fruit also has seeds inside it. To prepare the vinegar, the juice extracted from the ripened fruits, is boiled down in an earthen vessel using firewood till the juice turns thick and dark (brownish black). Then it is cooled and filled in bottles to be sold in the market. The Kachampuli (vinegar) is sold at rates ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. 900 per bottle, depending upon the demand and can be preserved for years without adding any preservatives.
Kachampuli adds flavour to non-vegetarian Kodava cuisines like pork, mutton and fish. As for pork curry, chops or fry, it is a must culinary ingredient. Without it, pork preparation, specially, cannot be called a Coorg speciality dish.
Apart from extracting the juice to make vinegar, the ripened fruits are also used in dry form by many people including Keralites and Mangaloreans.
The fruit is cut into four parts and dried over an iron net under fire; before drying the fruit, first the 4 feet tall and 6 feet wide iron net with 4 supporting pillars is installed and the fire is lit under the net. The dried fruit is sold at Rs. 120-130 per kg.
Nowadays, Panapuli saplings are sold in nurseries. The fruit is a relative of Kokum, which is used in some Konkan and Maharashtrian cuisines too.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / July 24th, 2015
Coffee shipments from India may increase the most in four years as prospects for a record crop in Asia’s third-largest producer spur farmers to liquidate inventory.
Exports will rise as much as 10 percent in the year through March 2016 from 286,516 metric tons last year, said Ramesh Rajah, president of the Coffee Exporters Association of India. That would be the biggest gain since 2011-2012, when sales jumped 11 percent to 333,181 tons, data from the state-run Coffee Board show.
Rising sales from India to mostly Europe and Russia will add to a global surplus forecast by Societe Generale SA and weigh on robusta prices in London. Supplies from the South Asian nation may help bridge a shortfall in shipments from Vietnam, where farmers are hoarding the most beans in at least five years on speculation prices will rally further. Robusta accounts for about 70 percent of India’s exports.
“With a larger crop expected next season, the small farmers will keep selling” as they can’t bear the storing and logistic costs, Rajah said by phone from Bengaluru on July 14. “The crop was low in 2014-15 and farmers held back and the prices went up.”
Robusta futures last month rose 9.3 percent, the most since February 2014, and traded 1 percent lower at $1,688 a ton on ICE Futures Europe on Friday. Arabica, which advanced 5 percent in June in New York, was down 0.6 percent at $1.2805 a pound. Societe Generale predicts a surplus of 905,000 bags of 60 kilograms each this year.
Monsoon Boost
Production in India will rise 8.7 percent to a record 355,600 tons in 2015-16, the board estimates. Timely monsoon rains have boosted crop prospects, according to Anil Kumar Bhandari, a member of the state-run agency.
“We are heading for a very good crop,” Bhandari said by phone from Bengaluru on July 13. “The coffee-growing belt in Karnataka and Kerala has got adequate rains.”
Exports rose 12 percent to 102,850 tons between April 1 and July 13 from the same period a year earlier, provisional data from the board show. Italy, Germany and Russia were among the top buyers of Indian coffee.
source: http://www.bloomberg.com / Bloomberg Business / Home> Business / by Pratik Parija / July 17th, 2015
Ashwini Ponnappa is on a high after winning the Canadian Open women’s doubles crown along with vastly experienced Jwala Gutta. The Ashiwin-Jwala pair reached their career-best ranking of 13 having upset a higher ranked Dutch pair in the final of the Canadian Open.
Ashwini and Jwala are now focused on putting up a solid performance in next month’s World Championships.
Ashwini talked about her Canadian Open exploits, state of women’s doubles badminton in India and much more in an exclusive interview.
Excerpts: Q: The Canadian Open win must have been just what was needed given the fact that the World Championships is happening in August coupled with the Olympics, which is just a year away. Must be pleased with the way things are going.
Yes I’m happy that Jwala and I won the Canadian Open. Though we won a few medals last year, we had not won a tournament in a very long time, hence this win feels great, especially because it is the Olympic year and the competition is fierce.
Q: You and Jwala did not have it easy in the final of the Canadian Open – you led 15-6 in the second game but the Dutch pair levelled things at 15-15 before you and Jwala showed your tenacity to win the match and the title. Do you think you guys are playing the best doubles of your career?
The Dutch pair are experienced and have won a lot of tournaments, so it was a tough match, I’m happy we won. Yes, I do think Jwala and I have improved and matured as a pair, which has helped us to play some really good matches and beat some top pairs.
Q: You and Jwala are the country’s top ranked women’s doubles – you guys reached highest ever ranking of 13 – how challenging it will be to break into the top ten and stay there consistently?
It is extremely tough for Jwala and me, especially since the two of us lack support in terms of firstly not having a professional doubles coach or a centre with sparring partners where the two of us can train together. We have managed to do well so far despite training in different cities merely because of the support we have received by the government in terms of sending us for all our tournaments, which has helped our game a lot. Sadly, that alone is just not enough to help us break into the top 10.
Q: You had upset the world number 8 in the final of the Canadian Open – how would you assess your chances in the World Championships?
We have as good a chance of doing well as any other pair out there. Though most of the pairs we would be up against come from countries which produce a lot of doubles pairs, I think me and Jwala are quite a strong pair and have a unique style as we are very offensive, so that should help.
Q: A lot has been said about you and Jwala being not included in the TOP scheme in the first two lists. How optimistic are you guys of being included in the next list?
Pretty optimistic!
Q: What are the improvement areas you guys need to focus on going forward?
Probably our defense needs focus.
Q: You are younger to Jwala by a few years, but you seemed like you have matured as a doubles player in recent times to complement the experience of Jwala. Your thoughts.
When I started playing with Jwala I was more or less an amateur with zero experience at the senior international level. But from the very first day Jwala has been supportive and encouraging and helped me to develop as a player.
Playing with her helped me to aim and dream big. The fact that she believed we could do well too helped a lot. And of course with time and experience, I think I’ve matured as a player.
Q: What would pave the way for the new crop of women doubles players in India as we are struggling to churn out quality pairs if we take both of you out of the equation?
To start off with, it would be having separate doubles camps with a doubles specialist and good sparring partners. If doubles as an event is given the right kind of encouragement and support, only then will it help youngsters to look at the event as a career option.
source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / SportsKeeda /Home> Badminton> Canada-Open>Badminton / by Suhrid Barua / July 18th, 2015
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