Category Archives: Business & Economy

Starbucks moving forward with MoU with Tata Coffee as government notifies 100 % FDI in single brand retail

Business & Economy, Coffee News

New Delhi :
US-based coffee giant Starbucks today said it is moving forward with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with Tata Coffee and hopes to make an announcement soon even as the government has notified 100 per cent FDI in single brand retail.

In an e-mailed response, John Culver, President, Starbucks (China and Asia Pacific) said: “We are moving forward with MoU (signed with Tata Coffee in 2011) discussions and planning, and hope to make an announcement soon”.

On January 10, the government allowed 100 per cent FDI in single-brand retail, paving way for global chains to have full ownership of their India operations.

The company had earlier signed an MoU with Tata Coffee for formation of a strategic alliance for sourcing of coffee beans. As per the MoU signed, the companies also agreed to explore the opportunities for opening coffee shops in India.

Culver further said: “We are excited about the great opportunities that India presents to Starbucks and look forward to offering high-quality coffee, handcrafted beverages, legendary service and the unique Starbucks experience to customers in India”.

However, the 100 per cent FDI in retail comes with a sourcing clause. It will be mandatory to source at least 30 per cent from the domestic small and cottage industries which have a maximum investment in plant and machinery of USD 1 million (over Rs 5 crore).

Starbucks said at this point the company does not have anything further to add.

Starbucks is the world’s biggest coffee chain, managing over 16,000 stores, and operates in more than 50 countries.

source: http://www.articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com / ECONOMIC TIMES/ News> News By Industry> Cons. Products / PTI / January 12th, 2012

Record Tourism Influx Into Kodagu

About Kodagu / Coorg, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy

Bangalore:

Kodagu district, aptly called the Kashmir of Karnataka and the Switzerland of India, is fast becoming a popular tourist destination with urbanites from various parts of the country making a beeline to this serene hill station surrounded by coffee plantations, where numerous resorts and home stays have mushroomed to cater to the needs of the tourists whose numbers swell during the holidays and weekends.

The pleasant weather, picturesque landscapes and fresh air are a luxury for many of the urban populace who simply look forward to relax in such serene atmosphere, away from the urban hustle-bustle, noise and air pollution.

According to sources in the Tourism Department, the number of tourists visiting Kodagu is higher than those visiting Munnar in Kerala, one of the most popular hill stations of South India. As per the statistics provided by the Karnataka and Kerala Tourism Departments, the number of tourists who visited Kodagu in 2010 was 5,94,467 (including 5,87,216 domestic and 7,251 foreign tourists), which is double that of Munnar which saw 2,45,438 tourists (including 19,690 foreign tourists). Up to Nov. 2011, Kodagu saw a quantitative leap with over 15 lakh visitors.

Tourism officials are thrilled by the prospects of developing Kodagu as a popular tourist destination. The hill district is situated at an elevation of 1,525 metres MSL.

Though the tourist footfall in Munnar has not gone down, the fact that the numbers have swelled significantly in Kodagu has given it the lead, said officials.

Situated at the confluence of three mountain streams –Muthirapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala __ and placed about 1,600 metres above sea level, the hill station of Munnar once used to be the summer resort of the erstwhile British administration in south India. Marked by vast expanses of tea plantations, colonial bungalows and waterfalls, Munnar had so far been the ever-green favourite of tourists in sea-rch of a calm and quiet hill station.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / January 09th, 2012

Govt. Mulling on Regularisation of Encroached Govt. Lands

Business & Economy, Nature, Uncategorized


Caption: D.V. Sadananda Gowda is seen unveiling the statue of freedom fighter Guddemane Appayya Gowda in Madikeri yesterday. His wife Dotty Sadananda Gowda is seen offering floral tributes.

Madikeri, Jan. 3:
The Government is mulling on regularisation of encroached government lands by making amendments to Section 94(C) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, said Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda.

He was speaking at the launch of several works undertaken by various Departments at the Town’s Gandhi maidan after unveiling the statue of Freedom Fighter Guddemane Appayya Gowda here yesterday.

The government is contemplating on making amendments to the Revenue Act so as to give land rights to farmers who have taken up cultivation in C and D category lands in Kodagu district.

The Chief Minister also said the Services Guarantee Bill, which aimed at transparency in Governance, will be tabled before the Assembly in the coming session. As many as 152 functions under various departments will be brought under the purview of the Bill, he pointed out.

A medical college will be established in Kodagu, for which the funds will be earmarked in the forthcoming budget, he added.

Earlier, Madikeri MLA Appacchu Ranjan in his introductory address, said the State should submit Rs. 133 crore proposal to the Centre for checking Wild Elephant menace.

A medical college should be established in the district and ICU should be opened at District Hospital, Madikeri, he said.

Appachu Ranjan also urged the government to initiate measures for developing Talacauvery and Bhagamandala, construction of General Thimmaiah Memorial and KSRTC division for Kodagu.

Speaker K.G. Bopaiah said land has been identified for construction of DC office complex, Police Station at Suntikoppa, Ayurveda College at Virajpet and Medical College in Kodagu.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / January 03rd, 2012

Award for P.M. Belliappa

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion


British Deputy High Commissioner in southern India Mike Nitharvrianakis presents the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire citation and medal to the president of ABS P.M.Belliappa in Chennai on Monday. Photo: K Pichumani
Recognising his contribution towards improving the Indo-U.K. relationship, the British High Commission presented the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) badge to P.M. Belliappa, president of the Association of British Scholars at a function here on Monday.

Mike Nitharvrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner in southern India, said that the award is to recognise Mr. Belliappa’s services to environmental protection and for promoting Indo-U.K. alumni relations through the ABS. Calling the award as a “very, very rare honour”, Mr. Nitharvrianakis said “Indians who study abroad always try to give something back to the country where they spent their academic life. Mr.Belliappa is a prime example.”

Terming the occasion as a moment of great joy and pride, Kartar Singh, Deputy Director, British Council, said that Mr. Belliappa is a true ambassador of Indo-U.K. relationship. “This award celebrates his human spirit,” he said. Reflecting on his life and career, Mr.Belliappa said “I have had three careers, running almost in parallel – civil service, my years as an international environmental consultant and the ABS. In all of them, I’ve achieved a measure of success. But the results were achieved only due to a collective endeavour.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / April 12th, 2011

Picturesque Coorg to get rail connectivity

About Kodagu / Coorg, Business & Economy, Uncategorized

Coorg or Kodagu is in a dilemma today on whether to accept the new development in the region or not. For decades people from Coorg district of Karnataka demanding railway route for the region and at the same time some traditional populace protesting it as such a development can harm the serenity of the terrain. Kodagu district of Karnataka, a prominent tourist place does not have railway or air connectivity. This isolation of the region surrounded by mountains, forest, fields and waterfalls has worked as blessing in disguise.

But now railway department has proposed a train route from Mysore to Madikeri, the headquarters of the district, and the survey is already undergoing. Recently, Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa launched the first stage of the preliminary survey works on the route at Kushalnagar in Kodagu district. The work relating to the preliminary engineering-cum-traffic survey between Mysore-Kushalnagar-Madikeri will be completed in four months and the project would start in less than a year. According to K.H. Muniyappa, although the preliminary survey works were taken up from Mysore to Madikeri, the first phase of the project work would commence from Mysore to Kushalnagar. The project was expected to cost Rs. 600 crore.

M C Nanayya, Member of Legislative Council (MLC) and JD(S) leader from Coorg has a different opinion.
He said, “I am perfectly positive about extending railway line from Mysore to Kushalnagar. As this line goes through Belagola, Hunsur, Piriyapattana and Kushalnagar there is no threat to forest of private plantations. The route covers plains and government land and will not harm environment or farmers. But, I am against this railway line extending to Madikeri as the route goes through hilly terrain forest near Kushalnagar which is of 2800 ft height from sea level and Madikeri forest is 3900 ft height from sea level. The route is not necessary as this covers forest, hilly terrain and private coffee plantations and we can travel same distance by road in 40 minutes. As the route is environmental hazard and not eco friendly I will oppose such plan.”

Though, efforts were made to provide rail links to Kodagu during the tenure of the former Chief Minister late R. Gundu Rao who hailed from Kushalnagar but failed to fulfill the dream in his term. So, at last now the region is going to cheer up with new railway link.

“It is true that serenity of the region will be harmed, but any development we should accept. If railways come the travel will become cheaper. There are positive and negative points attached in it. Knowing such a type of development will harm the environment, it is difficult to accept,” Says Seetha Aiyanna, Vice president, Kodava Samaja, Bangalore.

But, Seetha Aiyanna and others residents of the region accept that protesting voices are becoming weak nowadays. Knowing the necessity of development everyone wants railway and air connectivity to this beautiful district.

source: http://www.TheSundayIndian.com / by N K Suprabha / Bangalore, January 07th, 2012

Nescafe plan: Going beyond the Cup

Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

New Delhi, JAN. 5:
Nestlé India has rolled out the India leg of its global Nescafe Plan by setting up a coffee demonstration farm and training centre in Kodagu district, Karnataka.

Nescafe Plan is the Swiss MNC’s ambitious global initiative to bring under one umbrella coffee farming, production and consumption activities — one that it says will “help it optimise its coffee supply chain.” In 2010, when the world’s biggest coffee buyer had unveiled the Plan, it had announced an investment of CHF 500 million (Rs 2,811 crore).

Mr Jawaid Akhtar, Chairman, Coffee Board of India, inaugurated the coffee demonstration farm at Bindhu Estate, Kodagu. Nestle will be training farmers in using technology and best practices for sustainable production of high quality coffee.

Mr Antonio Helio Waszyk, Chairman & Managing Director, Nestlé India, said, “In the Nescafe Plan, our team will work with coffee farmers as well as other experts and the Nestlé R&D Centre in France to combine the traditional wisdom amongst the coffee farmers in India with the benefits of modern science to make coffee farming more successful and sustainable.”

Nestlé, which purchases 10 per cent of the world’s supply of green coffee every year, had launched the Nescafe Plan in 2010 in Mexico. Under the Plan, the Swiss MNC had said it would double the amount of coffee it sources from farmers directly to 180,000 tonnes in the next five years.

The idea in India, it says, is also to improve penetration of its instant coffee brand Nescafe amongst consumers and expand the market.

Mr Nandu Nandkishore, Nestlé Executive Vice-President and Zone Director for Asia, Oceania, Africa and West Asia , said, “By working with farmers in this way, we know where the coffee comes from, and they know they have a partner who will give them competitive prices for high quality produce.”

chitra.n@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Industry & Economy / Our Bureau / New Delhi/ New Delhi, January 05th, 2012

Kodagu forest circle gets CCF

Business & Economy, Uncategorized

Madikeri:
In order to utilise the experiences of the senior officers in the department and get them into field work, the State Government has upgraded all the 13 Forest Circles in the state to the level of CCF (Chief Conservator of Forests) Office from the Conservator of Forests, with effect from December 24, 2011.

Kodagu got the upgradation in the first list, others being Mangalore, Belgaum, Uttarakannada and Chikmagalur district’s Forest Circles and the district also got a new Chief Conservator of Forests in the form of J N Raj who took office on December 31, 2011. Raj told Express that the upgradation will help people, as the CCF level official work will be done here and the rest will be sent to Bangalore for their consent.

The rules and guidelines will become more clear, once the scope and limits of the office will be made public, he added. He added that he will first study the situation thoroughly here and plan accordingly, since the expectations of the people will be more once the office gets upgraded. He said that the vacancies in the department and man-elephant conflict will be the big challenges before the Forest Department.

Once the summer approaches, instances of wild fire will be more, which will make the elephants come out in search for water and food. As a result, they may scatter from the group and pass through residential areas and estates leading to crop loss, human and elephants deaths.

source: http://www.ibnlive.com / South> Karnataka / Express News Service / The New Indian Express / posted January 05th, 2011

Kodagu readies itself for CM’s visit today

Business & Economy, Leaders, Uncategorized

Kushanlanagar, Jan 1, DHNS:

In the backdrop of chief minister Sadananda Gowda’s scheduled visit to Kushalnagar and Guddehosur on January 2, MLA MP Appachu Ranjan held discussions with officers recently.

The MLA, along with deputy commissioner Dr Prasad and superintendent of police Manjunath Annigeri, visited Guddehosur, the native place of the CM’s wife Dati, and discussed about security aspects.

The CM is scheduled to visit his in-laws’ house in Ballur, followed by a visit to Chamundeshwari temple.

Then the CM will take part in a get-together party of Gowda community members, which will be organised at Gowda Samaja in Kushalnagar, informed Appachu Ranjan.

The MLA visited Gowda Samaja and inspected the venue. He also visited the helipad, where the CM’s helicopter will land. The MLA asked the SP to arrange for tight security during the chief minister’s visit. Zilla panchayat member B B Bharathish, BJP district president M N Kumarappa, DySP Paul Verma and others were present.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / January 10st, 2012

Getting The Brew Right

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), , , , , , , , ,

The Tata Coffee chief gets the brew right to claim the No. 2 title
RANK 2 (MID SIZE COMPANIES)

RANK:2(MID-SIZE COMPANIES)
HAMEED HUQ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, TATA COFFEE (Jagadeesh NV)

On a cool November Sunday morning, a threesome waits to tee off on the first hole at the Karnataka Golf Association course in Bangalore. Hameed Huq is convincing one of his partners, a tea drinker, to shift to coffee: the one his company makes. The 60-year-old, Assam-born managing director (MD) of Tata Coffee has spent 35 years in the coffee business. Coffee is a passion, though he admits to drinking just 3-4 cups a day. He is also a Tata Group lifer; the past 13 in Tata Coffee. “For 10 years, growth stagnated,” says Huq. “It is a commodity business, where revenues and growth are volatile.” Tata Coffee is a B2B coffee business — branded coffees are owned by Tata Global Beverages — and subject to the vagaries of the commodity cycle. When he took over as MD in 2007, the company’s revenues from the plantation business were Rs 250 crore. Production cycles were unstable, and quality was not the greatest. His first steps: stabilising the cycle, improving quality and entering the market for specialty, gourmet coffee.

“Our buyers are mostly in the US, though the former Soviet Union countries are a big export market,” he says. His clients include Costa Coffee, Starbucks and Atlantic Coffee. As environmental sustainability is a big factor in developed country markets, green coffee is an area Huq has directed the company to get into; margins are anywhere between 6 and 20 per cent, he says. He is a great believer in technology too. That is only natural; he has studied the processes in Colombia, the world’s biggest coffee exporter.

So how did his firm manage to do so well? “How do you drive a commodity business that has no consumer brand?” he asks. “You take out the volatility.” Tata Coffee, which has about 8,000 employees, bought Eight O’ Clock Coffee, the third-largest whole-bean coffee firm by volume in the US. The move has been good for the bottom line, besides giving Tata Coffee a foothold in the US, which contributes about Rs 800 crore in revenues annually. The other Rs 500 crore coming from domestic sales. Whatever Huq has done, it appears to have worked. Sales have grown three times since 2007 and the company’s market cap has grown five times.

The immediate future, however, looks a little grim. Revenues are sluggish, due to the 2008 crisis. Sales in the former Soviet Union countries do not provide high margins. “People are a problem,” adds Huq. “We still need workers, and too many are migrating out of plantations.” Tata Coffee is investing in its workers. For instance, it is ensuring that the living standards of workers and their families are at a level comparable with workers in developed countries. The next three years will be difficult. Recovery from 2008 is likely to be slow and long. If there is a 2011 European crisis, it might be longer. Huq may need to drink more than his 3-4 cups a day, and the coffee will have to be stronger.

(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 26-12-2011)
source: http://www.businessworld.in / Home> Business> Corporate / by Srikanth Srinivas / December 17th, 2011

New President for ‘Coorg Homestay Association’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders

Mysore, Nov. 26:

The 6th Annual General Body meeting of Coorg Home Stays Association was held on Nov. 22 at Porcupine Castle in Pollibetta, Kodagu.

Outgoing President N. Dilip Chengappa handed over charge to the new President K.M. Karumbaiah and his team.

The other office-bearers are Vice-President: B. Nalini Achaiah; Secretary : P.U. Preetham; Joint Secretary: C. Savitha Appanna; Treasurer : D.S. Prem. The Committee Members are: P.M. Prabhu Uthaya, C. Madan Somanna, Shamvil, C. Kalpana Muthanna, C.N. Narendra, B. Vijoo Chengappa, K.T.Sagar and P. Hem Madappa.

Outgoing Secretary Madan Somanna read out the Annual Report. The AGM discussed issues pertaining to Unregistered Home Stays, Tax and floating of a State-level Home Stay Association.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / General News / November 26th, 2011