Tata Coffee is literally going places. It plans to take its recently acquired US-brand Eight O’Clock coffee to Russia, Ukraine and the Common wealth of Independent States (CIS), according to managing director, Mr M.H. Ashraff, reports Economic Times.
Tata Coffee had purchased Eight O’Clock from Gryphon Investors for USD 220 million last year. Currently, Tata Coffee is the second largest exporter to Russia, Ukraine and CIS nations, where instant coffee consumption has been growing annually at the rate of 10-12%.
Tata Coffee mainly supplies to private labels in these countries and also owns two brands, Mysore Gold and International Tata Caf’ that are distributed through partnerships.
The company expects to start full-scale production at its new 2,500 tonne freeze-dried instant coffee plant at Theni next month. Tata Coffee is also setting up a 3,600-tonne soluble coffee plant at Uganda.
As far as the company’s retail initiative in India is concerned, Tata Coffee plans to set up Mr Bean Junction, a retail outlet in five cities. At present, the company operates a Mr Bean Junction at Kochi.
Source: Iris News Digest
Posted by beanybabe at 1:55 AM PST
