Tata Coffee plans 100 shops in India

Tata Coffee Ltd, owned 51 per cent by Tata Tea, plans to launch 100 coffee outlets in the country over the next five years to enhance presence.

TCL currently has one such outlet under the brand name of Tata Mr Bean Junction at Kochi in Kerala. "We have plans to start another five in the current financial year," the Bangalore-headquartered company's Managing Director M Hamid Ashraff told PTI in an interview.

"We are yet to finalise the locations. We are thinking of  (putting up the five outlets) Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore."

"....we will own these shops. Thereafter, we will grow the frachisee route. In the next five years, we plan to have around 100 outlets," he said.

Ashraff also said the firm plans to launch a brand in the Russian market, possibly 'Eight O' Clock' which it acquired last year from Gryphon Investors for Rs 1,015 crore (Rs 10.15 billion).

"We are (also)

looking at new markets such as Australia." Ashraff said the company plans to set up a Rs 19 crore (Rs 190 million) polyphenol plant in Coimbatore district, for which government approval is expected in one month.

He said the Rs 60 crore (Rs 600 million), 3,600 metric-tonnes-per-annum coffee plant proposed to be set up in Uganda has been delayed as local bodies in two identified areas have been fighting among themselves for the company's investment.

But Ashraff expressed hope that the issue would be sorted out in 2-3 months, and the company would be in a position to construct the plant, which would address markets in Europe and China.

He also said the company plans to add 15-20 rooms to its Holiday Homes in Coorg in Karnataka this year.