ITC to scale up luxury chocolates Fabelle and premium coffee Sunbean

ITC Ltd, which recently ventured into the handcrafted luxury chocolates segment with brand Fabelle and gourmet coffee brand Sunbean, is focusing on scaling up their presence across key metros, according to Sanjiv Puri, COO of ITC.

The chocolates and coffee are retailed through boutique stores at its hotels, offering a range of handcrafted pralines, personalised chocolate cups, ganache and beverages.

"We have already launched our luxury chocolates in three markets — Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata — and hope to bring them to Delhi soon. We have also launched our premium coffee brand," said Sanjiv Puri, COO of ITC. "We are going to take these brands to key metros through our hotel properties. Over time we could look at selling them through other retail channels, but we will first focus on retailing them through our hotels."

The company has stated that it plans to achieve Rs 1 lakh crore turnover from its non-cigarette FMCG businesses by 2030, and has been aggressive with launches in the past year.

From dairy, juices, chocolates and coffee in the food segment, to handwash and antiseptic liquids in personal care, the company has had made an entry into several new categories. ITC also has big plans for the dairy segment.

"We have started with Aashirvaad Svasti Ghee and Sunfresh Dairy Whitener. We have a host of products in the dairy segment at various stages of development, which we will launch once plans are finalised," he said.

Replying to a query on key growth drivers in the FMCG business, Puri said: “Most of the categories that we are present in are big categories that have huge potential — whether they are agarbattis, personal care, food products or stationery. Each of these categories has huge headroom to grow. Within these categories, too, there are segments we may not be present in and will look to get in, besides looking at newer categories,” he added.

At the same time, the company has been looking at a strong wellness play, with products such as a sugar release control atta variant and digestive biscuits with no maida and no added sugar.

"Our strategy has been to address consumers’ wellness and nutritional needs, and to offer them products with functional benefits. Consumers will see much more of such products in the future," Puri added.

(Source: Hindu Business Line, Kolkata dated 2016-09-02)

Indians are now drinking more, but not to get drunk

Sales of hard liquor such as rum and vodka have shown a sharp decline in 2014-15, while whisky sales have grown marginally.
Among wines, sales of still light wine showed 17% growth in 2014-15, the highest among all wine segments, driven mainly by value lines of local brands.

Indians seem to have sobered down. Better still, they are making wise choices while fixing their drinks.
Sales of hard liquor such as rum and vodka have shown a sharp decline in 2014-15, while whisky sales have grown marginally. A change in tastes and a yearning for aspirational lifestyles have led to the increase in sales of wine and beer.
Youngsters have fuelled a boom in tequila, sales of which shot up by 10% in 2014-15.

"Gone are the days when youngsters would stay over at a friend's place and down a bottle of whisky or rum, in the fear that they would get scolded at home. These days, it's more about social drinking over good conversation with soft alcohol such as wine and craft beer," said Kapil Sekhri, director of Indian wine company Fratelli Wines. "In every sphere of life, the erstwhile feeling that 'alcohol is taboo' is fading away."

Among wines, sales of still light wine showed 17% growth in 2014-15, the highest among all wine segments, driven mainly by value lines of local brands. Growth of champagne, however, remained muted with demand for rose increasing.

Flavours are keeping the vodka category alive too. While sales of plain vodka is showing a decline, flavoured ones are soaring mainly due to demand from young consumers. It's the same story with rum, with flavoured variety finding favour with consumers and growing by 45% in 2014-15.
Aspirations are driving consumers to upgrade too. The trend is stark in whisky with the Indian-made-foreign-liquor (IMFL) category showing higher value growth than volume growth, as consumers have traded up to higher price points.

Source: Times News Network dated 2016-09-11.

Patanjali to launch Indianised jeans

Announcing that Patanjali would launch 'Swadeshi' jeans soon, Baba Ramdev on Sunday (2016-09-12) said the idea behind his expanding business ventures is to end the dominance of multinational corporations that have for decades been capitalising on the country's market.

"When we want Indians winning medals in sports, why can't we develop the same spirit in economic pursuits and excel in businesses on our own? My fight is against foreign companies trying to take over our economy," the yoga teacher said. There's a great demand from the country's youths for jeans, the reason why Patanjali has decided to launch "Indianised" jeans to compete with foreign brands, he said.
"Patanjali's plans involve getting into the garment sector, especially 'Swadeshi' jeans that the youth of the country are demanding. It also wants to enter edible oils and home products like toilet cleaners. There's a huge vacuum in the market for quality products and Patanjali enjoys enormous public loyalty that ensures success for all our products," Ramdev said.
Patanjali, Ramdev said, is set to go global with plans to set up units abroad.

"We've set up factories in Nepal and Bangladesh and are now approaching African nations. Profits earned would be used in those countries for development, and won't be ploughed back to India," said Ramdev . If permitted, he said he was willing to start units in Pakistan and Afghanistan as well.
"Our products have reached the West Asia and are popular even in countries like Saudi Arabia," Ramdev said. While manufacturing units would be set up in poor countries to boost local economies, we will also cater to rich nations like the US and in Europe through exports, Ramdev said.

On the proposed plants in Mihan here, Ramdev said it will be biggest unit in the country spread over 40 lakh square feet. It will be larger than the facility at Haridwar. The initial investment on infrastructure and machinery will be close to Rs 1,000 crore, he said.
Patanjali is also setting up units in MP , Assam, J&K, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh besides expanding existing ones in West Bengal and Karnataka. The company is eyeing a turnover of Rs 50 lakh crore in the FMCG market, he said.

(Source: Indiatimes.com dated 2016-09-12)

Kolkata restaurant Mocambo refuses to serve dinner to a Mumbai based corporate executive and her driver

Kolkata restaurant Mocambo refuses to serve dinner to a Mumbai based corporate executive and her driver!

"How shallow and inhuman have we become ?

Last night being my last day in Kolkata decided to try out this popular restraunt called Mocambo' at Park Street .I decided to go with my driver -Manish bhaiya here whose great service and care throughout my stay in Kolkata for a week was excellent . ( Also yesterday afternoon he missed his lunch because I forgot to tell him to go for lunch - uncertain about the time it would take me to finish the meeting -he missed his lunch )
Guilty of my mistake . I decided to go out for dinner with him .
As soon as I reached Mocambo at around 8:40 PM . I asked the staff to give me a table for 2.

Staff : There is a waiting of 15 minutes .

Me : *as excited I was to try out this popular joint *happily agreed

Staff :* by this time they observed I was with Manish bhaiya * walked up to me and said it will take 45 minutes for the table to get ready .

Me : *little confused by time communicated *earlier ...now eagerly asked but you said 15 minutes

Staff : yes the table was going to get empty but they ordered for more food

Me : *peeping through the glass windows *but I can see some empty tables inside .

Staff : they are four seaters.. today is Friday we cannot give that table .

Me: ok

After waiting for 10-15 minutes . When I see people who came after me getting the table .

Me : why are you not giving me the table ?

Staff : Maam we can't give you a table

Me : But why ?

Staff : who are you with

Me : subtly pointing towards Manish bhaiya .

Staff : aahhh....Maam he is not properly dressed .

Me : * he was cleanly dressed in a cream trouser and a shirt tucked out .. And floaters *

I asked what is your dress code ?
Staff : we don't have a dress code .

Me : then ??

Staff :No No he is not properly dressed it's a fine dine restraunt

Me : *agitated by now *what's wrong with his dressing tell me and is there a written dress code he is not following ?

By this time Manish bhaiya understood parts of the conversation in English and by the daunting looks of the staff -walks up to me and says - 'Didi hum Nahi Khaenge aap Khana Kha lijiyega na '

Me : * hurt with his innocence and inhuman inconsiderate behaviour of the staff at Mocambo *

Me : call your manager give me a valid reason why he cannot come in .

Staff : goes and calls another person

Me : sir why can't he come in ?

Staff : because he is drunk

Me : *furious and baffled with the audacity of the staff *How do you know he is drunk ?

Staff : because my other colleague told me he is so

Me : on what basis due you make such assumptions . Did he drink in front of you or did you even go near him * they were standing 2-3 meters apart *He is driving me around since 8 o clock in the morning leave apart being drunk he is not even had food

Staff : but I know he is drunk

Me : prove it then

Me : what's your name

Staff : I can't tell you my name

Me : why ?

Staff : No No I can't it's just I can't let you in with him

Me : I Don't want to get in to your racist restraunt walks away with Manish bhaiya with deep grief in my heart on how Inhuman and shallow the world has become :(

Manish bhaiya is one of the finest human beings I have met in a long time he took good care of me and did his duty with all his heart. He is a simple man make 275 Rs a day for 12 hours of driving and sends more then half of the money back home . he has a difficult life Still he laughs a lot shares a lot of stories and is more human and empathetic then any I know .
To Mocambo staff and restraunt at Park Street Kolkata Which doesn't consider human as human and differentiates, discriminates and stratifies them into classes just because he doesn't fit into your description of a perfect customer. (doesn't own a iPhone maybe doesn't talk in English) I m sorry you don't deserve a fine human like Manish bhaiya sitting and eating in your racist restraunt .
(Disclaimer : This is entirely based on my personal experience and has no relation with my organisation / profession)"


Copied verbatim from a Facebook post by Marketing Manager of Tata Motors, "Dilashi Hemnani on September 10, 2016 at 12:08pm, Kolkata"

Weblink of her Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/dilashi.hemnani/posts/1204126152972589

With this single reported act, the reputation of brand 'Mocambo' has gone down the drains.
Verdict: Mocambo owners, management, staff deserves Stick!
Dilashi Hemnani deserves Carrot.

Is there anybody who's unmoved and have no qualms about dining at Mocambo, Park Street, Kolkata in future?
Will you boycott Mocambo?

StayUncle and now OYO Rooms to help unmarried couples find privacy in India.

While the moral police and the actual police acted as vigilantes over couples who wanted privacy in their bedrooms, StayUncle launched its services exclusively for unmarried couples who wanted a space of their own. Their tagline 'couples need a room, not a judgement' was welcomed and publicized. OYO rooms, a hotel aggregator launched their very own relationship mode hotel finding service in the light of its customers' demand.
OYO rooms featured the 'No Rooms For Unmarried Couples' policy till two months ago and the shift is being hailed as a progressive step. Hotels often turn away couples without definitive proof of marital status which can turn embarrassing and many often resort to rejecting locals so as to not encourage premarital sex. By using the aggregators relationship mode on their website and the mobile app, couples can get rooms with their local identity cards and it promises to be hassle free as they get to book only those hotels that welcome them as they are. No more 24 hours booking. No more running to check out before 12 noon. StayUncle offer customers an opportunity to book one of the 10 hours slots currently available - Morning (from 10am to 7pm) and evening slot (from 9 pm to 8 am). In both cases customers pay for 10 hours tariffs.

According to Huffington Post, 'OYO says that according to a rough estimate, 60% of the 6,000 hotels in 100 cities they have tie-ups with have been found to be couple-friendly. A customer can search for a couple-friendly hotel by logging into their account, clicking on the relationship mode in search preferences and then proceed to searching. They can also search for all the hotels in a city and filter the results by selecting the OYO for Couples option. According to OYO, Bengaluru, Gurgaon, Goa and Delhi have the highest number of ‘couple-friendly’ hotels. Tourist destinations such as Manali, Shimla and Mussoorie also rank high in the list. A casual search reveals that there are 146 such hotels in Bengaluru, 113 in Delhi and 217 in Goa. Surprisingly, metropolises such as Chennai (27), Kolkata (54) and Mumbai (12) have lesser couple-friendly hotels than Jaipur (170), Chandigarh (141), and Pune (73).'

Kavikrut, the Chief Growth Officer for OYO rooms said in an interview to Quint that the move was simply a logical one. A lot of their customers reached the hotel and then realised that they could not check in due to the hotel policies. It was embarrassing for them to be denied a room and to have to look for another hotel. All they did was let their customers know which hotels welcome unmarried couples. When they tie up with hotels, they know their policies, but the customers don’t, and that causes problems.

There is currently no Indian law that prohibits hotels from servicing unmarried couples or local couples that belong to the same city or area as the hotel. "We analysed guest-feedback and realized that couple-guests were likely to face last-minute inconvenience on account of hotel-policies that were not communicated to them earlier," Kavikrut said as reported by Times of India.

The rise in the demand for AirBnB, breakfast hotels, serviced apartments, hostels, room aggregators and specific ones catering only to unmarried couples like StayUncle and Bengaluru’s Nestaway are pointing towards a rising trend. People looking for a private and comfortable time sans the moralistic high ground of the self-appointed guardians of traditions have a reason to cheer as they get more options to not get caught in awkward positions.