Snapshots of Food Industry News
Haldiram Bhujiawala Buys Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf India Franchise
The US based, coffee chain, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) has been in talks to re-sell its global franchisees. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf India franchise has been bought up by Haldiram Bhujiawala from private equity fund Everstone Capital for Rs 100 crore. As part of the deal, the Kolkata-based company has also acquired the Gelato Italiano brand.The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is a chain of coffee parloursthat opened its first outlet in India in South Delhi’s Saket area in 2008.
Haldiram acquired a majority stake in Pan India Food Solutions, a holding company set up by Everstone Capital to house the coffee chain and ice cream parlour businesses. Haldiram has acquired a total of 89 outlets as part of this deal and have plans to expand the coffee chain and ice cream business. Since Pan India Food Solutions also owns brands like Spaghetti Kitchen and food courts Spoon and Foodtalk, so these brands are also part of the deal.Haldiram’s is a popular Indian QSR chain so synergies in terms of support functions and administrative operations will be helpful.
Gulabs Rorays into Ready-to-cook Segment
‘Gulabs’, the makers of tasty and delectable hand-crafted Indian snacks, have forayed into ready-to-cook food category segment with the launch of Rava Upma Mix. The Mix is a convenient and healthy instant meal which can easily be prepared by just stirring the Mix in boiling water. It is made in pure ghee and filled with roasted cashews, spices and pulses.The Rava Upma Mix comes with free malgapodi as a condiment along with the pack which makes it a good combination.
Gulabs have entered this segment keeping in mind consumer preference for delicious quick meals as there are now nuclear families, working women and changing lifestyles. Rava Upma Mix is available at all leading food retail outlets such as Samsaara, Kejriwala Dry Fruits & Chocolates, Paris Gift House, Kabul. You can also order online through Gulabs.in, Amazon and Flipkart. Each 100gram packis priced at Rs 90.
Coca-Cola enters India non-alcoholic malt-drink market
Beverage maker Coca-Cola has entered India’s high-volume non-alcoholic malt drinks market in a big way with its global brand Barbican. The pilot was launched six months back with a focus on youth. As part of the pilot, Barbican is being imported and made available at around 3,000 select outlets across metropolitan cities.A non-alcoholic malt drink is a high energy beverage, brewed in the same fashion as beer or ale.
The recent foray is part of Coca-Cola’s plan to introduce healthier options in the Food &Beverage segment in India.The launch into the Indian market became possible after Coca-Cola acquired 50 percent stake in Middle East-based Aujan Industries’ beverages division. Other companies in this niche but untapped market are Anheuser-Busch InBev, Heineken and Kingfisher.
Danone and Nestle to Launch New Health and Nutrition Products
To ward of competition, Nestle and Danone are both getting ready to launch new products in the health and nutrition segment. The decision seems to come on the heels of Hindustan Unilever acquired GSK brand and their plans to extend Horlicks into nutritional product segment. Nestle has re-launched Milo the malted food drinks brand as an energy drink for sports. On the other hand, Danone is all set to launch several products like low sugar, bar and ready-to-drink versions of Protinex. Danone is growing aggressive in the nutritional and health segment as they are testing almost 20 new products so as to expand the market. The nutraceutical market is at around $4 billion and by 2022 is predicted to reach $10 billion. Several FMCG companies are also planning on entering this market especially in the functional food category.
TPG Capital In Talks to Buy Coffee Day Global
Private equity company, TPG Capital, is in early talks for a possible acquisition of Coffee Day Global (CDG), parent company of Cafe Coffee Day (CCD). Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd (CDEL) owns around 89 percent of CDG, which comprises a chain of about 1,750 stores, nearly 600 Value Express kiosks and 60,000 coffee vending machines in corporate offices and hotels across the country. Also, coffee beans and powder are marketed through their 450 ‘Fresh and Ground Coffee’ retail stores.
The group is currently under financial stress and have admitted to outstanding debt of Rs 4,970 crore, including Rs 4,796 crore secured and Rs 174 crore unsecured loans. Last week CDEL approved selling of Global Village Tech Park of its subsidiary Tanglin Developments Ltd in Bengaluru to the US-based private equity firm Blackstone for Rs 2,600-3,000 crore in 30-45 days.
Italy’s Barilla to Explore Pasta Market in India
Italian pasta brand Barilla will be partnering with Chef Ranveer Brar in India so as to bridge the food gap between Indian and Italian. Partnering with Chef Ranveer will strengthen the pasta culture in India. He will also share precious tips for cooking up perfect pasta mealsthrough videos. Chef Ranveer will star in the campaignvideos on YouTube and Facebook. These videos have been inspired by the typical problems faced by consumers when they cook pasta, right from the basics of pasta cooking to pasta as a healthy meal for families.
Barilla is a family concern that began in 1877 and their USP has always been promoting Italian food with the power of emotional moments, happiness and celebration around the table. Italian food has always been extremely close to Chef’s Ranveer’s hearttoo ever since he trained under Antonio Carluccio and has opened the Italian restaurant, Il Camino in Goa. He has no qualms about accepting the fact that Barilla is thegold standard when it comes to Italian ingredients.
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