illycaffè extends Coffee Quality Contest

Our Corporate Bureau
24 March 2004

New Delhi: illycaffè S.p.A., the world''s leading roaster of quality Espresso coffee, has extended the closing of entries for the second India Coffee Quality Prize for Espresso by 10 days, till March 31, 2004. The contest was earlier to close on the 20th of March.

illycaffè said that growers in the coffee regions of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala had experienced a delay in harvest due to seasonal conditions, and had made a representation requesting an extension. According to illycaffe, the contest has been generating an enthusiastic response from growers across the regions.

The company has stepped up activities in India over the last one year, since it first launched the Coffee Quality contest as a means of identifying plantation owners, with whom it then sets up direct partnerships, providing training and technical know-how. The aim for the company is to raise quality over a period of time by introducing the growers to better agronomical practices.

Senior officials of the Company have been travelling frequently to India. Dr. Andrea Illy, CEO of illycaffè, has visited India twice, most recently as part of the business delegation at the India-EU Business Summit held in November 2003. Dr. Ernesto Illy, Chairman of illycaffe, was in Bangalore in February to address a symposium on Coffee and Health, organised by the Coffee Board of India.

Last month, the Company received ISO: 14001 certification, which defines the requisites for setting up an Environment Management System. This is the third significant certification that illycaffè holds - having earlier obtained product certification from Qualitè France. illycaffe follows quality management systems in conformity with ISO: 9001-2000.

According to the company, the award process for the India Coffee Quality Prize is carefully designed and executed to ensure participation from all interested growers. Careful screening enforces strict adherence to standards in the quality of the beans that are grown. The process of receiving entries and evaluation also helps the company identify growers of quality Arabica Espresso beans, who satisfy its standards of aroma, bitterness and organoleptic qualities. These growers then become suppliers to illycaffè.