Tata Coffee plans retail push into Russia, CIS

Our Corporate Bureau
23 February 2007

"We have plans to perhaps leverage the Eight O'Clock brand and launch a brand in Russia, CIS and Ukraine," M H Ashraff, managing director, Tata Coffee, said in Bangalore.

Tata Coffee, which acquired the 'Eight O'Clock' brand from the US-based Gryphon Investors for $220 million in June last year, is currently the second largest bulk exporter of instant coffee into Russia, Ukraine and CIS countries.

"Tata Coffee has already started its research in Russia, Ukraine and CIS countries and that is where we are going to concentrate on by going in with a brand," Ashraff said.

The instant coffee market in the three areas is growing at about 10 to 12 per cent each year, he said, adding, "The market is big enough for us to enter".

Meanwhile, Tata Coffee expects to start production at its Rs 70 crore instant coffee plant in Uganda in a month or two.

The company would soon finalise the vendor and land for the project, for which a German firm is providing technology.