‘The Lounge Journals’ debuts in Bangalore

The Lounge Journals, a national initiative by Café Coffee Day, the leading trend setting chain of coffee cafes in India, was inaugurated in Bangalore with an illuminating session on photography and filmmaking on Thursday. ‘The Lounge Journals’ are a series of tête-à-tête sessions with celebrity experts on hobbies, topics and passions of the youth. The third of the series (earlier hosted at The Lounge by CCD in Chennai and Chandigarh) was hosted by renowned photographer Ryan Lobo who conducted a session titled ‘The Perfect Cuppa’, with a group of filmmaking and photography students and enthusiasts.




‘The Lounge Journals’ are aimed at encouraging the youth to partake in creative hobbies and developing productive talents. Said K. Ramakrishnan, President-Marketing, Café Coffee Day, “The idea is to channelize youth energy into creative and productive expressions, and encourage them to develop passions in life. What better place for artistic expressions than The Lounge itself, which provides a luxurious and relaxed ambience for artists. The ambience, coffee and the food at The Lounge is designed to bring out the artist in you.”

A photographer and filmmaker, Ryan Lobo uses his lens to capture images that narrate stories and delves beyond the surface to give a new perspective. Ryan has co founded Mad Monitor Productions, a production company based in Bangalore and Washington, D.C., and has produced several shows for channels like National Geographic.

During the session, Ryan shared his experiences gained from traversing the globe and gave tips on varied nuances of photography, equipment and techniques, all that over some delicious coffee and scrumptious food. However, the best part turned out to be when he demonstrated how to shoot a perfectly brewed cup of coffee, made at The Lounge especially for Ryan’s shoot. The photography students and enthusiasts were excited on hearing that they would soon be receiving a picture of ‘The Perfect Cuppa’ shot, autographed by Ryan himself.



Said a beaming Ryan, “The session was exciting and invigorating thanks to The Lounge. It is always great to share my experience with students and it is even better when the audience is so receptive. But the best part was when I demonstrated the coffee cup shot, which I’ve never done earlier. Though I’ve frequented The Lounge a few times, shooting the coffee cup never occurred to me. It was a great experience.”



Café Coffee Day will take ‘The Lounge Journals’ across all its 30 outlets of The Lounge in India. The Lounge Journals will be a periodic series focusing on several interesting topics including photography, creative writing, painting, animation, and sculpting. Each session will conducted by a leading and renowned expert from the field.



About Coffee Day Lounge

‘The Lounge’ is a specially created format for the coffee lover who wishes to indulge in the selective art of brewing and drinking coffee which is complimented by the right combination of food, in a totally relaxed and luxurious ambience. The Lounge offers a range of distinct coffee blends prepared by special alternative brewing techniques, customized world cuisine, personalized service in a plush lounge seating.



About Café Coffee Day:

Café Coffee Day is a part of India's largest coffee conglomerate, Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd. (ABCTCL), the first to roll out the ‘coffee bar’ concept in India with its first café in Bangalore. Café Coffee Day serves the coffee it grows on the 7400 acres of its own estates plus another 2500 acres of managed estates, the group also sources coffee from 11,000 small growers, making its holder the largest individual coffee plantation owner in Asia, this in addition to being India's only vertically integrated coffee company. Café Coffee Day’s menu ranges from signature hot and cold coffees to several exotic international coffees, food, desserts and pastries. In addition, exciting merchandise such as coffee powders, cookies, mugs, coffee filters, etc. are available at the cafés.

Britannia Nutrition Foundation Organizes its 3nd Symposium

The Symposium seeks to bring together multi-sectoral experts from various domains that impact malnutrition like the Government, Nutritional Science, Medicine, Economics, Private sector and the Development sector to deliberate and collaborate on action to combat Malnutrition. The case for addressing Malnutrition in India with a sense of urgency is compelling when you consider the following:


· Over 40% of the world’s underweight children below 5 years live in India.

· Close to 70% of children in India suffer from Iron deficiency.

· Prevalence of Low Birth Weight in India is about 30%.

· Malnutrition costs the nation approximately 4% of GDP in productivity losses.

· 55% of preschool children in India are underweight and 50% of preschool children in India are stunted.

· Poverty is a major cause but not the only cause of malnutrition. Percentage of population suffering from various forms of malnutrition far exceeds the percentage below poverty line.

Britannia, India’s leading Food Company created the Britannia Nutrition Foundation (BNF) with the belief that Every Child has a Right to Growth and Development which includes not just the Right to Food, but also the Right to Nutrition. The purpose of the BNF is to provide a forum for organizations and experts in diverse fields who share the same conviction, to find models and solutions for the multi dimensional nutrition challenge. Drawing from the commitment and knowledge of key experts in this area, BNF has evolved a strong framework for effective action by focussing on three pillars –

· Scientific knowledge building and dissemination

· Awareness building

· Creating a platform for action

The 2nd BNF symposium in 2010 brought together multi-sectoral experts from India & the world that not only raised the severity of Malnutrition in India, but also proposed solutions to combat the problem. It comprised of three sessions that focused on learning from success stories in other countries, understanding the science and research in malnutrition, and creating a platform for action in India. 19 experts from India and around the world came together to discuss the issues at hand and to share strategies and success stories that are illustrative of working models in various parts of the world. Experts shared stories from geographies such as Thailand, China, Brazil and Africa to illustrate roadmaps. The list of speakers included a key note address from the Nobel Laureate Prof. Robert W. Fogel, Director – Centre for Population Studies, University of Chicago Booth School of Business and an expert on people economics. It was discussed that the Malnutrition problem is a multi-sectoral problem and needs partnerships among the Public sector, the Private sector and the civil society at large.

Over the last year, Britannia Nutrition Foundation has progressed in its profound journey with small yet significant steps. BNF is extremely proud to join hands with the Karnataka Nutrition Mission towards the design and delivery of a food-based nutrition solution and a comprehensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) program. BNF has adopted 2 villages in the state of Karnataka as part of this exercise. It is also committed to the development of a special food solution targeted towards the nutrition and protein energy needs of adolescent girls and women.



Britannia Nutrition Foundation believes that the efficacy of its malnutrition-targeted intent can improve manifold if delivered in association with public and governmental programs and through engaging with other organizations. Britannia made a commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) and was recognized for its work towards securing children’s right to growth and development through Good Food everyday by accelerating efforts to reduce micronutrient deficiency in Indian children through increasing availability and consumption of fortified food as well as driving awareness of nutrition, implemented with GAIN and other partners.

Britannia Nutrition Foundation continues to actively work towards scaling up pro-nutrition actions through various school feeding programs across the country. Today BNF engages with school-feeding programs through a wide spectrum of organizations and regions ranging from the Naandi Foundation and the Navjyoti Foundation to the Govt. of Chennai and the Govt. of Puducherry. In March 2007, Britannia developed a specially designed 5 mg Iron Fortified Biscuit, which in association with Naandi Foundation, Hyderabad and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Geneva, was used to supplement the Andhra Pradesh State Government’s midday meal program for 1.5 Lac school children in Hyderabad. The Britannia - Naandi - GAIN Partnership has been profiled as part of the GAIN – World Bank Institute (WBI) Case Study series titled “Business Innovation to Combat Malnutrition”.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Vinita Bali – Managing Director, Britannia Industries Limited and Chairperson of the Britannia Nutrition Foundation said, “Given the complexity of the Malnutrition challenge, it is imperative to drive co-ordinated action through multi-sectoral partnerships and programs. The 3nd BNF Symposium is an efficient and effective way to channelise productive dialogue and create a shared and common agenda, while respecting the diversity of views and experiences to combat Malnutrition”.

Mrs. Veena S. Rao – Former Secretary, Government of India with domain expertise in Malnutrition was also present at the event. On this occasion, Mrs. Veena S. Rao released the Britannia Nutrition Foundation special position paper on Malnutrition titled ‘Reducing Malnutrition in the Next Decade – Multi-Sectoral Stakeholders and Agents of Change’. Through the BNF position paper on Malnutrition, the cases for participation of multi-sectoral stakeholders and the need for a comprehensive intervention strategy were detailed out.

The following themes emerged as ones of utmost importance for an effective and comprehensive intervention strategy targeted at combating Malnutrition:



1. Planning and Design of Integrated programs through collaboration with various Government ministries



2. Measurement of Nutrition: Articulation of Key outcome indicators and inclusion of Nutrition sufficiency in overall development indices



3. Aggressive build-up in care and Nutrition interventions during the Critical ‘Window of Opportunity’ i.e. -9 to 24 months or formative years of the child



4. Addressing the problem of Malnutrition at various stages to break the Inter-generational cycle of Malnutrition and Ill health



5. Designing and Delivering Creative food-based solutions to make solutions both, broad-based and acceptable by the targeted individuals



6. Designing insightful and strong Communication and Campaign Approach to create awareness, seek participation and ensure compliance



7. Designing and Delivering effective Nutrition programs through Multi-sectoral Partnerships



8. Bringing a Change in Gender Equity and other Key Social Factors related to women

Political will, policy and governmental action need to be complemented by other sectors engaging with the issue of Malnutrition. This spectrum is wide and includes the Scientific and Knowledge building community, Private sector, NGOs, Developmental organizations and civil society. An attempt was also made to articulate the framework for drawing up the strategic contribution that each sector can make in impacting design, delivery and scale up of pro-nutrition programs:



1. Government and Policy makers – Central and State Governments can lead with the single most important thrust i.e. inclusion of Nutrition status and development as the most important development outcome for units and populations in their responsibilities. Apart from this, there is a direct need for them to recognize evidence-based nutrition solutions and provide resources and commitment to scale them up; in addition to creating regulatory frameworks that enable food-based solutions.



2. Scientific Community and Knowledge Building – There is a clear role to up-weight resources and expertise applied to building fundamental understanding of Nutrition Science, Nutrition status articulation, Frequent Measurement and evaluation of evidence-based nutrition interventions.



3. Private sector – The Private sector, especially the Food Industry can make a significant contribution by both, delivering nutrition through food products and helping build awareness for malnutrition by partnering in creation and delivery of communication programs to people at large.



4. Developmental organizations – It is noteworthy, that the Copenhagen consensus, 2008 identified Nutrition intervention and solutions, as having the best Return scenarios for resources. Several Developmental organizations, both International and Domestic have done commendable work in supporting Nutrition programs. Developmental organizations need to keep the momentum both, in terms of supporting key projects and creating platforms for action.



5. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) – NGOs and Self-help groups working on ground have outstanding domain expertise in taking key messages and interventions to the grass roots. The discipline certainly needs more on-ground partners who can collaborate to build capacity for program delivery.

6. Civil Society and the Education Sector – The cause of Nutrition can find an extremely competent partner in individuals. Emerging India has, in recent history witnessed several cases where the Civil Society has taken a lead in generating greater interest and providing stimuli for change. World over, Nutrition has seen very encouraging build-up with improvement in overall education levels and specifically for Mothers/ girl children. Efforts in this direction must intensify for a multiplicative effect on combating malnutrition

The other experts who were present at the symposium included:

· Dr. Kamala Krishnaswamy – Former Director, National Institute of Nutrition



· Dr. Ajai Puri – Director, Britannia Industries Limited and a Global Nutrition Expert



· Dr. Patrick J. Stover – Scientific Advisor to the BNF & Professor and Director, Division of Nutritional Science, Cornell University


The answer to the Question “Why All Stakeholders need to Come Together to Combat Malnutrition?” is clear and evocative. Malnutrition in India has now reached serious proportions. The problem is both, immensely complex and multi-dimensional in nature. While on one hand, there is sufficient evidence that proven and successful approaches to counter the problem exist across the world and that nutrition interventions offer exceptionally high development returns; on the other hand, the costs of inaction — as measured by increased child mortality, compromised life chances and reduced economic productivity — are unacceptably high. The case therefore is compelling and calling upon each one of us to engage with the problem in every manner required and possible.

Britannia Introduces Vita Marie Honey Oats

Coronary heart disease, popularly known as the lifestyle disease, is the most popular form of heart disease and can be prevented to some extent by a healthy diet. The world health report (2002), states the Cardiovascular Disease will be cause of Largest number of Deaths and Disabilities in India by 2020. Indian women have been found to be more vulnerable to coronary diseases because their arteries are narrower than those of men.
 Another prime factor that causes this is stress. The modern Indian woman is subjected to excessive stress at home and at work. She has so many aspirations she’s out to fulfill, so many activities she packs her day with, so much she puts her heart into, that she’s left with very little time to take care of herself. Given this scenario she is increasingly seeking healthy solutions that will fit easily into her lifestyle.

Marie Gold, the master brand, has been the only food brand that has, historically, spoken to the Indian woman as a friend. It has always attempted to understand her individual needs and offer her insightful life-solutions. Research threw light on the fact that while women were increasingly aware of the need to be healthy they were also looking for products that would deliver greater health benefits through their regular diet.

With this in mind, Britannia Industries Limited, one of India’s leading Food Company, now presents Vita Marie Honey Oats, a delicious heart friendly tea time biscuit that is packed with a double layer of fiber from oats and wheat.

Borrowing from the Marie Gold legacy of being an intimate friend to the consumer, New Vita Marie Honey Oats is today’s woman’s health accomplice.  It is a “small easy step” that fits perfectly into her everyday life, and gives her heart that extra loving care it requires!

These low fat, cholesterol free biscuits are made of two visible layers of oats and wheat fiber. These hi fiber biscuits contain soluble fiber which helps reduce cholesterol by removing bad cholesterol from the body. They are mildly flavoured with honey to add that delightful taste and are the perfect small step to easy everyday heart care for today’s woman.


Ms. Anuradha Narasimhan – Category Director, Health and Wellness, Britannia Industries Ltd says, “ Today’s woman, believes in living life “wholeheartedly”, enjoying each experience and giving the best to what she does. While she fills her life with activities and constantly cares for the people around her, she finds little time to take extra care for her own heart.  Britannia recognizes this need in her life and have launched Vita Marie Gold, a tea time biscuit,  packed with the goodness of oats and wheat fiber, that effortlessly slips into her lifestyle to give her heart the extra care it needs everyday.”

“Heart disease in women: More common than you think. Heart disease is as common in women as men but a woman is susceptible to higher risks associated with this ailment, as compared to a man. Its time women took responsibility for themselves, exercise and a healthy diet are the simplest ways to protect your heart,” says Dr Sathyaki Nambala, Senior Consultant Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery, Apollo Hospital Bangalore.

Britannia Vita Marie Honey Oats is available across outlets and is priced at Rs.12 for a pack of 103 gms.

About Britannia Industries Ltd.:
Britannia Industries is one of India’s leading Food companies and a leader in the Bakery and Dairy segments in the Indian marketplace. With revenues in excess of Rs. 4,500 crores annually and a storehouse of power brands, Britannia is alsoIndia’s favorite Food Brand. Britannia was rated as the No. 1 Food Brand in the country across food categories by an independent survey conducted by a reputed news publication (Economic Times - Brand Equity Trusted Brands Survey, 2010). Britannia caters to consumers in all demographic and socio-economic segments across urban and rural India. Britannia products are available across the country in over 35 lakh (3.5 million) retail outlets, at consumer-accessible price points starting at as little as Rs. 2/- (~ 4 US cents), and reach over 40% of Indian homes.

Oliveitup Campaign Completes Its First Year With Success

Oliveitup, the promotional campaign launched by the Consortium of Guarantee of Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVC) for the promotion of premium European olive oil in India has completed its first year. The three year campaign financed by the European Union, in collaboration with Italy, has generated tremendous interest and awareness among the masses.



In a consumer research study conducted on the Olive Oil market in India by the Consortium of Guarantee of Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil, it was found that Indian consumers regard olive oil as the one of healthiest among the conventionally used edible oils. Olive oil, the quintessential part of the Mediterranean diet, is slowly but surely finding its place in Indian kitchens.


At a press conference held today at The Oberoi, Ms. Pina Romano, President of the Interprofessional organization for the olive oil sector remarked, “We are committed to continue our efforts in growing consumer awareness about Olive Oils in India. It is a market that is changing very fast and the country is destined to be an economic super power in the future. The Indian Middle Class population is large, dynamic and adaptable to change. We are happy to be a part of this growth story.”


The main aim of the campaign is to promote Olive Oil to increase its use in traditional local and daily cuisine and to explain the nutritional aspects of olive oil and its importance in a healthy and balanced diet. The array of activities conducted in this regard include press conferences, participation in trade shows, advertising campaigns, media tours and training sessions in order to disseminate correct knowledge of olive oils of European origin, in terms of their quality and healthy attributes. A special website - www.oliveitup.in – was launched last year in order to provide accurate information on European Olive Oils and its health benefits.

Activities on similar lines will continue in India throughout 2011 and 2012. The EVC will have a booth at the Hospitality World Show being held at Palace Grounds from June 23-25 as part of its campaign.

During the press conference, a tasting session was conducted for the attending media. Conducted by Italian expert Mr. Michele Labarile, the tasting session provided in-depth information on European Olive oils and a first hand experience on how to recognize quality by tasting as custom in European countries.

Celebrity Chef Vicky Ratnani talked about how olive oil can be effectively utilized as a part of Indian cuisine and demonstrated how dishes can be fried in Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Ms. Ishi Khosla, renowned nutrition consultant spoke about India’s health profile and the benefits of olive oil. “It is high time, Indians start taking their health concerns more seriously. The country is sitting on a health time bomb and is now number one in cardiac patients with over 10% population affected; 31% of urban Indians are either overweight or obese and over 100 million people in India have high blood pressure. Clearly there is something drastically wrong between what we eat and how we live. Incorporating olive oil in our cuisines will be a perfect start.”


Also present at the press conference was Mr. V.N. Dalmia, President, Indian Olive Association who spoke on the growth of the olive oil market in India.

Oliveitup Campaign Completes Its First Year With Success

Oliveitup, the promotional campaign launched by the Consortium of Guarantee of Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVC) for the promotion of premium European olive oil in India has completed its first year. The three year campaign financed by the European Union, in collaboration with Italy, has generated tremendous interest and awareness among the masses. In a consumer research study conducted on the Olive Oil market in India by the Consortium of Guarantee of Quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil, it was found that Indian consumers regard olive oil as the one of healthiest among the conventionally used edible oils. Olive oil, the quintessential part of the Mediterranean diet, is slowly but surely finding its place in Indian kitchens.

At a press conference held today at The Oberoi, Ms. Pina Romano, President of the Interprofessional organization for the olive oil sector remarked, “We are committed to continue our efforts in growing consumer awareness about Olive Oils in India. It is a market that is changing very fast and the country is destined to be an economic super power in the future. The Indian Middle Class population is large, dynamic and adaptable to change. We are happy to be a part of this growth story.”

The main aim of the campaign is to promote Olive Oil to increase its use in traditional local and daily cuisine and to explain the nutritional aspects of olive oil and its importance in a healthy and balanced diet. The array of activities conducted in this regard include press conferences, participation in trade shows, advertising campaigns, media tours and training sessions in order to disseminate correct knowledge of olive oils of European origin, in terms of their quality and healthy attributes. A special website - www.oliveitup.in – was launched last year in order to provide accurate information on European Olive Oils and its health benefits.

Activities on similar lines will continue in India throughout 2011 and 2012. The EVC will have a booth at the Hospitality World Show being held at Palace Grounds from June 23-25 as part of its campaign.

During the press conference, a tasting session was conducted for the attending media. Conducted by Italian expert Mr. Michele Labarile, the tasting session provided in-depth information on European Olive oils and a first hand experience on how to recognize quality by tasting as custom in European countries.

Celebrity Chef Vicky Ratnani talked about how olive oil can be effectively utilized as a part of Indian cuisine and demonstrated how dishes can be fried in Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Ms. Ishi Khosla, renowned nutrition consultant spoke about India’s health profile and the benefits of olive oil. “It is high time, Indians start taking their health concerns more seriously. The country is sitting on a health time bomb and is now number one in cardiac patients with over 10% population affected; 31% of urban Indians are either overweight or obese and over 100 million people in India have high blood pressure. Clearly there is something drastically wrong between what we eat and how we live. Incorporating olive oil in our cuisines will be a perfect start.”

Also present at the press conference was Mr. V.N. Dalmia, President, Indian Olive Association who spoke on the growth of the olive oil market in India.

BANGALORE TO HOST 'IMTEX 2009'

Indian Machine Tool Manufacturer's Association (IMTMA) is set to create a new benchmark with IMTEX 2009. IMTEX 2009, the largest exhibition of machine tools and manufacturing solutions in South and South East Asia is being held in Bangalore from 22nd January to 28th January, 2009. IMTMA is also holding a concurrent fair, Tooltech 2009 - the 11th International exhibition of cutting tools and tooling technology systems.Announcing this in Press Conference, Mr. Shailesh Sheth, Media Chairman, IMTMA said 'IMTEX and Tooltech will showcase the new found confidence of the Indian Machine Tool Industry in taking on new challenges amidst the changing market environment. The exhibition will display break through 'live' machine tools and manufacturing solutions from all the world's best known brands in this product segment.'
Further he said 'IMTEX 2009 is set to break other records as well. The total value of exhibits at IMTEX 2009 is a record of Rs. 350 crores. We further estimate order worth Rs. 600 crores and business enquiries worth Rs. 6,000 crores to be generated out of this IMTEX.'
Mr. N.K. Dhand, President of IMTMA said 'the industry would survive this phase with the government and the industry taking unanimous policy changing decisions and corrective measures with the larger picture of the industry in focus.'
IMTEX 2009 spread across 40,000 sq.mtrs. the exhibition features 900 exhibitions, including half from overseas representing 25 countries.