Domestic coffee shop chains brewing up expansion plans

KOCHI:Amid international coffee chains' attempts to dominate Kerala markets, coffee shop chains seeded in the state are now looking for avenues to expand their business here.
The latest entrants are Hilite Group, originally a property developer based in Kozhikode, and Beans and Flavours, a small coffee blender based in Idukki district. "Our plan is to set up a chain of 100 coffee shops along NH 47 and NH 17 within three to four years," said P Sulaiman, Hilite Group."The first two will be opened in Kozhikode in May," he stated.
According to Sulaiman, coffee-lovers' number is rising in Kerala, which is predominantly a tea market. "A coffee shop culture is slowly being developed in Kerala, especially in the Northern districts, may be due to the influence of towns like Bangalore. Patrons of these shops could spend up to Rs 120 for a cup of coffee," he said.
Beans and Flavours' owner Rinu Eldo Jacob, a coffee blender by training, has opened his first coffee shop in Kuttikkanam near Peermade. "I do blend our own coffee and has plans to open branches near tourist spots in the High Ranges on a franchisee basis. What we are trying to promote is the live coffee brewing which prepares coffee on the spot, right from the coffee beans," he said.
Gold jewellery retailer Josco had started a coffee shop brand Tonico, which is also now scaling up.
C P Chandan, trustee, India Coffee Trust, said that the domestic coffee shop chains have the potential to be very successful. " The important factor of a coffee shop is the ambience that invites people to use as a meeting place. If a local coffee shop chain serves good coffee, offers local cuisine, has a different kind of décor and the man behind the counter greets the customers cheerfully, then they have a winning formula," he said.