More coffee breaks in Punjab

The people of Punjab, known as the largest consumers of milk and milk products, are now drifting towards coffee beverages. In the high streets of the important towns of Punjab like Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Patiala and Chandigarh one can spot more than one national coffee retail chain.

In the past four years almost all the national players like Barista, Cafe Coffee Day and Mr Bean put up their shops. Another player Coffee Costa Coffee entered the Punjab market last week.

"The expansion of corporate sector, especially financial services and information technology, in Punjab contributed immensely to the growth of coffee consumption in the region. There has also been an increase in the number of female visitors in the urban centres due to increasing number of working women," says Rini Dutta, head (marketing), Barista.

The enthusiasm of Cafe Coffee Day can be gauged from the fact that the company plans to double its presence in Punjab from existing 10 outlets to 20 outlets. According to company officials, they were scouting for new locations and would be through with expansion in the state by the end of the financial year.

Inspired by promising returns of the retail coffee chain business, a Ludhiana-based entrepreneur diversified from the steel business to the retail coffee chain.

Mandip Grewal of Bakes and Beans started his venture six years back from Ludhiana and now has four branches in Punjab. Grewal has his own bakery at Ludhiana to source his branches.

"I do not outsource to anybody for confectionery items and maintain the quality besides offering the customised products," he said. Grewal is also looking at expansion in the periphery of Mohali.

The boom in the shopping malls in Punjab would further accelerate the growth of coffee outlets. Costa Coffee plans to open 15 new outlets in high streets and shopping malls in the region by the next financial year.