Chennai, 5th October 2016: ITC Foods, one of the fastest growing food businesses in India have announced their foray into coffee with the launch of Sunbean Gourmet Coffee, in Chennai today.
To the discerning coffee consumer, Sunbean Gourmet Coffee presents exquisite blends of the choicest Indian & international bean varietals. It is the culmination of an extensive search across the world to select some of the finest beans which were then expertly blended by ITC’s master-blenders with beans from some of India’s best coffee growing regions to deliver an unparalleled coffee experience.
Sunbean Gourmet Coffee is available in two delightful choices, Nicamalai – a fruity-sweet aromatic blend of carefully selected beans from Nicaragua & Anamalai hills and Panagiri – a fragrant coffee with strong aroma, blended with mildly sweet Panamanian beans & intensely sweet flavoured Arabicas from Baba Budangiri hills. Baba Budangiri is popularly considered to be the birthplace of coffee in India where Baba Budan, a legendary holy saint planted the first coffee seeds that he had brought from Yemen.
ITC has crafted these unique offerings by synergizing its key institutional strengths – superior agri-sourcing (ITC has over 25 years of experience in global coffee trading), culinary expertise of ITC Hotels’ baristas & master-chefs & a deep knowledge of blending.
Sunbean Gourmet Coffee was first introduced at ITC Sonar in Kolkata and is now available at ITC luxury hotels in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai. Launch in the remaining ITC Luxury Hotels will follow in September. In addition to being served Sunbean Gourmet Coffee of their choice at all F&B outlets within the ITC Hotel, consumers can also buy ready-roasted coffee beans in stylish boxes, priced at Rs 800 for 200g.
Talking about the launch, Mr. G K Suresh, Vice President, New Category Development, Foods Division – ITC Ltd. said, “At ITC, we have always endeavored to deliver top quality products which are best in class. Sunbean Gourmet coffee is our latest offer in this direction.”
He added, “Our aim was to create an ultra-premium gourmet coffee experience for discerning coffee consumers in India. We have achieved this by meticulously blending carefully chosen beans from across the world with the best India has to offer. Hence, India’s best, world’s finest. This was made possible by the unique institutional strengths of ITC. The ambience of our luxury hotels, the gourmet expertise of our master chefs and the 25 years trading experience of our Agri Business Division have come together to create this delectable coffee experience.
Speaking on the collaboration, Mr Dipak Haksar, Chief Executive, ITC Hotels & WelcomHotels said, “The launch of Sunbean Gourmet Coffee at ITC’s hotels reinforces our commitment towards presenting unique, luxury offerings as part of the finest epicurean experiences to our discerning guests, complemented by ITC’s bespoke services and commitment to world class quality.”
About ITC Foods:
ITC's Branded Packaged Foods business is one of the fastest growing foods businesses in India, driven by the market standing and consumer franchise of its popular brands - Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Bingo!, Yippee!, Kitchens of India, B Natural, Mint-o, Candyman, GumOn and Fabelle. The Foods business is today represented in multiple categories in the market - Staples, Spices, Ready-to-Eat, Snack Foods, Bakery & Confectionery and the newly introduced Juices & Beverages.
ITC's uncompromising commitment to the health and safety of its consumers ensures adherence to the highest levels of quality, safety and hygiene standards in manufacturing processes and in the supply chain. All ITC-owned manufacturing units are Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certified. The quality performance of all manufacturing units is monitored continuously online. Going beyond process control, ITC ensures that quality standards are scrupulously adhered to while choosing ingredients that go into the preparation of its food products.
ITC's Foods brands delight millions of households with a wide range of differentiated, value-added products developed by leveraging ITC's in-house R&D capabilities, relevant consumer insights, a deep understanding of the Indian palate gained from its Hotels business, its agri-sourcing & packaging strengths, exciting, innovative communication and an unmatched distribution network.
The business continues to invest in every aspect of manufacturing, distribution and marketing functions to ensure that it can leverage emerging opportunities and fulfill its aspiration of being the most trusted provider of branded packaged foods in the country. ITC's Foods business also exports its products to the key geographies of North America, Africa, Middle East and Australia.