And about time! Over the last couple of years the pioneer in the coffee shop business in India had kind of lost it. For quite a while now, the brand has been in we-are-getting-acquired mode. Which means that the once cool hangout became skimpy on expansion, innovation and generally stopped caring about its customers.At least that's the impression I got when I visited their Linking Raod outlet last week. The rexine sofa there was so tattered and torn one couldn't help wondering: why? Why is a once-proud brand letting itself go to seed?
I think when you're in I-am-selling mode you stop caring. Sure, you implement a few things here and there to keep investors feeling 'yahan kuch ho raha hai'. So Barista did launch a few upmarket 'creme' outlets . But on the whole the brand energy was missing.
Barista has seen a series of owners. Sterling Infotech's C Sivasankaran bought 65 per cent in Barista from Turner Morrison 3 years ago. He also purchased the remaining 35 per cent stake from the Tata group. The mandate to sell the company was given last August.
Lavazza of Italy is understood to have buoght the company for... Rs 480 crores. According to the TOI, the Italian Coffee giant will invest Rs 105 crore into the company in the next 24 months.
Sterling's promoter NRI business man C Sivasankaran, who has a reputation for acquiring ailing companies, turning them around, and selling them is said to have made a profit of Rs 85 crore from the sale.
So it was essentially a financial investment for Sterling, who was smart enough to realise Starbucks nahin to koi aur global chain khareed lega. After buying out the earlier promoters (Rs 30 cr to Turner Morrison and 65 cr to Tatas) he apparently invested another Rs 120 cr in Barista.
I'm not sure how well that money was spent because the Barista experience - or geographical coverage - certainly did not get any better!
Well, now that a company in the coffee and cafe business is taking over, I hope the focus shifts back to making Barista a warmer and more 'with-it'. And not just a new blue and white signboard and coffee cups to go with it. Whether they retain the name Barista (unlikely) or switch to Lavazza, what we want is the 'most incredible espresso experience'. And, softer and more edible doughnuts to go with it. Because only a diamond should be... forever.
Actually chain stores dont give you the most incredible experience. The most incredible experience generly comes from indepedent cafes with vision. I experienced both Barista and CCD in India, Starbucks and Gloria Jeans in OZ, but the coffee they make pales in comparison to those served by local independent cafes like Campos.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.eatability.com.au/au/sydney/campos_coffee_pty_ltd.htm
What we need is better independent cafes that have flair. Mocha was one of them.
Talking about Coffee Shops, the best place to have coffee and breakfast in Pune is definitely Vohuman Cafe. Whenever you do visit Pune, make sure you go there atleast once. (Then you'll automatically go there every time :)
ReplyDeleteI am an ardent coffee lover and also a regular at Barista. I guess my attendance at Barista is higher than what it is in my classes (btw my college has an 85% min attendance rule). Since past two years I have been going to Barista and have seen the experience declining day by day. Two years ago, there used to be scrables, chess, and Guitar for the customers gradually all of them have disappeared. Previously the employees were also very enthusiastic about opening the outlet till late in the night, though it meant feeding the policemen on free coffee. Over all the exprience used to so good. As u talked about the tattered couches, the scrables, chess and guitar are also missing. Once a thing borkes off no one is bothered t repair them. Though the prices have risen by arnd 50% in the same period but the quality of experience has gone pathetically down. Earlier they used to have soft music in Barista, then they had a contract with World Space so the soothing music changed to odd channels of world space which most of the times didnt reflect a coffee experience what Barista used to be, and now when the contract is over no one bothers to put any music Aaj Tak news keep on making noises.
ReplyDeleteWhen I casually chatted with the employees, i also came to know of an interesting fact that none of the Barista has proper licenses in their names in Pune at least. The Barista seemed to me in pathetic state of affairs. I hope with a new owners experienced in Coffee, the state of my favourite cafe will improve....
Besides the point, but no one calls 'Donuts', 'doughnuts'
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You are right there..Even i ve been experiencing lack of energy and warmth in barista..Here in chandigarh..Lets hope its gets betta
ReplyDelete..very neatly written!:)
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