Change is brewing

As societies evolve so do tastes. The humble cup of tea/coffee has attained a new flavour getting fashionable by the day. As one of the world’s largest tea growing nations and and the largest consumer, tea for the Indian palate is as familiar as water. The recent years have however seen a growing interest among the new age consumers, both the connoisseurs and commoners alike, who want to explore the many nuances of tea, beyond the ubiquitous chai. The hospitality sector has been at the forefront of this change, creating awareness and interest by providing unique tea experiences to its guests, which also resonate with the local cultural and social influences.

Apart from tea, the coffee world is also fast changing. With increased income levels, favourable demographics, development of Tier II and III cities and the advent of many international chains, the cafe culture in India has been witnessing a phenomenal growth. According to ‘India Coffee Shops & Café Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2017’, the coffee shops and café market in India is expected to grow threefold and become a US$ one billion market by 2017. With many international chains like Starbucks opening shop here, the coffee scene is also warming up.

Finally, by the time we bring out our next issue, the finance ministry would have sealed the fate of India’s hospitality sector on February 28. Will the plea for infrastructure status be granted? Will the issue of land availability be addressed? Will luxury and service tax issues be tackled in an effective way? It’s anyone’s guess.

As the industry meets at AAHAR 2015 in March, there seems to be a sense of positivity in the air, especially after the super success of our show Food Hospitality World 2015 in Mumbai. The buyers are looking for refined solutions and products to delight the customers. Business is brewing quite literally!

Reema Lokesh
Editor