Founded in 1870 in the Shankara Kudege coffee estate, the entrepreneur-driven and professionally managed ABCTCL is India's only vertically integrated coffee company and the largest individual coffee plantation owner in Asia, with plantations spanning more than 9000 acres.

ABCTCL branched into coffee export with ABC Exports in 1994. In 1999, it became one of India's largest exporters of green coffee, and is now Asia's largest exporter of Arabica coffee. The plantations, which grow Single Origin-High Altitude, Robusta Kaapi Royale, Mysore Nuggets Extra Bold, and Indian Monsooned Coffee, are nestled in the Chikmagalur and Mudigere regions of the Western Ghats, the coffee cradle of India. All the plantations are UTZ Kapeh certified for socially, economically and environmentally responsible coffee growing.

The fruits of this meticulous process are the brands of coffee ABCTCL produces for in-home consumption - Dark Forest, Malabar Monsoon, the Heritage Coffee series and Coffee Day Perfect.

Catering to the vast numbers of filter-coffee drinkers in South India, who constitute 80 per cent of India's coffee-drinking segment, ABCTCL launched Fresh ‘n Ground in 1995: its first domestic retail venture and the first organised setup in a predominantly unorganised sector. With 400 outlets in South India, Fresh ‘n Ground is the leader in the roast and ground filter coffee segment. There are more than 30 region specific blends, each unique in flavour and affordability.

Yet another innovation has been the liquid coffee decoction machines (LCDM) for the retail segment. Coffee Day 'Bean2cup' vending machines are prominent fixtures in shopping and business hubs, dispensing multiple blends of coffee and tea flavours. They introduce over 700000 people to the Coffee Day brand everyday.

The brand that has brought ABCTCL the most visibility and made it a household name is Café Coffee Day, the coffee bar concept it pioneered in the Indian market, giving a significant fillip to coffee consumption in India.

ABCTCL set up the first Café Coffee Day outlet in Bangalore's commercial fulcrum, Brigade Road, in 1996. From a handful of cafés in six cities in the first five years, Café Coffee Day, or CCD as it is popularly known, has become India's largest and premier retail chain of cafes with 540 cafes in 90 cities at the last count.

The brand's logo - a vibrant red square bearing a white swirl signifying the invigorating aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and the green stroke that is symbolic of ABCTCL's 138 years in the coffee growing business - is a familiar sight in all key urban residential, commercial and retail areas.

The concept initially took advantage of the rising popularity of the internet, and CCD served as a coffee shop cum cyber café. Till about the late 1990s, coffee drinking in India was restricted to the intellectual, the South Indian traditionalists and five star coffee shop visitors. Coffee consumption jumped from the five decade figureof 50000 tonnes to 80000 tonnes since Café Coffee Day came into existence. With the catch phrase 'A lot can happen over coffee', the chain has promoted coffee as a social lubricant and the beverage of choice among the young, middle and upper classes.

Bridging the gap between the coffee bar - Café Coffee Day, and the vending machine, is the Xpress kiosk, a retail fast food and beverage outlet that is a mix of company owned and franchisee driven ventures. While over 750 outlets operate in indoor and outdoor locations, shop-in-shop at major malls, a majority of the kiosks are close to offices. Besides offering a reviving cuppa to the flourishing corporate sector in urban India, the kiosks are also at convenient locations like gas stations, railway stations and bus depots.

CCD's mission is 'To be the best cafe chain by offering a world-class coffee experience at affordable prices'. The friendly, casual ambience and affordability have made CCD a runaway success. The cafes sport relaxing hues of royal purple and red and the furniture is cosy with cane and slim steel chairs and comfortable couches. With a menu of signature hot and cold coffees, exotic international brews, food, desserts and pastries, they are popular hangouts from breakfast till post dinner. Colourful merchandise further endorse the brand and there is ample shelf space for trendy accessories ranging from caps, T-shirts, mugs to badges. Strategic media and brand tie-ups add a further boost; while customers enjoy exclusive benefits across product categories, CCD gets access to target markets.

ABCTCL is betting big on its other divisions as well. By 2010, it will increase the number of vending machines to 12000, with 2500 Xpress kiosks, and 600 Fresh ‘n Ground stores throughout the country across all retail formats through the FMCG division.

As part of its corporate social responsibility, the company supports the SVGH Trust Vocational Training Institute in the semi-rural outskirts of Chikmagalur. It aims at providing job opportunities other than farming to less privileged individuals.

The curriculum includes courses in hotel management and micro-finance and equips students in operations and customer service. After on-the-job training, students have the opportunity to be employed by Café Coffee Day. Over a thousand students have so far been trained and employed by the company, lending new meaning to the brew that perks up life.