Cafe Coffee Day to open 900 outlets by March next year

Chennai, May 22 (UNI) Cafe Coffee Day, a unit of the Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company Ltd, today announced aggressive expansion plans aiming at 900 cafe outlets all over India by the end of March next year.

Coffee Day Marketing President, Bidisha Nagaraj told reporters here today that the company at present have 590 outlets spread over 103 cities in India. ''We are planning to have 900 outlets by March next year by expanding within the cities where it has presence, besides adding few more new cities,'' she added.

This expansion plans included opening of lounge type outlets catering to the senior citizens, who favour a quite ambience, sans music and sound.

Ms Bidisha said ''at present we have 20 to 25 lounge outlets in India. In another five to six months we will set up first lounge in Chennai, where apart from the snacks and coffee varieties, traditional South Indian dishes like dosa, idli, vadas and parathas will be served.'' Parrying a question on the quantum of investments to be made in the new outlets, she said the real estate costs has been prohibitive. ''but the investment will be significant.'' As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, she said the company plans to double its outlets by March next year from the present 33 outlets.

''New outlets will be opened in Kodaikanal, Salem, Erode and Trichy.'' UNI GV GKT 1417