Economic crisis not affected world coffee market: Anna Illy

Bangalore, Oct 8 (UNI) The global economic downturn has not affected the world coffee market so far and business is as usual for the Italian coffee giant 'illycaffe,' Company Board Member Anna Illy said today.

Talking to newspersons here, she said the turmoil in the economic crisis in the US and Europe had so far eluded the coffee market.

The Euro 270 million coffee major is selling over six million cups of Expresso coffee every day in over 140 countries. In India it had chosen Narang Group as Master Franchise for developing the forthcoming of new cafes through out the country.

Agronomist Alessio Colussu, Head of Green Coffee Department of illycoffe, explained the reasons for the shortcoming in the coffee growth in India and said there was a need for continuous encouragement to coffee growers to maintain quality.

The processing was the main area that needs to be given attention, he added.

illycaffe purchases 27,000 bags of Arabica coffee from India and it was willing to increase the purchase provided the quality improved, he said.

To a question, he said ''in our procurement India stands third after Brazil and Central America and we can increase the quantum of Arabica.'' However, for illycaffe, India was deserving a special respect among 17 countries from where Arabica coffee seeds of high quality were procured. About 50 per cent of our procurement was made from Brazil but quality wise India was better, he added.

Stating that the company was trying to make awareness on the quality requirements, Mr Colussu said the company had arranged training programmes for quality and processing procedure through its training centers.

Mr Roberto Morelli, Coffee Culture Manager, illycaffe, who heads the Coffee Universities established in 12 countries, said about 7,000 professionals and growers were trained so far. In India, 470 people were trained in the coffee University, which was established in 2007.

UNI MSP RS 2008