Tata Global Beverages : Groundbreaking ceremony marks new state-of-the-art freeze dried coffee plant by Tata Coffee in Vietnam

From left to right - Mr. Sanjiv Sarin (MD & CEO, TATA Coffee Ltd) and Mr. Tran Thanh Liem (Chairman of Binh Duong People's Committee)

Tata Coffee Ltd. today became the first Indian company to setup a freeze-dried coffee plant in Vietnam. The groundbreaking ceremony officially marked the beginning of the coffee plant that aims to produce 5000 MT per annum of freeze dried coffee. The ceremony was attended by the Indian Ambassador to Vietnam, senior management of Tata Coffee, Leadership of Tata Sons, Country Head of Tata Sons Vietnam, representatives from VSIP and dignitaries from Binh Duong province.

Along with the Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP), Tata Coffee Ltd. hosted the ceremony at Lot No. 352-353 at VSIP II Binh Duong. The plant is slated to start manufacturing the produce in the next 18-21 months with a view to serve the company's global customers with new product mixes of freeze dried coffee.

Sanjiv Sarin, Managing Director & CEO of Tata Coffee Ltd., said, 'The Tata group already has a close relationship with Vietnam in various sectors - including automobiles, steel, trading, energy and watches. With this investment, beverages will also become a major sector of participation. While our products are already exported to over 40 countries across the globe, our Instant Coffee has so far been produced only in India. Tata Coffee Vietnam marks our first foray beyond Indian shores as a manufacturer - and hence is a significant milestone in our journey to becoming a global coffee major. Tata Coffee Vietnam will endeavor to bring best in class manufacturing practices, with special focus on safe working conditions. The project will contribute positively to earning foreign exchange and creating local employment'

Vietnam is the largest producer of Robustas and offers a convenient source of raw material for the plant.

About Tata Coffee Ltd:

Tata Coffee is a subsidiary of Tata Global Beverages and part of the Tata Group. It is Asia's largest coffee plantation company and one of the largest exporter of instant coffee in the country. The Company produces more than 10,000 MT of shade grown Arabica and Robusta coffees at its 19 estates in South India and its two Instant Coffee manufacturing facilities have a combined installed capacity of 8400 metric tonnes. It exports green coffee to countries in Europe, Asia, Middle East and North America. Tata Coffee's farms are triple certified: UTZ, Rainforest Alliance and SA 8000 reinforcing its commitment to the people and the environment.